Covenants-an incredible blessing!

It's funny how leading a group or teaching a class can truly refine and teach you in the process :).

The other week I was teaching a little class on what I thought was an effective way to work with youth in a particular class I have been involved in.  We were discussing the importance of being people of our word, and I used the word "covenant" synonymously with "promise" or "contract".  In my mind, I kept pushing the use of the word "covenant" to signify how sacred it is to pledge our word to someone.  For instance in the Webster 1828 Dictionary it states:

COVENANT, n. [L, to come; a coming together; a meeting or agreement of minds.]
1. A mutual consent or agreement of two or more persons, to do or to forbear some act or thing; a contract; stipulation. A covenant is created by deed in writing, sealed and executed; or it may be implied in the contract.

However, I hesitated to use that term, as I kept also mentally going back to the use of the word "covenant" in my church, part of which matched the above definition, and part of which coincided with the following 1828 Dictionary found after the one above:

3. In theology, the covenant of works, is that implied in the commands, prohibitions, and promises of God; the promise of God to man, that mans perfect obedience should entitle him to happiness. This do, and live; that do, and die.
The covenant of redemption, is the mutual agreement between the Father and Son, respecting the redemption of sinners by Christ.
The covenant of grace, is that by which God engages to bestow salvation on man, upon the condition that man shall believe in Christ and yield obedience to the terms of the gospel.
4. In church affairs, a solemn agreement between the members of a church, that they will walk together according to the precepts of the gospel, in brotherly affection.

Bible Dictionary: COVENANT:" Sometimes denotes an agreement between persons (1 Sam. 23:18) or nations (1 Sam. 11:1); more often between God and man; but in this latter case 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 same word is sometimes rendered “testament.”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.

A gentleman in the class I was teaching pointed out the importance of clarity while teaching youth, and, since most of them only knew the word "covenant" in the religious context, we should use a different term.  It was a good point, but has left me thinking about covenants a lot over the past couple weeks. 

So, when I read the recent (Nov 2011) LDS General Conference address about "Cleave unto Covenants" by Barbara Thompson, the following really stood out:
"In the scriptures we learn of men and women who have made covenants with God. God has given instructions on what to do to honor those covenants, and then as those covenants have been kept, the promised blessings have followed." 

It made me think about my baptismal covenants. As Sister Thompson put it: "We make a commitment to keep the commandments of God and remember the Savior always. We covenant to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.” We indicate that we are willing to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who need comfort." (ibid)

Nothing in that baptismal covenant (found, among other places, in Mosiah 18) says that Mary needs to take care of Mary first. In fact, it is all about bearing one another's burdens, mourning with those who mourn, standing as a witness and serving those who need it!  However, the promise of the covenant, is that God will take care of me.  You know, when I think about it, I would much rather have Heavenly Father see to my deepest needs and desires than myself, imperfectly trying to make myself happy with equal doses of chocolate chip cookie dough and "Pride and Prejudice" :). 

To be "redeemed of God" and to "always have His spirit to be with [me]" sounds pretty spectacular and would fill my cup easily in my darkest hours...

...and, in fact, it has already.

mathematical depiction of this truth:
service + selflessness = happiness (always)

"

 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 9 Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as ^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being ^abaptized in the ^bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ^ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"