Question
Gramps,
Where and when are we going to renew our temple covenants?
Bergatz
Answer
Dear Bergatz,
Temple covenants are not formally or explicitly renewed1. However, there are ways that one might informally renew one’s covenants. These ways include:
The Sacrament
As long ago as 1965, some leaders have taught that we renew either our baptismal or all covenants by partaking of the Sacrament. For example:
By partaking of the Sacrament we renew all covenants entered into with the Lord and pledge ourselves to take upon us the name of his Son, to always remember him and keep his commandments.
Elder Delbert L. Stapley, Conference Report, Oct. 1965
Cited by Elder L. Tom Perry in “As Now We Take the Sacrament” in April 2006 General Conference
It’s common now for leaders to teach that partaking of the Sacrament signifies a renewal of baptismal covenants, and not unusual to hear temple covenants, or “all covenants”, included. In April 2022 General Conference, in “The Covenant Path: The Way to Eternal Life“, Elder Ojediran of the Seventy taught:
Renewing our baptismal covenant and partaking of the sacrament drive faithfulness to all other covenants.
As we allow the Sacrament to remind us of our commitment to Christ and to keeping the covenants we have made, we can consider this a way of renewing or recommitting to those covenants.
It should be noted here that the Sacrament covenant – which is its own covenant – is the only covenant we formally and explicitly make repeatedly. President Nelson has taught:
A thought has occurred to me that my making a covenant today is a lot more important than the message that I have prepared. I made a covenant as I partook of the sacrament that I would be willing to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ and that I am willing to obey His commandments. Often, I hear the expression that we partake of the sacrament to renew covenants made at baptism. While that’s true, it’s much more than that. I’ve made a new covenant. You have made new covenants. … Now in return for which He makes the statement that we will always have His Spirit to be with us. What a blessing!
(From a June 2019 mission leadership seminar, cited by Elder Dale G. Renlund in footnote 18 of “Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ“, October 2019 General Conference)
Repentance
Just as with the Sacrament, when we repent, we recommit to keeping our covenants, and this can be seen as a type of renewal.
Proxy Temple Work
As we do work on behalf of those who have died, we are reminded of the covenants we made for ourselves. This can increase our understanding of those covenants, help us to see new ways to keep them, and renew our commitment to faithfully walk the covenant path.
I hope this clarifies the idea of renewing covenants, Bergatz, and hope that this article has helped renew your desire to keep the covenants you have made – writing it has done so for me!
1 If a person’s name was removed from the records of the Church (either by choice or as the result of a membership council), they can choose to be readmitted into the Church through baptism and confirmation. Thus, these two ordinances are repeated for such individuals. At least a year later, they can pursue having their priesthood and temple blessings restored, which is done through the ordinance of restoration of blessings (but not a repetition of temple ordinances). You can read about this in the General Handbook, 32.17.2 Restoration of Blessings.
Gramps
