Relief Society Lesson: "The Power, Joy, and Love of Keeping our Covenants"

Today's lesson was taught by Ana and was about "The Power, Joy, and Love of Keeping our Covenants."  The Covenants we make with the Lord act as our spiritual contracts that if we manage to keep engraved in our hearts will bring us blessings along with true joy and happiness.  “Making and keeping covenants means choosing to bind ourselves to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. It is committing to follow the Savior. It is trusting Him and desiring to show our gratitude for the price He paid to set us free through the infinite gift of the Atonement.”

Why would keeping our covenants benefit us?  Some answers included:

“The more we keep our covenants the more it will bring us joy.”- Chelsea

“If we keep our promises, he is bound to keep His.” – Veronica

“It gives us confidence that we will be able to receive the revelation that we need.”- Melissa C.

 
Keeping our covenants can also help to give us protection in our daily lives, as stated in this scripture we read in 1 Nephi:

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory."

- 1 Nephi 14:14

We were reminded of the difference between "good, better, and best," in keeping our covenants.  For example, in regards to how we want to raise our children to keep their covenants, it is good to teach them about it, better to prepare them with certain expectations, but best if we set the example by keeping our covenants for ourselves.

We also talked about the importance of the sacrament and were asked "when was the last time you rejoiced in taking the sacrament?"  When taking the sacrament, if we can truly grasp the meaning behind renewing our baptismal covenants and being able to receive the gift of the spirit it is more likely we will rejoice in the opportunities we have to participate in the sacrament.

Ana also had us read in John:

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

- John 14:21

At the end of the lesson, a talk written by Elder Holland was shared about the day of our Judgement and how the Lord will ask us a very important question, that is: "Did you love me?"

By striving to keep our covenants, surely we will experience the power, joy, and love that comes from doing so.

Thank you Ana for that great lesson and to all the sisters who contributed.


This lesson was based on a talk by Sister Burton.  If you would like to read or listen in more detail you can find it here:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/the-power-joy-and-love-of-covenant-keeping?lang=eng