Farewell Talk Outline

Farewell Talk Outline

Introduction: topic- covenants, mission- Sao Paulo Brazil, reasons for serving a mission

Definition of covenant- Bible Dictionary

• “an agreement between God and man”… “it is important to notice that the two parties to the agreement do not stand in the relation of independent and equal contractors. God in his good pleasure fixes the terms, which man accepts.”
•  “The gospel is so arranged that principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment.”

Baptismal Covenant

• Baptism is the first saving ordinance of the gospel.
• Show our willingness to follow the Savior’s example.
• Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was baptized even though He was without sin in order to “fulfill all righteousness” as he explained to His apostle John.
• Showed us the gate by which we should enter. 2Nephi 31:17
• Covenant: willing to take upon us the name of Christ and that we will always remember Him and keep His commandments
• Mosiah 18:8-10

Sacrament=renewal…show gratitude by remembering his sacrifice…recommit <3…align will with God's will
True to the Faith: When we renew our baptismal covenant, “the Lord renews the promised remission of your sins”.

• “The Lord has promised us that He will not forget us because He has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands” (Isa. 49:16) And our promise to Him is that we will not forget Him, for we have engraven Him in our hearts.” ~Sister Susan W. Tanner

Temple (The House of the Lord

• “In the temple, we further covenant to be obedient, to sacrifice, to keep ourselves worthily pure, to contribute to the spreading of truth, to be chaste, to pray, to live the gospel, and to be forever faithful.” ~Bonnie D. Parkin
•  “We are a covenant people. We covenant to give of our resources in time and money and talent- all we are and all we possess- to the interest of the kingdom of God upon the earth. In simple terms, we covenant to do good.” ~Barbara Thompson 

Importance- All saving ordinances of the priesthood which are necessary for exaltation are accompanied by covenants

• Mosiah5:7-8
• “The Lord has made known to us by a revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith that in the celestial kingdom there are three heavens or degrees of glory, and that in order to attain the highest degree of glory in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom a man must enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. (See D&C132:1-21) ~Joseph Anderson
•  D&C 97:8 says that all those who are willing to observe their covenants are accepted of God.

Change in Us: When we faithfully keep our covenants we experience a change of heart, we are born of God and we have no more disposition to do evil.

• “When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us. His law is written in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people. Committed children of the covenant remain steadfast even in the midst of adversity. When that doctrine is deeply implanted in our hearts, even the sting of death is soothed and our spiritual stamina is strengthened.”   ~Russell M. Nelson (see Jeremiah 31:33)
• “Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create. Of course, age, accident, and illnesses inevitably take their toll, but even so, our obedience to this gospel law enhances our capacity to deal with these challenges.” ~Elder Christofferson
•  Mosiah 2:41

 Covenants and Our Savior

• “If you have slipped in your covenants, take heart! The Savior so wants us to fulfill our promises that He has provided an everlasting atonement. If your heart is not singing the song of redeeming love, return to your covenants. Celebrate them…The renewal of your covenants will awaken you like cold glacial waters on a hot day. Then remember, millions of Church members all around the globe are daily keeping covenants against all odds. You can too.

Covenants and Missionary Work

 The story of Ammon and the Sons of Mosiah

•  “How great reason have we to rejoice."
• “My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.”
• “I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.”
• “There never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we."
•  “Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever.”

                     “What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him.” ~Elder Christofferson

Closing

• “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”
• 2 Nephi31:20