"Renewing of covenants" is not scriptural

[Daniel]

A few years ago I realized that the churches teaching of "renewing of covenants" while partaking of the sacrament was not scriptural. The scriptures about the sacrament teach that it is to be done in remembrance of the Lord's torn flesh and spilt blood being for the remission of sins. A quick search at https://www.lds-general-conference.org/ indicates that the phase has only used in general conference 9 times, beginning in 1988. I think this must be in error. My 1972 printing of the second edition of Mormon Doctrine also teaches that the sacrament is for the renewing of covenants. I believe it has only been within perhaps the last ten years that the renewing of temple covenants and not just baptismal covenants has been added.

I'm not opposed to the idea that the sacrament is also for the renewing of covenants, or at least for the reasserting of our desire to be one with Christ. But does anyone know when this teaching entered the church? If it is scriptural, please show me the reference, and I will be glad to be corrected.

Daniel

[fractal_light_harvest]

A few years ago I realized that the churches teaching of "renewing of covenants" while partaking of the sacrament was not scriptural. The scriptures about the sacrament teach that it is to be done in remembrance of the Lord's torn flesh and spilt blood being for the remission of sins. A quick search at https://www.lds-general-conference.org/ indicates that the phase has only used in general conference 9 times, beginning in 1988. I think this must be in error. My 1972 printing of the second edition of Mormon Doctrine also teaches that the sacrament is for the renewing of covenants. I believe it has only been within perhaps the last ten years that the renewing of temple covenants and not just baptismal covenants has been added.

I'm not opposed to the idea that the sacrament is also for the renewing of covenants, or at least for the reasserting of our desire to be one with Christ. But does anyone know when this teaching entered the church? If it is scriptural, please show me the reference, and I will be glad to be corrected.

Daniel

Good question to me. I don’t know of anything that says it’s a renewal of those things personally. It’s its own ordinance just like baptism is so I think you’re right personally. It has more to do with the timing Christ started it than with renewal of baptismal covenants since baptism existed *before* the sacrament started. How would the people who were baptized before Christ started the sacrament renew their covenants if the two were basically the same?

I guess in a way you could say all the ordinances are connected but I don’t believe sacrament is specifically a renewal of baptismal and certainly not temple covenants. I believe very few people really understand the sacrament ordinance in a personal or realistic way.

[Reluctant Watchman]

I believe various acts on our part can help us remember covenants made. So I guess it depends on your definition of renewal. Christ clearly taught the importance of partaking of the sacrament, and in that very prayer we are invited to remember covenants made.

[tribrac]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

[Ebenezer]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

Searching the scriptures is a sign of unbelief?

Good grief.

[fractal_light_harvest]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

Searching the scriptures is a sign of unbelief?

Good grief.

Yah be careful not to read your scripture too much. It might cause you to unbelieve in Jesus. They talk about him so much you might get the wrong idea and think he’s important or something. Safer to only read them annually. Or bet yet just read the blurbs of them in conference talks so they don’t confuse you.

[SempiternalHarbinger]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

Searching the scriptures is a sign of unbelief?

Good grief.

"If any man preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine & Covenants, set him down as an imposter... Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches." -Joseph Smith, Times & Seasons, 5:490-491, April, 1, 1844

[Reluctant Watchman]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

Searching the scriptures is a sign of unbelief?

Good grief.

"If any man preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine & Covenants, set him down as an imposter... Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches." -Joseph Smith, Times & Seasons, 5:490-491, April, 1, 1844

Kind of ironic in that Joseph prefaced this quote a few paragraphs earlier by condemning polygamy.

[randyps]

We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal and we believe he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Means 'scriptural' isn't necessary, infact it could be perceived that searching the Scriptures for justification is a sign of unbelief.

Searching the scriptures is a sign of unbelief?

Good grief.

Yah be careful not to read your scripture too much. It might cause you to unbelieve in Jesus. They talk about him so much you might get the wrong idea and think he’s important or something. Safer to only read them annually. Or bet yet just read the blurbs of them in conference talks so they don’t confuse you.

The problem with humans is that they study the bible to build a better argument to prove the other person studying the bible is wrong.

[SJR3t2]

Personally I do believe the sacrament is renewing of the covenant you made before you were baptized. And I believe the words in the sacramental prayers shows this.