NOM

We wear this garment beneath our outer clothing. Whatever responsibilities I have, whatever roles I play in life, whatever the duties of daily living require, beneath it all are my covenants—always and forever. Beneath it all are those sacred promises to which I desperately cling. The garment isn’t flaunted or shown off before the world, and neither are my covenants. But I do keep both close to me—as close as I possibly can. They are intensely personal and supremely sacred.

In remembering those covenants, those two-way promises, we wear the garment throughout our lives. This practice reflects our desire for the Savior to be a constant influence in our lives. Other beloved symbols are periodic. We are baptized once in our lives. We partake of the sacrament once a week. We attend the temple as circumstances permit. But the garment of the holy priesthood is different: this symbol we honor every day and night.

And that’s the way covenants are—not set aside out of convenience or carelessness and not modified to fit the styles and fashions of society. In the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ, the ways of the world must be modified to align with our covenants, not the other way around.

When we put on the garment, we are, as the First Presidency has taught, putting on a sacred symbol of Jesus Christ. That being the case, why would we ever look for an excuse to take that symbol off? Why would we deprive ourselves of the promise of power, protection, and mercy the garment represents? On the contrary, whenever we do have to temporarily remove the garment, we should be eager to put it back on, as soon as possible, because we remember both the promises and the perils that give meaning to our covenants. Above all, we remember the cross and empty tomb of Christ.

Some might say, “I have other ways to remember Jesus.” And I would respond, that’s wonderful. The more the better. Let’s all think of as many ways as we can to keep our commitment to “always remember him.” But in so doing, it would be disingenuous to intentionally neglect the reminder the Lord Himself gave to the endowed, the garment of the holy priesthood.

Please don’t misunderstand. As you reach out for divine guidance, the Spirit will not inspire you to do less than follow the instruction received in the temple and the prophetic counsel shared by the First Presidency in their recent statement.

sparky wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2024 12:18 pm The younger generation are just not having it.

MoPag wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 10:28 pm I'm still failing to see the connection between garments and Jesus.