The Power within Your Reach

By Jessica Zoey Strong

Church Magazines

You have access to more strength than you may realize.

Life can be hard. Have you ever felt like you could use a little extra help to get through it? President Russell M. Nelson said, “Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.” Yes, you read that right. Making and keeping covenants brings the Savior’s power into your life. Are you interested?

Keeping Your Baptismal Covenant

When you are baptized, you make a covenant (sacred promise) with Heavenly Father. And each week when you partake of the sacrament, you make this covenant again. If you’re wanting more of the Savior’s power in your life, it’s important to know what you’re promising and how to keep those promises.

You promise: To be willing to take upon you the name of Jesus Christ.

“Taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ means that we remember Him and strive to live as His lifelong disciples. We let His light shine through us to others. We see ourselves as His and put Him first in our lives.” It also means we “stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9).

Possible ways to keep this promise:

Sincerely repent and strive to do what the Savior would do.
Pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
Remember the Savior and learn more about Him by reading the scriptures.

“I really like reading the Book of Mormon because it testifies of Christ and I find answers to my questions. That’s why I invite everyone to read it.”

Trésor, Democratic Republic of the Congo

You promise: To keep the commandments of God.

“[Heavenly Father] knows what will bring us the greatest happiness. Each commandment is a divine gift, given to guide our decisions, protect us, and help us grow.” Heavenly Father invites us to “[enter] into a covenant with him, that [we] will serve him and keep his commandments” (Mosiah 18:10).

Possible ways to keep this promise:

Love God and your neighbor (see Matthew 22:37–39).
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Pay tithing.
Live the Word of Wisdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 89).

“Every week during the sacrament, I renew the covenant I made with God to obey His commandments. If we follow the counsel of the prophets and the commandments of the Lord, He will bless us.”

Emmanuel, Côte d’Ivoire

You promise: To serve God for the rest of your life.

We should “have a determination to serve [God] to the end” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:37). One way to serve God is by serving others—being “willing to bear one another’s burdens, … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9; see Mosiah 2:17).

Possible ways to keep this promise:

Look for ways you can help and comfort your family and friends.
Serve in a calling in your branch or ward.
Get involved in community service projects.

“I had an idea to collect school supplies for schools here in Hawaii and in the Philippines. This service is my way of showing Christlike love. There’s no better feeling than the feeling you get when you make an impact.”

Marielle, USA

After baptism: Endure to the end.

“After baptism, we continue to ‘press forward with a steadfastness in Christ’” (2 Nephi 31:20) and “continue faithfully along the gospel path.”

Possible ways to continue on the covenant path:

Stay worthy of a temple recommend.
Learn about your ancestors and do baptisms for them in the temple.
Prepare to enter the temple to receive your endowment and to be sealed.

“Recently, I decided to be baptized. Since then, I’ve really changed my behavior. I used to be a rebellious person, but now I choose to keep the standards of the Savior.”

Celiany, Venezuela

Receiving Blessings and Power

As you keep the covenant you make at baptism, Heavenly Father promises amazing blessings, including the gift of the Holy Ghost and forgiveness from sins. On top of that, modern prophets and apostles have shared how keeping our covenants brings power.

You receive: Power to overcome temptation.

You receive: Power to become better.

You receive: Power to feel peace and joy.

Conclusion

As you strive to keep the covenant you made at baptism—and later, the covenants you make in the temple—you can have the Savior’s power to help you in your life.

President Nelson has said: “Entering into a covenant relationship with God binds us to Him in a way that makes everything about life easier. Please do not misunderstand me: I did not say that making covenants makes life easy. In fact, expect opposition, because the adversary does not want you to discover the power of Jesus Christ. But yoking yourself with the Savior means you have access to His strength and redeeming power.”

So maybe life feels hard. Maybe you are discouraged or feel like you need some extra help. But as you keep your covenants, you bind yourself to the Redeemer of all mankind, and you receive His power to help you. With His power, you can eventually receive “God’s greatest gift—the gift of eternal life.”