What exactly are the scriptures? Just like any book, you can get a pretty good idea from their titles. First of all, the word “testament” is a word that means a Covenant or promise. It should be a word particularly interesting for Christians because it not only means a Covenant, but it denotes a will as in will and testament. Because of Christ’s death and subsequent resurrection, He left us a will and an inheritance. He left a Covenant with us that we need to be a part of to partake of its blessings. Let’s take a look…
Old Testament
In other words, the Old Covenant. Because of the Jew’s emphasis on Moses and the Law, the Covenant often gets confused for the law. However there is a Covenant made which Moses shows early on in the Pentateuch. This is namely the Abrahamic Covenant. In this Covenant, Abraham is given blessings both literal and spiritual concerning land, posterity, and priesthood. Essentially these blessings will make him a type of king and priest. Kings need at least 3 things to rule. These are a place to rule (land), people to rule (posterity), and a recognized authority to rule (priesthood). Abraham understands that these blessings will happen because a Messiah will come to make it happen. His sacrifices of his lambs which he makes represent this Messiah. If he did not realize this from his lambs, he surely did after he laid Isaac on the altar, and realized he did not need to sacrifice him because another would come in his place. The Abrahamic Covenant was literally fulfilled for Abraham because a symbol of the Christ was provided for a sacrifice. If it had not been provided, Abraham’s posterity would have been extinguished, and the Covenant void.
I would like to suggest that this Covenant did not start with Abraham. I admit that I do not have adequate evidence from the Old Testament to show this. However I think we see shadows of it earlier than Abraham. “But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” (Genesis 6:18). “Go forth out of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee… and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.” (Genesis 8:16-17). This Covenant which God made with Noah was essentially a covenant to preserve his seed. This is exactly what the Abrahamic Covenant is all about. There needs to be posterity in order to rule. And again, Noah makes sacrifices which, representing the coming Messiah, seals his part of the deal. We even see God giving Adam and Eve the same command and implied Covenant. This is the Covenant that weaves in and out of the Old Testament. It is therefore the topic of the Old Testament.
New Testament
Here the Messiah comes; Jehovah himself. It was He who made the “Old Covenant” with Moses, Abraham, Noah, and Adam. Now he did not come to do away with this Covenant, He came to reinstate it, to renew it. He came to make the needed sacrifice for the Covenant to be valid and lasting. No longer would animals be sacrificed as a type of Him, but people would be commanded to love and be like Him. With this, a new ordinance was instated. The Sacrament or Communion replaced the animal sacrifices of the past. As we partake of the sacred emblems of the Savior’s blood and body, we are taking part of the very same Covenant that Abraham made with God so long ago. We may each be at different stages in that Covenant, but we are taking part in it. So, what is the topic of the New Testament? The very same Covenant we see throughout the Old Testament.
Book of Mormon: Another Testament
In the Book of Mormon, we see the exact same Covenant established with a different group of people. However, in this book there is a unique position because there is no gap as there is in the Bible. One can argue that the theology in the Old Testament differs greatly from that of the New Testament, but in the Book of Mormon it is very clear that the God of the Old Testament is the same loving, and caring God of the New. And not surprisingly, this God makes the very same Covenant with the people in the Book of Mormon. Not only that, but we are taught very simply how we are to access this Covenant. Again the whole topic of this book, is that Covenant.
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants originally was going to consist of two separate parts. It was going to have a doctrine section, and a covenants section. But now it is all just blended together. Perhaps the two concepts cannot be separated. The doctrine is the Covenant. The revelations that Joseph Smith received were put into this book, and as the title states, the topic again the same Covenant.
Pearl of Great Price
I like to think this book has gotten its name because it is so small, and yet has so much beauty, clarity, and worth. This book outlines very clearly God’s Covenant with man. It shows not only that it was established with Adam and Eve, but how. It continues with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and onward to show how this Covenant was established in our day with Joseph Smith. It shows that this Covenant is what the Gospel is all about, and what it has been all about in every major dispensation in this world. It even shows how God planned this Covenant before the world was even created. The topic of this book is very clear.
So, simply stated, the topic of the scriptures is the Covenant. The scriptures teach us about it, show us how to live it, and how to participate in it. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we claim essentially that we are the guardians of this Covenant, just as the House of Israel during the time of Moses was. We say that God called a prophet, and still calls prophets and apostles which are in charge of administering this Covenant through the priesthood of God. So to be fully participatory in the Covenant, one needs to enter the gate through baptism by the same priesthood, and participate in the ordinances of the Temple. This is a bold claim, but it follows the same pattern that is put forth in the scriptures.
We should have utmost respect for this stewardship. We are guardians of God’s Covenant. This means we do not boast about it, and that we make it as available to others as possible while always respecting the beliefs and agency of others. If we make judgments against people who have not received it, we come into danger. We do not know their circumstance. It is God that looks on the heart, let’s leave that to him. Otherwise we may fall into a trap. We are told not to judge “lest [we] be judged.” Essentially we get to choose how we are judged, use that gift wisely.
The purpose of the scriptures for anyone, member or not, is to make us aware that there is a Covenant. It teaches us how to live the Covenant even if we are not a part of it. God set up a masterful plan. Even if people do not have his Covenant, they have parts of it, and are being prepared to receive it whether in this life or the next. Every religion tends to have a value system which teaches them to be good, and to treat others around them with respect. This is true whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or Buddhism. However, true doctrine will give you an advantage and help you to find it. For example the doctrine that Jesus is our Savior. People who adhere to this doctrine will more easily recognize the Covenant when they come across it. The same goes with any true principle there is. So a person who values the idea of love is well on their way to partaking of the blessings of the Covenant of the Father since that is such an important part of the Gospel.
All throughout history, people receiving this Covenant have relatively been limited compared to the number of people there have been born, but there have been many many good people who lived on this earth. Paul speaks of them. People that, “had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover of bond and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:” (Hebrews 11:36-39). There were and are people who were and are so good that the world is not worthy of them. However for one reason or the other they were not able to receive the Covenant. In the merciful plan, these people will be partakers of the Covenant of the Father. I mentioned this to show how committed to the Covenant God is, and how He makes it so universally acceptable to those who will believe in Him.
The scriptures purpose is primarily to make us aware of the Covenant we have been speaking of, however there are covenants we made individually before we came to this earth. There are things for which we are foreordained to do. The scriptures make us aware of these covenants too. For an example of this, let us look at an experience that Joseph Smith had. “While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to ‘ask of God,’ concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.” (Joseph Smith History 1:11-13.) This scripture which Joseph came across did at least 2 things for him. First, it taught him the general principle that if you ask God then you will receive it. This is meant for everyone to benefit from and to lead them closer to receiving the Covenant. Second, it gave him personal direction to complete a task he was foreordained to do. Because he was searching the scriptures for what he was supposed to do, he was led on the path to restoring the Church of Jesus Christ. We all have our own scriptures which will teach us more than just the general principles of the gospel. If we use these scriptures as anchor points, they will lead us to accomplish our individual tasks we have covenanted to do. They will lead us to our own Joseph Smith experiences, and lead us in the direction God wants us to go.
To find these scriptures we cannot casually be reading. We must be searching and praying. Joseph found one of his scriptures while “laboring under extreme difficulties.” It will not be any easier for us. We must be living the gospel so we can be in communion with the Holy Ghost. If we are sinning, it grieves the Spirit and He cannot give us light and truth as easily. There could be a chance that we might come across one of these scriptures without the companionship of the Spirit. If this happens, we might miss out on our opportunity to do our task. This is why we should always strive to be living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if we come across these scriptures prepared and ready for them, we will be able to testify with Joseph, “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.” We will reflect on the scripture again and again. We will know it is special and that we need to do something about it. If we go to the Lord with it, He will let us know exactly what we need to do. If it seems hard, He will provide a way for it to happen.
The scriptures also show to us consequences for keeping or rejecting covenants. We see examples of people doing it right, and we see examples of people doing it wrong. If we learn from this and do what we can to keep our covenants, we are using the scriptures correctly. If we are not learning from them and keep making the same mistakes over and over again, we need to improve our scripture study. The most important part of scripture study is application. It does no good to become aware of covenants and how to live them if we do nothing about it.
One last thought. I want to emphasize again how much God is committed to His Covenant. “…angels… minister unto the children of men. For behold, they are subject unto God, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness. And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him. And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.” (Moroni 7:29-32). God is very organized in how He handles His Covenants. On top of everything, He sent his Beloved to make sure everything on His side of the Covenant was kept. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17). From this last scripture I see not only the love that God and Christ have for us, but also their commitment, and their assurance. The scriptures purpose is to teach us that God did set up a plan to return us back to Him, and that He will never abandon us.
