Area Leadership Message
Staying on the Covenant Path: The Sermon on the Mount?
President Russell M. Nelson has invited us to stay on the covenant path. The ordinances associated with the covenant path are the visible part of that path; baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, ordination to the priesthood, the endowment in the temple, and the renewing of those covenants by partaking of the sacrament. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord is teaching the path to happiness, I would like to invite you to see how both can be related and what we can learn from that comparison.
In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord is not mentioning ordinances per se but more what should happen in our heart and soul as we travel the covenant path:
Repentance and baptism:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:3–4).
Those that recognize their carnal state feel even as less than the dust of the earth, (see Mosiah 4:2–4) and want to change and exercise their faith unto repentance, are led to mourn because of their sins and as they come unto Christ through repentance and are baptized, are they not comforted?
Enos said, while engaging in that process and after pleading and mourning to receive forgiveness of his sins. “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
“And I Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away” (Enos 1:5–6).
As one feels his sins are forgiven, does he not experience great comfort?
Receiving the Holy Ghost:
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Mormon writing to his son Moroni explains the doctrine of Christ: “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 8:26).
When the ordinance of receiving the Holy Ghost is performed, the Holy Ghost comes as a consequence of meekness and lowliness of heart. As one feels the Atonement working in his life, he recognizes his complete dependency on the Lord Jesus Christ. His desires are changed, his disposition to do evil is diminished as his disposition to do good increases. Is he not born of the Spirit?
Renewing our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
When He was with the saints in America, the Lord shared the sacrament with His disciples, and those that ate and drank looking for the kingdom of God and its righteousness, were they not filled?
This part indicates to me what I should be looking for as I renew my covenants each week. My soul should hunger and thirst after righteousness, seeking to improve and repent of my shortcomings.
Priesthood Service:
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
The Lord is then inviting us to turn towards others, to be merciful. The expression of compassion as we serve others with the priesthood is essential. Priesthood holders should act in mercy and love to help others come on this path of transformation. It is by loving and showing compassion for ourselves and for others that we can progress and help others to progress on the covenant path. As we express mercy towards others, will we be merciful to ourselves?
Temple Attendance:
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
The Lord’s invitation to be able to see Him and know Him and enter His presence seems to be very related to temple attendance. This also indicates to me what disposition of heart I should have when I attend the temple. The temple is the very symbol of seeing God and entering His presence and, to do so, we are invited to purify our lives and our hearts.
In the temple, are we not invited to watch over ourselves and purify our hearts?
Endure to the End:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
It seems that temple attendance would be the end of the covenant path, but the invitation of the Lord goes further than entering the temple and knowing Him. Now that we have come to know Him, we are invited to be peacemakers, to accept all persecutions for the kingdom’s sake. Having received this endowment, we can now go clothed with power to establish the kingdom of God on the earth.
This teaches me what enduring to the end means, not a passive wait for the end, but an active engagement to eliminate all conflicts in our lives as President Nelson invited us to do, being a peacemaker in our homes, families, and communities. A commitment to be armed with power to establish the kingdom of God (see 1 Nephi 14:14).
Walking the covenant path has been a marvelous experience that has enhanced all the aspects of my life. It has blessed me with a beautiful family, has changed my heart, has given me countless service opportunities, and has led me to hear the voice of my Redeemer many times. Years after taking the first step, it remains my quest and desire to establish the Lord’s kingdom, and to experience the power of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood in blessing the lives of those around me as I invite them to walk the path to happiness.