Wendy Watson Nelson - Covenant Keepers

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nelson, Wendy Watson, 1950 author.

Covenant keepers : unlocking the miracles God wants for you / Wendy Watson Nelson.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-62972-162-0 (hardbound : alk. paper)

1. Christian lifeMormon authors. 2. CovenantsReligious aspectsThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrine. 4. Mormon ChurchDoctrine. I. Title.

BX8656.N443 2016

248.4'893dc232015034649

Printed in the United States of America

Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Other Works by

Wendy Watson Nelson

Books

The Not Even Once Club

What Would a Holy Woman Do?

Change Your Questions, Change Your Life

Rock Solid Relationships: Strengthening Personal Relationships with Wisdom from the Scriptures

Purity and Passion: Spiritual Truths about Intimacy That Will Strengthen Your Marriage

Talks on CD

What Would a Holy Woman Do?

The Savior Heals without a Scar

Let Your Spirit Take the Lead

Things Are Not Always As They Appear

Taking the Temple with You

Personal Purity and Intimacy

Search Diligently in the Light of Christ

Our Covenants are a Gift!

Our covenants are a gift! A gift from God designed to get us safely back Home to Him!

What a gift that is!

When it comes to making and keeping covenants with God, nothing is more important. And nothing is more filled with power!

Those were my conclusions after several months of thinking nonstop about covenants in response to an invitation to speak at a BYU Womens Conference.

I had immersed myself in the scriptures; studied the words of prophets, seers, and revelators; and listened more attentively than ever to the words of our baptismal, sacramental, and temple covenants.

I had asked great women and men from various places around the worldfrom Preston, England, to Tokyo, Japanwhat it means to them that they have made covenants with God.

Further, as I immersed myself in family history research, I felt the unmistakable urgency of those living on the other side of the veil who are desperate to make covenants with Godnow!

We often refer to ourselves as men and women of covenant or as covenant women and men. But what does that really mean?

One sister expressed it this way: It means Ive promised God that I will follow His Son in what I do, think, and say. And Ive made those promises by entering into sacred covenants that bind me to both the Father and the Son.

One brother said: Covenants are a symbol of my faith and desire to follow the Savior. Remembering that I have made these covenants helps me make better choices in my life.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave the following definition: A covenant is a binding spiritual contract, a solemn promise to God our Father that we will live and think and act a certain waythe way of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In return, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost promise us the full splendor of eternal life.

He emphasized that the subject of covenants is a very personal subject.

So, what does it mean to you that you have made covenants with God?

Before we go any further, lets put our focus on covenants within the context of the days in which we live.

People often ask my husband and me: Whats one of your favorite places youve ever visited?

We typically answerin unison, Our backyard! A place we dont get to visit as often as wed like!

But seriously, one of my favorite places is Moscow, Russia. Why?

Because of what I experienced there within one 24-hour period of time that commenced on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

While my husband taught the priesthood leaders of the area, I had the privilege of being with some of the sisters. I love our Russian sisters. They are spectacular!

That Saturday happened to be one of those rare spring planting days in Russia, so fewer than 100 of us were gathered.

When I stepped to the pulpit, I found myself saying something Id never anticipated: Id like to get to know you by lineage. Please stand as the name of the tribe of Israel, as declared in your patriarchal blessing, is spoken.

Gad? A couple of women stood.

Dan? A couple more.

Reuben? A few more stood.

Simeon? More still.

Naphtali? More stood.

These women knew each other, but they didnt know each others lineage.

As the names of the 12 tribes of Israel were announcedfrom Asher to Zebulonand as the women stood, we were all amazed with what we were witnessing, feeling, and being taught.

We were being taught about the reality of the days in which we now live!

How many of the 12 tribes of Israel do you think were represented in that small gathering of fewer than 100 womenon that Saturday in Moscow?

Eleven! Eleven of the 12 tribes!

All but the tribe of Levi!

I went directly from that unforgettable gathering to the airport to meet my husband. We then flew to Yerevan, Armenia, where he was to create the first stake of Zion in that country the next day.

The first people we met as we got off plane in Armenia were the mission president and his wife.

The first thing she said to me, with a twinkle in her voice, was, Ive got Levi!

Can you believe how fast the news of the 11 tribes had traveled from Moscow to Yerevan?

And further, just imagine our thrill when we met their missionaries the next day, one of whomfrom Gilbert, Arizona, no lesswas of the tribe of Levi!

When I was a little girl attending Primary in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, I was taught that in the last days before the Second Coming of the Savior, the 12 tribes would be gathered. That was always thrilling, and a little overwhelming, to think about.

So, imagine what it was like for me to be with children from all 12 tribes of Israel within one 24-hour period of time!

It was far beyond thrilling. And very overwhelming!