We have a sample covenant contained in Genesis chapter 31. I like to call it "The Model Covenant," because all gospel covenants, both ancient and modern, are patterned after this model covenant.
Jacob has now been employed by Laban, his father-in-law, for twenty years. The Lord tells Jacob to return to Canaan, and he secretly departs (Genesis 31:3,17-20). Laban finds out after three days and takes his brethren to pursue him and overtakes him (verses 22-23). They have a discussion and a covenant evolves out of it.
It would be patterned after old Hebrew covenants and there are five important parts.
First, there is a historical background associated with the covenant. Jacob asks why Laban has searched all his personal property. He recounts his twenty-year employment and how the ewes and goats did not reproduce. He didn't eat the rams and suffered the loss of any animals that were torn of beasts or stolen. He suffered from drought and frost. He reminds Laban that he served for Leah and Rachel fourteen years and had his wages changed ten times. He protests that he would have been sent away empty except for God's intervention (verses 37-42).
The second part of the covenant is the offering of the covenant by the party who has more power. Only Laban, not Jacob, can offer the covenant. He has the power. He reminds Jacob that he had power to do him harm (verse 29). He has the cattle, sheep, and more importantly, the daughters Jacob is highly interested in. His daughters are Leah and Rachel. It is now up to Laban to offer the covenant.
"And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee" (verses 43-44).
The phrase "this day" is a Leitwort, or a theme word, meaning this will be a covenant-making day. Joshua exclaims, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Then it says, "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day" (Joshua 24:15,25). King Benjamin states, "And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you" (Mosiah 5:7).
The third part of the covenant are the witnesses. Every gospel ordinance has witnesses.
"And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another" (verses 46-49).
Both names given for the heap of stones mean "heap of witness." In the Joshua reference, quoted earlier, "Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God" (Joshua 24:26-27).
King Benjamin said, "And of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day" (Mosiah 2:14). Notice the Leitwort this day in two of the above references.
The fourth part of the covenant are the terms and conditions. Laban says,
"If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm" (verses 50-52).
The fifth part of the covenant is the sealing or ceremonial ritual. In baptism the candidate is immersed in water, during the sacrament bread and water are ingested, in priesthood ordinations hands are placed upon the head, and in a temple marriage the couple kneels at an alter to complete the vow.
Jacob offers sacrifice on the mount, symbolic of the temple, and they all have a communal sharing of bread all night upon the mount (verse 54).
Modern covenants all have the same five parts.
In the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood there is a historical background and line of authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood which traces the priesthood authority from Moses back to Adam (see D&C 84:6-16). God's power to offer the covenant is expressed in the following verses:
"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live" (D&C 84:20-22).
In every priesthood ordination there are witnesses and the first verse of this section tells us there were Joseph Smith and six elders who served as witnesses for this revelation.
The bounds and conditions are set forth as follows:
"For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;
For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him" (D&C 84:33-38).
Really, the blessings of this covenant have no bounds!
The terms of disobedience are also given:
"Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you" (D&C 84:40-42).
Notice the Leitwort this day once again, and notice the heavenly hosts and angels serving as witnesses.
The ordinance is performed by those having priesthood authority and power, who lay their hands on the one receiving it.
I wanted to say something about the new and everlasting covenant of marriage but I think I will save it for another post.
I am so grateful for the marvelous covenants offered by our Father and His Son. And I am grateful for modern prophets who hold priesthood keys, and I am so grateful for the scriptures of the Restoration!
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