Renewing Covenants

[righteousrepublic]

Each Sunday we are to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants, right?

Here is my question: When a person sins several times any given week, then goes to church and partakes of the sacrament, is that person forgiven of those sins as they renew their covenants to do so, but then repeats the same sins the next week, following the same pattern every week? Does my question make sense?
At what point does the sacrament truly rescind sins committed?

[The Airbender]

I don't think that is the right attitude. I don't think it is a cycle of repent, be forgiven, sin, repent, be forgiven, sin as much as it is asking to become like Christ. We partake of his flesh and blood (symbolically) so that we literally become more like him, i.e., "you are what you eat". We are not saying "I'll never do it again", as if that has ever worked for anyone. We are saying, "I want to become like you", please change me from the inside out.

Another thing to think about is that since we do not offer up a sacrifice of animals, what do we offer sacrifice? A broken heart and a contrite spirit, yes. But what are you bringing to the altar as a sign that your heart is broken and your spirit is contrite? If you want to get technical, there is the scripture that says if a man repent and then return to the sin, he will be guilty of all the former occurrences of that sin as well, but I truly don't believe our Father is counting.

At what point are the sins rescinded? As soon as we let them go. Sometimes that mean letting go of the guilt and the beating up of ourselves about them. You can't "earn" forgiveness. You can only ask and receive. If you have asked, you are forgiven. But if you are still repeating the same sin I would suggest you ask, "What am I supposed to learn from this?" or maybe "What is the weakness that this sin is revealing to me?" I almost guarantee that your sin is not your weakness. It is the band-aid that is covering your weakness.

Sometimes, many times, even, we sin because of an underlying weakness and the Lord is not waiting to punish us, he is waiting for us to come unto him to ask what the weakness is so that he may reveal it to us and turn it into a strength.

If the Lord were to take away our sin, or change our heart so that we no longer desire the sin, without showing us our weakness, then we would not have learned the lesson we were supposed to have learned.

[righteousrepublic]

I don't think that is the right attitude. I don't think it is a cycle of repent, be forgiven, sin, repent, be forgiven, sin as much as it is asking to become like Christ. We partake of his flesh and blood (symbolically) so that we literally become more like him, i.e., "you are what you eat". We are not saying "I'll never do it again", as if that has ever worked for anyone. We are saying, "I want to become like you", please change me from the inside out.

Another thing to think about is that since we do not offer up a sacrifice of animals, what do we offer sacrifice? A broken heart and a contrite spirit, yes. But what are you bringing to the altar as a sign that your heart is broken and your spirit is contrite? If you want to get technical, there is the scripture that says if a man repent and then return to the sin, he will be guilty of all the former occurrences of that sin as well, but I truly don't believe our Father is counting.

At what point are the sins rescinded? As soon as we let them go. Sometimes that mean letting go of the guilt and the beating up of ourselves about them. You can't "earn" forgiveness. You can only ask and receive. If you have asked, you are forgiven. But if you are still repeating the same sin I would suggest you ask, "What am I supposed to learn from this?" or maybe "What is the weakness that this sin is revealing to me?" I almost guarantee that your sin is not your weakness. It is the band-aid that is covering your weakness.

Sometimes, many times, even, we sin because of an underlying weakness and the Lord is not waiting to punish us, he is waiting for us to come unto him to ask what the weakness is so that he may reveal it to us and turn it into a strength.

If the Lord were to take away our sin, or change our heart so that we no longer desire the sin, without showing us our weakness, then we would not have learned the lesson we were supposed to have learned.

Well, this is one way to look at it.

[inho]

Each Sunday we are to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants, right?

I have quoted this before in other threads, but Elder Neil L. Andersen will slightly disagree:

The title “renewing our baptismal covenants” is not found in the scriptures. It’s not inappropriate. Many of you have used it in talks; we have used it in talks. But it is not something that is used in the scriptures, and it can’t be the keynote of what we say about the sacrament. … Spirituality is not stagnant, and neither are covenants. Hopefully … all of us as members are moving along a progressive growth both in our spirituality and in our covenants. Covenants bring not only commitments, but they bring spiritual power. … The sacrament is a beautiful time to not just renew our baptismal covenant, but to commit to Him to renew all our covenants, all our promises, and to approach Him in a spiritual power that we did not have previously as we move forward.

Neil L. Andersen, “Witnessing to Live the Commandments,” General Conference Leadership Training on the Sabbath Day Observance at Church (April 2015). Available to priesthood leaders.
As quoted here and here.

[Juliet]

I figure as long as Jesus gives us life and air to breathe, we are operating under a measure of His grace. If being here on Earth isn't helping us overcome sin and progress in someway, and yes, that means for some of us going backwards in order to go forwards, then Jesus can take us home.

As long as we are alive then yes, Jesus paid for us to be here and sees value in us being here and learning and renewing our covenants week after week even when we sin over and over. He isn't going to give up on us when it takes us several decades to figure it out. This is a long term process.

[jadd]

Each Sunday we are to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants, right?

Here is my question: When a person sins several times any given week, then goes to church and partakes of the sacrament, is that person forgiven of those sins as they renew their covenants to do so, but then repeats the same sins the next week, following the same pattern every week? Does my question make sense?
At what point does the sacrament truly rescind sins committed?

Yeah, I have considered this.
It reminds me of Isaiah - I also fall short in this regard at times because I don't actually offer a broken heart and contrite spirit.
Thus as Isaiah says. in Isaiah 1:

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I bdelight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations (in my view this is sacraments); incense (prayers) is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot eaway with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

16 ¶ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; dcease to do evil; (actually partake of the sacrament no longer in vain)

17 Learn to do bwell; seek judgment, drelieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

How often is the sacrament prayer actually prayed, rather than just rotely repeated with no feeling? Things to consider. We are all hypocrites to a large degree. Thus all of us are unclean in these latter days - everyone. Even the more humble followers of Christ do err because of the traditions.

[Lyster]

In agreement with inho's post and thr above, I note that the sacrament is not an "extension" or a "renewal" of baptism and confirmation. Scripturally, there isno tie between sacrament and forgiveness of sin. The only connection to sin is that one is not to partake unworthily.

It is simply said by Jesus at the supper "do in remembrance of me". Those who are already baptized and confirmed are those to whom the sacrament is given. Therefore, it is expected that they are in the strait and narrow way which leads to eternal life (not having had those ordinances in vain).

[LdsMarco]

Each Sunday we are to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants, right?

Here is my question: When a person sins several times any given week, then goes to church and partakes of the sacrament, is that person forgiven of those sins as they renew their covenants to do so, but then repeats the same sins the next week, following the same pattern every week? Does my question make sense?
At what point does the sacrament truly rescind sins committed?

In a short answer: It all depends on the intent of your heart. We all know people are weak and not perfect. The Lord has said, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

If I were to partake with the intent to stop whatever it is that I am doing wrong, God will forgive me. God has asked us to forgive not 7 times but 70X70. God must follow that program as well. Not just us. Our previous general conference talk was given by Elder Lynn G Robbins, "Until Seventy Times Seven" is a perfect example:

Presumably, Peter thought seven was a sufficiently high number to emphasize the folly of forgiving too many times and that benevolence should have its limits. In response, the Savior essentially told Peter to not even count—to not establish limits on forgiveness.

“Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Obviously, the Savior was not establishing an upper limit of 490. That would be analogous to saying that partaking of the sacrament has a limit of 490, and then on the 491st time, a heavenly auditor intercedes and says, “I’m so sorry, but your repentance card just expired—from this point forward, you’re on your own.”

The Lord used the math of seventy times seven as a metaphor of His infinite Atonement, His boundless love, and His limitless grace. “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.”

That doesn’t mean that the sacrament becomes a license to sin. That’s one reason this phrase was included in the book of Moroni: “But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.”

Real intent implies with real effort and real change. “Change” is the principal word the Guide to the Scriptures uses to define repentance: “A change of mind and heart that brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general.” That kind of change results in spiritual growth. Our success, then, isn’t going from failure to failure, but growing from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.

Learn more here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... n?lang=eng

[righteousrepublic]

Scripturally, there is no tie between sacrament and forgiveness of sin.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:2
2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High,cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

As you can see, the assertion that there is no connection between sacrament and forgiveness of sin is unfounded.

[Lyster]

Scripturally, there is no tie between sacrament and forgiveness of sin.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:2
2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High,cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

As you can see, the assertion that there is no connection between sacrament and forgiveness of sin is unfounded.

The verses you posted are beautiful, but do not tie the two together.

D&C 27:2 mentions the reason that we do it - to remember Christ and his body and blood. He even specifically states that it is the blood of Christ that is the thing used to remit sins. Remembrance does not equal remission. If the water was a sin-remitter, then any old sinner could simply pop into an LDS church, take a swig, and pronounce legally to the world that he was redeemed, and therefore his entrance into the celestial kingdom would be assured.

D&C 59:9 mentions the importance of partaking worthily, and that's the only connection between the two. I already mentioned that. In both Matthew and 3 Nephi Christ affirms the necessity of doing so.

D&C 59:12 tells of our partaking being an offering. In like manner to the Israelite sacrifices NOT being the key to remission, but a symbol of how Christ's blood atones, the sacrament is a symbol used to point to his atoning blood. Neither a slain goat or a piece of bread is the true remitter.

[righteousrepublic]

Scripturally, there is no tie between sacrament and forgiveness of sin.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:2
2 For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High,cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

As you can see, the assertion that there is no connection between sacrament and forgiveness of sin is unfounded.

The verses you posted are beautiful, but do not tie the two together.

D&C 27:2 mentions the reason that we do it - to remember Christ and his body and blood. He even specifically states that it is the blood of Christ that is the thing used to remit sins. Remembrance does not equal remission. If the water was a sin-remitter, then any old sinner could simply pop into an LDS church, take a swig, and pronounce legally to the world that he was redeemed, and therefore his entrance into the celestial kingdom would be assured.

D&C 59:9 mentions the importance of partaking worthily, and that's the only connection between the two. I already mentioned that. In both Matthew and 3 Nephi Christ affirms the necessity of doing so.

D&C 59:12 tells of our partaking being an offering. In like manner to the Israelite sacrifices NOT being the key to remission, but a symbol of how Christ's blood atones, the sacrament is a symbol used to point to his atoning blood. Neither a slain goat or a piece of bread is the true remitter.

James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

James i:27 states we must keep ourselves unspotted, and D&C 59:9 tells us how to go about it. Thus, there is a connection between sacrament and remission of sins.

3 Ne. 18:29 (28–32)
28 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;
29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.
31 But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.
32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

So when a person partakes of the sacrament unworthily, they bring damnation to their soul.
So what happens when people partake of the sacrament that are worthy? A renewal of the blood of the Lamb remitting their sins due to bringing forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Make sense?

There has to be opposition in all things. On one hand we can gain damnation by way of be unworthy, on the other hand we can have our sins remitted through faith, humility and having a broken heart and a contrite spirit, either one occurring at the time of partaking the sacrament.

No one has to believe this, of course. And this is okay.

[Lyster]

James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

James i:27 states we must keep ourselves unspotted, and D&C 59:9 tells us how to go about it. Thus, there is a connection between sacrament and remission of sins.

This is the same line of thought as the last post. More later.

3 Ne. 18:29 (28–32)
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

Here's the key. If a person is unworthy, let him repent and be baptized before partaking. In other words, a person should be free of sin before partaking of the sacrament, as a remembrance of Christ so that that person will not turn away again. Repentance is not a checklist of sum deeds that can simply be wiped away by performing an ordinance.

The ONLY way to have sin remitted is to be baptized by authority and confirmed to be able to receive the Holy Ghost, and having done those righteously, to actually receive the Holy Ghost - the purifier. This is why the sacrament is of no force to one who is not confirmed, and serves as a remembrance.

A renewal of the blood of the Lamb remitting their sins due to bringing forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Make sense?

The blood of the Lamb does not grow stagnant, nor does his promise to redeem us if we turn to him. An ordinance does not have the capacity to "weaken" and therefore does not need "renewing". The baptism and confirmation covenants are good for life, so long as we are turned to God. You started sinning again, but then repented? Great! The promises are back in force.

Further, if one can't partake unworthily, but requires the sacrament to become worthy, one could never take the sacrament to become worthy, and thus would stay unworthy. Or, they would partake unworthily, drinking damnation to their souls for which they would need to be made worthy by the sacrament. Truly dizzying.

The real worry I have with the "renewing covenants" train of thought is that we take the importance of the ordinance away from the source (Christ) and pin it on our works (partaking of the sacrament).

Isaiah 1:11 - To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

: It's not about the ordinance, but what it points to.

[Finrock]

In a nutshell: We exercise faith in Jesus Christ. We repent (broken heart, contrite spirit, become as a child). We receive a remission of our sins and are changed. Become new. Born again. Receive the Holy Ghost. As Sons and Daughters of Jesus, we now operate under a cloak of charity/grace. We will continue to stumble, to make mistakes, etc. but, as long as we are sincere in all that we do and operating by pure intent, we are immediately forgiven, as if we haven't sinned. We can fall from this grace by repeated, gross, intentional rebellion against the Holy Ghost. Otherwise, we commend ourselves in to God's care and we trust in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ as we learn/develop/grow.

-Finrock

[righteousrepublic]

James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

James i:27 states we must keep ourselves unspotted, and D&C 59:9 tells us how to go about it. Thus, there is a connection between sacrament and remission of sins.

This is the same line of thought as the last post. More later.

3 Ne. 18:29 (28–32)
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

Here's the key. If a person is unworthy, let him repent and be baptized before partaking. In other words, a person should be free of sin before partaking of the sacrament, as a remembrance of Christ so that that person will not turn away again. Repentance is not a checklist of sum deeds that can simply be wiped away by performing an ordinance.

The ONLY way to have sin remitted is to be baptized by authority and confirmed to be able to receive the Holy Ghost, and having done those righteously, to actually receive the Holy Ghost - the purifier. This is why the sacrament is of no force to one who is not confirmed, and serves as a remembrance.

A renewal of the blood of the Lamb remitting their sins due to bringing forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Make sense?

The blood of the Lamb does not grow stagnant, nor does his promise to redeem us if we turn to him. An ordinance does not have the capacity to "weaken" and therefore does not need "renewing". The baptism and confirmation covenants are good for life, so long as we are turned to God. You started sinning again, but then repented? Great! The promises are back in force.

Further, if one can't partake unworthily, but requires the sacrament to become worthy, one could never take the sacrament to become worthy, and thus would stay unworthy. Or, they would partake unworthily, drinking damnation to their souls for which they would need to be made worthy by the sacrament. Truly dizzying.

The real worry I have with the "renewing covenants" train of thought is that we take the importance of the ordinance away from the source (Christ) and pin it on our works (partaking of the sacrament).

Isaiah 1:11 - To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

: It's not about the ordinance, but what it points to.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week (see D&C 59:8–9)” (“The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 38).

When we are regularly repenting and striving to be worthy, we are made clean again by partaking of the sacrament each week. Thus, the sacrament is a means of having sins washed away, just as they were at baptism.
By partaking of the sacrament worthily we renew our covenants with God, and he cleanses us from all sin.

Dallin H Oaks has confirmed this in his statement.
This is what has been taught in church for years.

[Finrock]

James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

James i:27 states we must keep ourselves unspotted, and D&C 59:9 tells us how to go about it. Thus, there is a connection between sacrament and remission of sins.

This is the same line of thought as the last post. More later.

3 Ne. 18:29 (28–32)
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

Here's the key. If a person is unworthy, let him repent and be baptized before partaking. In other words, a person should be free of sin before partaking of the sacrament, as a remembrance of Christ so that that person will not turn away again. Repentance is not a checklist of sum deeds that can simply be wiped away by performing an ordinance.

The ONLY way to have sin remitted is to be baptized by authority and confirmed to be able to receive the Holy Ghost, and having done those righteously, to actually receive the Holy Ghost - the purifier. This is why the sacrament is of no force to one who is not confirmed, and serves as a remembrance.

A renewal of the blood of the Lamb remitting their sins due to bringing forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Make sense?

The blood of the Lamb does not grow stagnant, nor does his promise to redeem us if we turn to him. An ordinance does not have the capacity to "weaken" and therefore does not need "renewing". The baptism and confirmation covenants are good for life, so long as we are turned to God. You started sinning again, but then repented? Great! The promises are back in force.

Further, if one can't partake unworthily, but requires the sacrament to become worthy, one could never take the sacrament to become worthy, and thus would stay unworthy. Or, they would partake unworthily, drinking damnation to their souls for which they would need to be made worthy by the sacrament. Truly dizzying.

The real worry I have with the "renewing covenants" train of thought is that we take the importance of the ordinance away from the source (Christ) and pin it on our works (partaking of the sacrament).

Isaiah 1:11 - To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

: It's not about the ordinance, but what it points to.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week (see D&C 59:8–9)” (“The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 38).

When we are regularly repenting and striving to be worthy, we are made clean again by partaking of the sacrament each week. Thus, the sacrament is a means of having sins washed away, just as they were at baptism.
By partaking of the sacrament worthily we renew our covenants with God, and he cleanses us from all sin.

Dallin H Oaks has confirmed this in his statement.
This is what has been taught in church for years.

Covenants don't get "renewed". That doesn't even make sense, to me, at least. That assumes that there is some expiration date. I can understand a contract, for instance, that expires on date so and so and then that contract needs to be renewed when that date comes around if the parties involved want to renew it. But, I don't recall there being an expiration date on any covenants I made with God.

Here is the covenant I made with God when I was baptized: If I repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ and promise to turn my life over to Jesus, I will receive a remission of my sins. God then promises to make me a new creature, by baptizing me with fire and the Holy Ghost. He further promises that if I continue to act with sincerity and with real intent, as His Son, He will throw a cloak of charity/grace over me. He promises to set me free so that I can learn/grow/develop without guilt/shame/fear. As long as I don't openly, grossly, and repeatedly rebel against Him/His Light the terms of this covenant are in full force. Jesus is super faithful. 100% reliable.

-Finrock

[inho]

righteousrepublic,
What do you think of Elder Andersen's quote that I cited earlier?

I really like how he says: "Spirituality is not stagnant, and neither are covenants. Hopefully all of us as members are moving along a progressive growth both in our spirituality and in our covenants. Covenants bring not only commitments, but they bring spiritual power."
That also answers your original question. If one keeps doing the same things every week, one is in a stagnant situation.

It is also good to note that Elder Andersen also acknowledged "It’s not inappropriate [to talk about renewing our baptismal covenants]. Many of you have used it in talks; we have used it in talks." I guess that with 'we' he refers to apostles (or GA's in general), and your quote from Elder Oaks seems to prove his point.

[righteousrepublic]

Covenants don't get "renewed". That doesn't even make sense, to me, at least.

Dallin H Oaks:
In his writings on the doctrines of salvation, President Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that we partake of the sacrament as our part of commemorating the Savior’s death and sufferings for the redemption of the world. This ordinance was introduced so that we can renew our covenants to serve Him....

...When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism....

We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in this. All of these vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.

[righteousrepublic]

righteousrepublic,
What do you think of Elder Andersen's quote that I cited earlier?

I really like how he says: "Spirituality is not stagnant, and neither are covenants. Hopefully all of us as members are moving along a progressive growth both in our spirituality and in our covenants. Covenants bring not only commitments, but they bring spiritual power."
That also answers your original question. If one keeps doing the same things every week, one is in a stagnant situation.

It is also good to note that Elder Andersen also acknowledged "It’s not inappropriate [to talk about renewing our baptismal covenants]. Many of you have used it in talks; we have used it in talks." I guess that with 'we' he refers to apostles (or GA's in general), and your quote from Elder Oaks seems to prove his point.

I think what was said is very note worthy

Renewing our covenants is like having a new car with a beautiful paint job that gets dirty. So we then wash off the dirt and wipe down the paint so it is bright and shinny again. MHO, of course.

I am also reminded of a man who took an old violin and cleaned and polished and put new strings on it so it looked new again. The violin didn't quit being a violin, it just had gotten tarnished, and was restored.

[Finrock]

Covenants don't get "renewed". That doesn't even make sense, to me, at least.

Dallin H Oaks:
In his writings on the doctrines of salvation, President Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that we partake of the sacrament as our part of commemorating the Savior’s death and sufferings for the redemption of the world. This ordinance was introduced so that we can renew our covenants to serve Him....

...When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism....

We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in this. All of these vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.

I understand there are prophets and apostles who have used that word, "renewing our covenants", but, that still doesn't mean it makes sense, is right, correct, good, true, etc. Its just their opinion. I disagree with their opinion and I'm offering to the discussion what I've come to learn/believe/understand.

-Finrock

[righteousrepublic]

Covenants don't get "renewed". That doesn't even make sense, to me, at least.

Dallin H Oaks:
In his writings on the doctrines of salvation, President Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that we partake of the sacrament as our part of commemorating the Savior’s death and sufferings for the redemption of the world. This ordinance was introduced so that we can renew our covenants to serve Him....

...When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism....

We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in this. All of these vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament.

I understand there are prophets and apostles who have used that word, "renewing our covenants", but, that still doesn't mean it makes sense, is right, correct, good, true, etc. Its just their opinion. I disagree with their opinion and I'm offering to the discussion what I've come to learn/believe/understand.

-Finrock

Which is also opinion. I say the words of President Joseph Fielding Smith has a little more weight. This, of course is my opinion.
When two or more opinions finally mesh for profit and learning, we then have "companion" knowledge so fault and error can be highly reduced or even eliminated.

As mentioned, since taking the sacrament unworthily results in condemnation..."what" does being worthy to take the sacrament bring? Remember there has to be opposition in all things.