Making Covenants

How do we make a covenant with the Lord? We don’t.  Man does not make a covenant.  The Lord may offer a covenant He is willing to make, then mankind can choose to accept the covenant or turn down the offered blessings. How do we keep a covenant valid and in good standing? We do what is asked.  We keep the covenant by obeying its precepts.

We break the covenant by ignoring or disobeying its rules.

The LDS church talks much about the “covenant path”.  How many can describe exactly what this is? The church is pushing hard to get us to focus on "the Covenant Path." It is brought up at every General and Stake Conference.  

  Most would say it is keeping the covenants made through baptism and then the temple.  What exactly does this involve? 

 From the church's website - THIS is the Covenant Path:

1.  Baptism and Confirmation;

2.  Renew baptismal covenants weekly by partaking of the Sacrament.

3.  Priesthood Ordination;

4.  Temple Endowment;

5.  Temple Sealings;

THINK CELESTIAL!!! You have arrived.

Is this really all it takes? Can it be so simple? 

LDS leaders teach that this path binds individuals to God through committed obedience, provides divine help through the Holy Spirit, and prepares them for exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

 The following is also taken from the church’s website:

“At Baptism I covenant with the Lord to:

1. Come into the fold of God (become a member of the Church

of Jesus Christ).

2. Be called his son or daughter (take upon me the name of Christ).

3. Bear others’ burdens, that they may be light; mourn with those that

mourn; and comfort those in need of comfort (help others).

4. Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in

all places (testify of Christ and set a good example at all times).

5. Serve God and keep his commandments.

When I Keep My Baptismal Covenants, the Lord covenants to:

1. Forgive my sins.

2. Pour his Spirit more abundantly upon me (give me the companionship

of the Holy Ghost).

3. Redeem me that I might be numbered with those of the first resurrection

and have eternal life (permit me to enter the celestial kingdom to live

with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ).”

Again, We are told that partaking of the sacrament “renews” those covenants.

Next step~~ Temple Covenants summary:

 Law of Obedience: Striving to keep God's commandments.  “Adam if you will covenant that you will obey the law of Elohim, we will give the law of obedience and sacrifice and provide a Savior that you may come back into our presence and partake of eternal life and exaltation.” “Obey the law and keep his commandments.”

Law of Sacrifice: Supporting the Lord's work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit. “Sacrifice all that you have including your own lives if necessary for the building up of the Kingdom of God.”

Law of the Gospel: Living the higher teachings of Jesus Christ, which include faith, repentance, and making covenants.  “Avoid light mindedness, evil speaking of Lord’s anointed, taking of the name of God in vain and every unholy and impure practice.” Gospel means the good news of the way of Christ.  Impure practices could include thoughts and feelings of doubt, fear, pride, resentment, selfishness, etc.

Law of Chastity: Having no sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.

Law of Consecration: Dedicating time, talents, and material blessings to building up the Church of Jesus Christ. Consecrate yourselves, your time, talents and everything to the LDS church for the building up of Kingdom of God and establishment of Zion.

“If you do not live up to every covenant made at these altars in this temple, you will be in my power.”

They (the Laws) seem to be all of one and the same things.  If you violated one you would be violating them all.  When taken literally, they are lofty ideals, noble goals and inspiring sentiments.  The natural man understands these covenants through knowledge gained from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  The Law of Consecration is symbolical rather than literal.  It is a sacred concept.  Consecrate means to “be made sacred together.” In this covenant, the LDS church is a symbol of the proper organization of the whole of man with Christ as the head.  The Church can be an aid to advance students from one level of understanding to another.   The Spirit gives life, not any principality, order, group or authority.   The only way one can attempt to consecrate his life is to God.  Nephi declared: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever.  I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh…”

On the church website the following summary of the results of keeping the temple covenants is given.  “You receive enhanced divine guidance and discernment when navigating major personal choices or serving your family and others. [1, 2]

The endowment opens up a deeper understanding of God’s purposes, His teachings, and the overall Plan of Salvation. [1, 2]

Even during immense hardship, the covenants are designed to anchor your soul with profound personal peace and mental rest. [1]

Taking the Savior's name more fully upon yourself helps you hear His voice with greater clarity and develop a heart that is permanently changed to match His.

 Ultimately, keeping these promises seals your capacity to return to the presence of God and live with Him and your family forever.

Lehi's dream and Nephi's vision describe, "the Covenant Path."

What about the Book of Mormon as a Covenant?

  How many times have we heard the admonition to read the Book of Mormon?  How many times have we read it?  How many times do we have to read it until we get it?  These may seem like simple questions, but perhaps the challenge we face is not reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover, over and over again, but reading it with covenant eyeglasses.   

  We have been given a layered message with the heart of the message being the specific instructions on how to be reconciled to Christ, come into his presence, and to become a Zion people.    

  What was the covenant of the Book of Mormon?  This covenant was not kept.  What was the result?  In 1832, the entire church was placed under condemnation for treating this covenant lightly.  

"54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written." D & C Section 84.

 In God’s revelation of himself to Lehi and Nephi we see the covenant declaration of himself as God and the God of their Fathers-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  We see in these records an account of God’s dealings with the Book of Mormon Fathers (Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, etc.) 

Lehi points this out because, as all covenant relationships have a beginning. God also establishes the eternal continuity of the covenant through the posterity of the one to whom he made the Covenant.  We see this established by God's promises to Adam and Eve and their seed, God's promises to Enoch and his Seed, God's promises to Abraham and his seed, and now Lehi and his seed.

These first records included by Mormon are essential in establishing our covenant relationship with God because not only does they reveal to us the identity of God and him as the sole object of our faith/loyalty, but it includes the historical records of the PROMISES God made in specific regard to this covenant land grant  - AMERICA- and the people who reside on it. These records serve not only as a legal declaration of treaty between God and Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and Enos, but they contain the actual historical setting and promises God made to them and all those who reside in this land. 
This is why it is essential for our covenant future and that of our children to search these first records to identify the promises God has established in this legal treaty.  Without a knowledge of these promises we have no hope.  Hope in an Israelite mind is not wishful thinking, but it is the expectation based on a PROMISE.  Therefore, without a knowledge of these promises, we have no idea what we are to expect in this covenant relationship.  

Once we have identified the promises made, the journey begins. We must lay hold upon the promises-- or in other words we must make a claim for the promises.   As a covenant relationship is bound by legal terms, we must also make legal requests under the covenant.  In other words, we have to ask for the promises to be fulfilled. As we go down into the waters of baptism we make a formal declaration of our loyalty and our intent to obey God.  

The scriptures are filled with example after example of righteous men and women who, rather than choosing death, they choose life in taking upon them the name of Christ--they chose repentance rather than destruction.    

"And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them." (Moses 7:18)  

When people are of one heart their thoughts are centered on him and the embracing of his instructions given in the commandments on Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount.  The people become of one mind because their will is to carry out or implement God's instructions.   

By returning to the God of Israel and his commandments that he delivered to Israel, not only to say them, but to do them in the here and now we will obtain the covenant blessings that will overturn the curses coming upon us.  Rather than destruction, we will have prosperity.   

  Faith is trusting loyalty and dependence upon God. The Lord's Prayer is a pattern of asking.  It is requesting a fulfillment of the promises based on the covenant.   

Here is a brief summary of the promises of the Covenant of the Book of Mormon:

1.  Tender mercies; 

2.  Obtain choice land; 

3.  Prosperity; 

4.  Posterity; 

5. Delivered out of tribulation;

 6.  No commandments  are given unless a way is prepared to accomplish them. 

 7.  Plates of brass never perish, but go forth unto all nations… 

8.  God will manifest himself unto children of men.   

 What do we need to do? (Answer to Prayer for Covenant, T & C 157)

1. Love One Another.

2. Have Understanding.

4.  Make peace.

5.  Have faith.

6.  Be baptized.

7.  Bring forth fruit showing repentance.

8.  Have a Broken heart and contrite spirit.

9.   Be meek and lowly of heart.

10.  Return good for evil. 

11.  Regard one another with charity. 

12.  Measure our words before giving voice.

13.  Consider the hearts of others. 

14.  Learn to respect our brothers and sisters.

15.  Be wise in word and kind in deed. 

16.  Do not murmur.

17.  Forgive all men. 

18. Take no offense where none is intended. Judge not except by the rule we wish to be judged on. 

19.  Let pride, envy and fears depart.

20.   Cry peace.  Proclaim God's words. Open our mouths and warn others. 

21.  Cease to do evil and continually do good. 

22.  Use the scriptures to correct ourselves and to guide our words, thoughts and deeds. 

23.  Assist others who also accept this covenant.  Lighten the burdens of our brothers and sisters. 

24.  Seek to recover the lost remnant sheep. 

 Terms given (What are we promised?)

•   Be brought the gospel through the Book of Mormon.
•   Have the Lord labor with us as a people and He Will dwell among us.  
•  Be gathered and protected in the day of harvest; sword will not devour us. 
•   Have our sins be made white as snow. 
•    Stand before the Lord, confident of His love.
•   Uncover hidden mysteries.
•   Have knowledge restored.   
•   Find peace and safety. 
•   Be lead to the truth of all things. 
•   Have Angels to watch over and protect us. 
•   Bring Zion. 
•  Be lead in the path and never forsaken. 
•  Have the Harvest angels pass over us.
•   Flourish upon the mountains. 
•  Not have Wickedness come against us. 
•  Have Understanding which will reach unto heaven.

To show the importance of the Book of Mormon, the Lord asked that it be edited to update the language from a version of King James English to modern English.  That was done and is now available as the Covenant of Christ.

Some of the most powerful covenants in the scriptures have been in place for thousands of years, and they directly involve us as latter day gentiles.   Knowing the destructions that would follow failure to keep the covenants among the House of Israel, several prophets sought an escape route for the earth and man.  These prophets included:  Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Brother of Jared, Ether, Nephi, Enos, Mormon, Moroni, Joseph Smith, and others.

When the House of Israel repeatedly failed in keeping the covenants, the Lord  was willing to use gentiles or wild olive branches grafted in.  The offering to the gentiles by Joseph Smith was not accepted, and the church was driven out of the US.  Now four generations later, the Lord is trying again.

If covenants are kept, the Lord will be able to usher in His Millennial reign, the earth and mankind can progress to the next level of redemption. We gentiles will be adopted into the House of Israel.  The Lord’s prophecies will all be fulfilled. 

In the scriptures it is called: The Everlasting Covenant. So the Covenant Path is: The Everlasting Covenant. You can use both interchangeably. 

22 And this is mine everlasting covenant: that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;

 Jeremiah 32:

The core of the “Covenant Path” seems to be “keeping commandments”.  How do we know what God’s commandments are?  Ten Commandments?  Scripture?  Church Leaders?   A post on “Keeping Commandments” is forthcoming.

 

References:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/

https://mormonyeshiva.blogspot.com/

https://www.covenantofchrist.org/

Teaching and Commandments, Section 157.

 

Using Crystals

  

What kinds of things in our today’s world rely on crystal technology? 

Computers, traffic lights, ultra sound, sonar, aircraft, quartz watches, cars, LCD screen.

 Gemstones may seem like inert objects, but they are conduits for energy.   They carry, concentrate and amplify vibrational energy. 

 

 “For example, crystals contain a similar crystalline structure as the human body. Crystals amplify energy and can be programmed(e.g. computer chips and watches). Wearing gemstone jewelry or placing gemstones and minerals in your environment is a simple way to absorb the stone or mineral’s healing vibrations.”  I See, Arise, p. 81

Crystals are a perfect embodiment of sacred geometry.  When healing with crystals, we are working with energy.  They transform and transmute every kind of energy that permeates them.  Crystal healing is a modality that works with the light, color and beauty of perfect geometric forms.  The presence of crystals on the body positively influences the human electromagnetic field and chakras.  The body naturally attunes to the crystalline vibration and frequency which in turn amplifies the senses. 

 Gemstones are most powerful and effective when used with CLEAR INTENTION and knowledge of their application. 

 Intention is a KEY.  Decide exactly what you want the stones to do and hold onto the intention.  Establish a relationship so they inform us what they’re supposed to do. Stones can be carried in a pocket, put under your pillow, put in water or any number of other ways, such as a ring of stone spheres or a necklace.   Set beside your bed at night, meditate while holding the stone or having it nearby.

Using gemstone SPHERES from 6mm to 12 mm seems to be one of the most effective ways.  When worn as necklaces they are able to reach all of the body's major energy centers (meridians).   Single spheres or gem rings can be placed on the body in certain areas for certain effects. When stones are used against the skin, the body responds to the energetic messages coming from the chemical composition, the weight and density of the stone.

What about a pendant on top of clothing?  Your body is constantly emitting photons.  Your body’s light interacts with the structure of the stone joining with the light coming from outside the body, hitting the stone, bouncing around inside the stone’s geometric structure. 

 What is a gem elixir? Gems in water. When we ingest stone elixirs we’re absorbing the qualities at a deeper level of anatomy. Gem elixirs almost like homeopathic.  Distilled water is kind of like a blank slate.  The crystal will take on vibrational signatures of that thing.  When taken internally, the elixir will affect your body and physiology rapidly usually within 20 minutes.  Hold it in your mouth for just a little bit.  Meditate and allow that vibrational energy to be transferred.  Can also be sprayed in the aura to support the energetic field.

When we place stones on our bodies our parasympathetic nervous system gets activated.  We relax. 

How about sleeping with crystals? That part of you that is open is awake in the night. As you go to sleep hold it in one of your hands and check where it is the next morning. Most of the time, it is where the person has pain. They are surprisingly powerful.  Often changes can be felt after one application.  Generally, the “gemmy” higher quality stones are more powerful.  However, inexpensive stones can be extremely powerful.  An example is Riverstone, one of the cheapest stones.

 Anklets or bracelets can be used if you do not want to wear a necklace, but may not be as effective as spheres used around the neck.  Choosing gems can be done in several ways.   There is using a pendulum, stone casting, muscle testing and other methods.   Use intuition to determine what is attractive to you?   Go to rock shops or bead stores and feel the energies of different stones.  Of course, ask the Savior.

Once a necklace or stone is chosen, may be worn with the intent to allow it to do what it does best, or it may be given a specific focus that falls within the range of its capabilities. Appreciating a gemstone's assistance enhances its effects. Clear, charge, re-charge and shield, as you would a pendulum. 

Gemstones can  be cleansed periodically by holding them under alternating hot and cold running water and laying them flat in the sun for two or more hours. Some necklaces (i.e. Carnelian, Aventurine), especially when worn a lot, need more frequent cleaning and clearing.They may also be “re-charged” or cleansed by immersing in sea or rock salt infused with essential oils on hung on a plant or placed on the soil at the base of a living plant.  Plants seem to enjoy having stones on or near them and the stones seem to enjoy the energy of the plant. They may also be put under a pyramid for a few days. Can also be cleared by using “green energy balls” or the sign of vesica pisces. Welcome into your life with affirmations.  Hold in front of you, before putting it on and state your intent. Dedicate and consecrate each to His work.

Wear a stone as a talisman—as a necklace pendant or set in a ring.

What is a talisman?  “An object which is believed to contain magical   properties which would provide good luck for the possessor or offer protection from evil or harm.”

Amulets and talismans are different.  For example, the amulet is an object with natural magical properties, whereas a talisman must be charged with magical powers by a creator; it is this act of consecration or “charging” that gives the talisman its alleged magical powers. The talisman is always made for a definite reason while an amulet can be used for generic purposes such as averting evil or attracting good.

What kind of talisman did Joseph smith carry?  A silver medallion.  His wife said he had it on at the time of his murder.  It was inscribed front and back with a “magic” square and a sigil of Jupiter. 

These are all just tools and training wheels and should never be where we place our faith.  All things have opposites. So many believe that a talisman is an object of evil.  Yes, can be evil, but can also be of Light and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The first mention of stones in the Bible (Exodus 28:17-20) has to do with the stones in Aaron's breastplate. Aaron was Moses' brother and led the tribe of the high priests. His breastplate was adorned with twelve stones and is described in the Bible as the breastplate of judgment or decision.    

The difficulty comes in identifying the bible stones named. No matter whose translation of the Bible you read - Protestant, Catholic, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Babylonian or Assyrian - the placement and the names of stones in the breastplate differ. In Bible times stones were identified by color, such as the Hebrew term odem, which simply means “red stone.”   From https://www.oakrocks.net/bible-stones/

From Universal Model, the Earth system by Dean Sessions. “Glass is not quartz.  Glass and quartz form from the same molecule, SiO2.  Glass comes from a melt, quartz does not.  But, from high pressure, heat and water.

If we do not comprehend how to make quartz or the environment in which it forms, how can we explain the formation of the earth?

Quartz is harder (7), denser and has a higher index of refraction and is over 1,000 times more thermally conductive than glass.  This has to do with its crystalline structure.  Has an orderly geometric structure that grows in a pressurized liquid, not a melt and at temperatures lower than glass.  Quartz crystallizes or precipitates out of a highly siliceous aqueous solution much like salt or sugar does when dissolved in water and the water evaporates. 

Quartz cannot be grown from a melt because the piezoelectric phase necessary for formation of electronic crystals is not stable at the melting point.

Most of the quartz used in industry is lab grown in an aqueous environment at temperatures considerably lower then the melting point (570 C) “

SOME suggested stones:

PROTECTION: Tiger eye/Tiger Iron, Labradorite, Smoky Quartz, Rhodonite, Dragonblood Jasper,

Fancy Jasper (Indian Agate), Most all Jaspers, especially Red, Poppy, Mookaite, Leopardskin,

Sunstone, Hematite, Malachite, Obsidian, Onyx

COURAGE, BRAVERY, FEARLESSNESS:

Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Tourmaline, Indigo Gabbro, Pietersite, Tiger Eye, Bloodstone, Lapis Lazuli

STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, STAMINA, BOLSTERING ENERGY:

Tiger Eye/Tiger Iron, Dragon Blood, Green tourmaline, Bloodstone, Blue Apatite, Red Jasper, Citrine,

Obsidian, Desert Lapis (Dumortierite)

You can look up “Red Beryl” which is rare Red Emerald—only found in one place in the world—in the Wah Wah Mountains of the Utah west desert.

If you study the stones and their colors and properties, you can incorporate them into your shields.  Create shields out of any stone—how about red beryl, ruby, sapphire, diamond, labradorite, quartz…? 

(Link to my blog on Gemstone Profiles:  https://gemstoneprofiles.blogspot.com/ )

Link to Gemisphere:  Beautiful photos of gems.  Interesting just to browse. https://gemisphere.com/

They would have you believe that they have the only “therapeutic” gems, (at huge prices) but I believe it is the intention that is important.