Jun 23, 2024

When Alma taught the people in Ammonihah about covenants and ordinances performed through the power of the holy priesthood, he explained, “Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord” (Alma 13:16).

Ordinances enable us to enter into the rest of the Lord—not just in the life to come, but in this life as well. We are promised so many blessings when we make and keep our covenants, including access to the Lord’s power.

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “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.”

Opposition will always surround us, and life’s trials will not cease because we partake of the ordinances of the gospel. However, in a covenant relationship with God, we are blessed with His power, and we can look forward to Christ not only for a remission of our sins, but for happiness in this life and in the life to come.

Wilford Woodruff counseled, “Continue faithful to the covenants made with the Lord and each other; give your hearts to God, and listening ears to the counsels of His Holy Priesthood, and when the storms beat upon you and the house you are building neither shall fall.”

I pray that we can be faithful to our covenants and recognize the many blessings that come as we do so.

Lyndie is working toward a degree in Public Relations at Brigham Young University. Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, she enjoys running, spending time with her husband and family, and reading. Lyndie served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hermosillo, Mexico, where she developed a love for the Spanish language and the people there. She was drawn to the Wilford Woodruff Papers out of a desire to learn more about Church history and enjoys being part of the organization’s efforts to touch lives with Wilford Woodruff’s words.

The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.