169. Christmas: Covenants Past, Present, and Future
Elohim and Jehovah Made Sacred Covenants (1)
Worlds, unnumbered, Father crafted, (2)
Souls, unnumbered, were his heirs.
Now, we struggle in our testing-- (3)
Tried by anguish, sins, and cares.
But while living still as spirits,
Long before our mortal birth.
God, in counsel, asked His children,
“Who will come” to save this Earth. (4)
Rose one filled with pride and pretense,
Seeking power for his name,
Claiming, “They shall follow every edict,
Thus shall all receive the same”. (5)
But God’s firstborn Son, Jehovah,
Humbly followed God’s design:
“I shall honor all thy wishes,
And all glory shall be thine.” (6)
Jesus’ Mortal Birth was a Covenant Fulfilled (7)
From the time of first transgression, (8)
Millennia pass--how hard the wait!
When would Father keep the promise,
That we not share Satan’s fate?
Long foretold, to David’s City (9)
Watch a lowly couple come.
Though a selfish world rejects her, (10)
Mary shall bear Father’s son.
Humble shepherds hush their terrors, (11)
As God’s angel gives them joy.
“Go and see the future Savior,
Witness now this Holy boy.”
Far away, upon our mainland,
Nephite Saints would watch with faith.
For the light which Samuel promised--
Stunning proof to keep them safe. (12)
Later would come Eastern Magi, (13)
Having seen the holy sign.
Gifts to fund the family’s journey,
Would advance the Lord’s design. (14)
Millennia Later, We Seek Covenant Gifts
In our day of fear and conflict,
Despite schemes of evil men, (15)
We shall always trust Jehovah
Keep His pledge to come again.
Ring the bells both high and holy.
Raise our carols to the sky.
Join our joy with choirs of angels.
Jesus, Savior shall arrive!
Jesus always was the answer,
Far before His mortal birth
As His servants, He now asks us:
“Share my light with all the earth”. (16)
We know God's covenants are sure.
We shall pursue the Tree of Life.
That, with the faithful, we'll rejoice,
Freed by Christ from sin and strife.
Then, in “due time” we shall be called, (17)
To stand before God's holy throne.
There to receive His covenant gifts--
Thrones and kingdoms of our own. (18)
(c) servingjesuspoetry.com [All noncommercial uses allowed.]
1. “God the Eternal Father, whom we sometimes designate by the exalted name-title “Elohim,” is the literal Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race.” (Improvement Era, Aug. 1916, p, 934.) We recognize crucial covenants among the Trinity and ourselves unknown to others: Elohim promised each of His children they could become like Him IF they followed His “Covenant Path”; Jehovah covenanted with Father to be the ultimate and eternal sacrifice; Father covenanted with us to send Jehovah to be our Savior; Jehovah offered His atonement to all; and we covenanted (before birth, at baptism, in the Temple, and elsewhere) with both Elohim and Jehovah through the Spirit.
2. Moses 7:30 “And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations” Accord: Moses 1:33, 35
3. Abraham 3:25-26 “[W]e will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate”
4. Abraham 3:27 “And the Lord said: Whom shall I send?”
5. Moses 4:1, 3 “And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. ...Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;”
6. Moses 4:2 “But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”
7. Moses 7:45-47 “And it came to pass that Enoch looked; and from Noah, he beheld all the families of the earth; and he cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the day of the Lord come? When shall the blood of the Righteous be shed, that all they that mourn may be sanctified and have eternal life? And the Lord said: It shall be in the meridian of time, in the days of wickedness and vengeance. And behold, Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me.”
8. 2 Nephi 2:25-26 “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
9. Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
10. Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
11. Luke 2:8-16 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord….And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
12. 3 Nephi 1:5-6, 9, 12-13, 15-16 “But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled ….Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet…. And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came. [Many] who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction …had been frustrated; for the sign [had come].
13. Matthew 2:1-2 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him… and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
14. Matthew 2:12-14 “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, [they] departed into their own country another way. And … the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word…. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”
15. Doctrine and Covenants 45:24-27 “[T]he times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.”
16. 3 Nephi 18:24 [Jesus said] “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.” Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…” (Underlining added.)
(17) I Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
18. Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 “Ye shall…inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths”.
Worlds, unnumbered, Father crafted, (2)
Souls, unnumbered, were his heirs.
Now, we struggle in our testing-- (3)
Tried by anguish, sins, and cares.
But while living still as spirits,
Long before our mortal birth.
God, in counsel, asked His children,
“Who will come” to save this Earth. (4)
Rose one filled with pride and pretense,
Seeking power for his name,
Claiming, “They shall follow every edict,
Thus shall all receive the same”. (5)
But God’s firstborn Son, Jehovah,
Humbly followed God’s design:
“I shall honor all thy wishes,
And all glory shall be thine.” (6)
Jesus’ Mortal Birth was a Covenant Fulfilled (7)
From the time of first transgression, (8)
Millennia pass--how hard the wait!
When would Father keep the promise,
That we not share Satan’s fate?
Long foretold, to David’s City (9)
Watch a lowly couple come.
Though a selfish world rejects her, (10)
Mary shall bear Father’s son.
Humble shepherds hush their terrors, (11)
As God’s angel gives them joy.
“Go and see the future Savior,
Witness now this Holy boy.”
Far away, upon our mainland,
Nephite Saints would watch with faith.
For the light which Samuel promised--
Stunning proof to keep them safe. (12)
Later would come Eastern Magi, (13)
Having seen the holy sign.
Gifts to fund the family’s journey,
Would advance the Lord’s design. (14)
Millennia Later, We Seek Covenant Gifts
In our day of fear and conflict,
Despite schemes of evil men, (15)
We shall always trust Jehovah
Keep His pledge to come again.
Ring the bells both high and holy.
Raise our carols to the sky.
Join our joy with choirs of angels.
Jesus, Savior shall arrive!
Jesus always was the answer,
Far before His mortal birth
As His servants, He now asks us:
“Share my light with all the earth”. (16)
We know God's covenants are sure.
We shall pursue the Tree of Life.
That, with the faithful, we'll rejoice,
Freed by Christ from sin and strife.
Then, in “due time” we shall be called, (17)
To stand before God's holy throne.
There to receive His covenant gifts--
Thrones and kingdoms of our own. (18)
(c) servingjesuspoetry.com [All noncommercial uses allowed.]
1. “God the Eternal Father, whom we sometimes designate by the exalted name-title “Elohim,” is the literal Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the spirits of the human race.” (Improvement Era, Aug. 1916, p, 934.) We recognize crucial covenants among the Trinity and ourselves unknown to others: Elohim promised each of His children they could become like Him IF they followed His “Covenant Path”; Jehovah covenanted with Father to be the ultimate and eternal sacrifice; Father covenanted with us to send Jehovah to be our Savior; Jehovah offered His atonement to all; and we covenanted (before birth, at baptism, in the Temple, and elsewhere) with both Elohim and Jehovah through the Spirit.
2. Moses 7:30 “And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations” Accord: Moses 1:33, 35
3. Abraham 3:25-26 “[W]e will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate”
4. Abraham 3:27 “And the Lord said: Whom shall I send?”
5. Moses 4:1, 3 “And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. ...Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;”
6. Moses 4:2 “But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”
7. Moses 7:45-47 “And it came to pass that Enoch looked; and from Noah, he beheld all the families of the earth; and he cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the day of the Lord come? When shall the blood of the Righteous be shed, that all they that mourn may be sanctified and have eternal life? And the Lord said: It shall be in the meridian of time, in the days of wickedness and vengeance. And behold, Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me.”
8. 2 Nephi 2:25-26 “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
9. Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
10. Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
11. Luke 2:8-16 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord….And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
12. 3 Nephi 1:5-6, 9, 12-13, 15-16 “But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled ….Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet…. And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came. [Many] who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction …had been frustrated; for the sign [had come].
13. Matthew 2:1-2 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him… and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
14. Matthew 2:12-14 “And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, [they] departed into their own country another way. And … the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word…. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”
15. Doctrine and Covenants 45:24-27 “[T]he times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound.”
16. 3 Nephi 18:24 [Jesus said] “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.” Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…” (Underlining added.)
(17) I Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
18. Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 “Ye shall…inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths”.
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