The Scripture Project – The Means to a Covenant

Covenants are the means of progression for all intelligent beings in this universe. It is THE means Heavenly Father uses to enable the progression of his children. Without a covenant, there is no progression.

Commandments and Law

A covenant must be based on something. God uses commandments and laws to base the condition of covenants on. When Moses first came down from Mount Sinai, he presented the children of Israel a set of commandments based on a Melchizedek law. After 400 years in Egypt, the children of Israel were not ready for the higher law, with higher blessings. A golden calf was built, and Charlton Heston had to go back up the mount to get a lesser law with a lower set of blessings. 

Faith

The children of Israel could have received a higher law. They, however, did not have the necessary faith to receive it. They put their faith and trust in the gods of the Egyptians and lost out on the higher law. In the first generation of the LDS church, Joseph Smith had the desire for all members of the church to receive the Melchizedek priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood is given through the calling of His own voice.

“And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch,
It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God;
And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name.” -  JST Genesis 14: 27- 29

Obtaining the Melchizedek priesthood by the calling of His own voice didn’t work out, and was one of the biggest failures of the restoration. As a result, the School of the Prophets was formed and the Lectures on Faith were given to communicate how to have faith in God. The Lectures on Faith communicate foundational principles on what is necessary in order to have faith unto salvation.

1. A person must believe in God;
2. Have a correct understanding of his character attributes and perfections
3. Know the course in life one is pursuing is according to his will.

Repentance

With the correct faith, men and women can know what is required to repent and become like the God they believe in. The children of Israel, with the correct faith, would have been able to repent and know a golden calf was idolatrous and ineffective in assisting them to achieve the level of salvation God and Moses desired for them. Moses continued to work with the children of Israel in the wilderness, but Israel wouldn’t soften their hearts.

“Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;

But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;

And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel." D&C 84: 23-26

In the first generation of Mormonism, the correct faith enabled them to repent.  It showed them the conditions by which they were to receive the blessings God and Joseph Smith desired for them. Like the children of Israel, they hardened their heart and would not receive the higher commandments and law.

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.” D&C 84: 54-57

Israel and the early Mormon church communicate how difficult it is to receive all that God offers us. It also shows how difficult it is to receive and keep covenants. When there is a group of people who have faith, and know how to repent, then they are in a position to receive a covenant.

Covenants

Covenants are a promise with a blessing. Men and women do not make covenants with God. They can make oaths or vows, but that is discouraged. They can only receive a covenant. In order to receive a covenant, a person must have something to base it off of. In each dispensation, the covenant is based off a set of commandments and laws. If the people obey the commandments, they are blessed. If they do not obey the commandments, they are cursed.

“Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.” 2 Nephi 1:9

Right now, there is an ability to present to the Father a set of scriptures which will be approved by common consent. These scriptures represent a set of commandments and a law, that if obeyed, can constitute the conditions for a possible covenant with God. God has the right to accept the conditions set forth and the associated commandments and law. The group who is presenting the scriptures do not have the right, and they are unable to create a covenant. The group is presenting the conditions, God accepts or rejects them. God has the only right to provide a covenant.

What is missing in the narrative and conversation around the scripture project is that if the project isn’t presented with one heart and one mind, why would the Lord give a covenant? This process must be presented meekly with a lowly heart. It needs to include every voice who wants to receive the covenant. Everyone should read and add their voice to the project. The scripture project can result in a great blessing. Covenants always come with related blessings. The people need to qualify for it first. That will then allow the people the opportunity to be added upon with blessings.