Comments on: Which Temple Covenants Am I Under?

By: ed42

ed42 — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 03:39:34 +0000

I was recently pondering similar things. All the other temple ordinances, when done by proxy, always use “for and in behalf of” - why doesn’t the endowment?

By: cchrissyy

cchrissyy — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 02:51:17 +0000

I suppose a lot would be learned by comparing other languages for their present and past temple translation.

By: JrL

JrL — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:56:44 +0000

Whether “sexual intercourse” is a subset of “sexual relations” or vice versa depends on how you define the terms. The first two definitions of “intercourse” in my unabridged dictionary say nothing about sex. If you add “sexual” as an adjective, why do you do anything more than restrict the term to intercourse that is in some way sexual? Isn’t sexual conversation “sexual intercourse”?

By: Don Clifton

Don Clifton — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:53:33 +0000

I don’t disagree that there are commandments that should keep anyone from all sexual relations with someone you are not married to. And I’m not looking at ways of getting out of or around certain covenants.

But when you make a covenant with God, you are bound to that covenant if you want the blessing. I feel that I’m bound to the covenants I made, not the “new” ones under the revised endowment.

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:35:07 +0000

You just need to figure out if this is the same as when the law of Moses was done away with. The penalties may not be as specific but either way, it REALLY stinks for you to break them!:)

By: David B

David B — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:17:27 +0000

According to the letter of the law it makes sense to rank commandments and covenants in some sort of hierachy. This isnt necessarilty wrong and can be helpful. However, I think the Spirit of the Law goes beyond thinking in terms of what sins I can and can’t get away with.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:07:40 +0000

Don this is very interesting because while going through the temple yesterday I was pondering the exact same thing about the law of chastity. Well, not exactly the same….I received my endowment post-revisions (actually I was also thinking yesterday that had I gone through pre-revisions I think I would have gone apostate, they frightening the bee-jeezus out of me). Anyway, so I don’t have anything to compare the new chastity covenant to, but I was just struck yesterday by how not all encompassing it is. It seems to outlaw only a very specific act, while at church chastity covers a whole slew of offenses from p0rnography to masturbation to immodest attire.

David B.-don’t those verses contain commandments as opposed to covenants? They are different things. A covenant it an sort of agreement I enter into with the Lord, where as commandments are given to all, whether they agree to them or not. For example, I would not say I have covenanted to keep the Word of Wisdom or attend church, although those are oligations I have been asked to fill and I do so.

By: David B

David B — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:33:36 +0000

Sounds like you are pondering the words “relations” vs. “intercourse”. Remember that we are also under the the covenant to forake any and all impure practices.

D&C 98: 11
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.

D&C 59: 6
6 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.

Matt. 5: 28
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a bwoman to clust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Also, we are expected to live the law of consecration. We are not living under the United Order, but that does not mean that we need to miss out on the blessings of devoting all of our time, talents, and resources to God.

By: Jettboy

Jettboy — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 15:02:20 +0000

I believe every Covenant (like the Ten Commandments) are just like Jesus said, “Love God and Love your Neighbor.” All other obligation, baptism or Temple, is either a reflection or specified examples of those two.

What is interesting is that the Temple Covenenants break down into three sections. The first grouping is self, the second is family, and the third is church or community. Again, this relates to the idea that all specific Covenants are examples of larger responsibilities represented by them.

By: Floyd the Wonderdog

Floyd the Wonderdog — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 11:26:28 +0000

And how do you interpret the covenant with Christ’s teaching that if a man looks on a woman with lust, he has committed adultery with her already in his heart?