Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?<\/span><\/p>\nHe that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.<\/span><\/p>\nHe that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.<\/span><\/p>\nIn whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the\u00a0Lord<\/span>. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.<\/span><\/p>\nHe that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the Psalmist\u2019s phrase \u201cHe that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not\u201d that has long caught my particular attention. \u00a0While serving as the bishop of a congregation of young single adults, I often used it when I was sending a young man or young woman or a couple to the temple for marriage. \u00a0At that point in their lives, they are giddy with excitement and love, and they can scarcely imagine the need for formal promises to \u2014 covenants with \u2014 each other. \u00a0Surely, they will never<\/em> be out of love! \u00a0The passion will never die!<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
But there will inevitably come emotional dry spells when romantic passion is at a low ebb, or where irritation has at least temporarily eclipsed love. \u00a0Where pressure interferes or urgent priorities distract. \u00a0Or where, perhaps, there is a temptation to stray. \u00a0And that\u2019s where the remembrance of solemn oaths and covenants can serve as the backstop \u2014 as, perhaps, the last redoubt, the saving sanctuary, the guarantor against passing inclinations or disinclinations. \u00a0And, thus, as the preserver of lasting relationships and the path to future satisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back to David Brooks:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I now think good character is a by-product of giving yourself away. \u00a0You love things that are worthy of love. \u00a0You surrender to a community or cause, make promises to other people, build a thick jungle of loving attachments, lose yourself in the daily act of serving others as they lose themselves in the daily acts of serving you. \u00a0(xix-xx)<\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s about finding an ethos that puts commitment making at the center of things. \u00a0(xxiii)<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Covenant-making and covenant-keeping are absolutely at the heart of the Restored Gospel. \u00a0As they should be.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Posted from Phoenix, Arizona<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 On the flight from Salt Lake City to Phoenix last night, I began reading David Brooks, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life (New York: Random House, 2019). \u00a0It looks to be an extended argument for, and reflection on, the importance for a good life of strong commitments to one or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1809,8600,2325,8597,8609,2905,8603,8606,641,1676],"class_list":["post-82892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints","tag-commitment","tag-covenant","tag-covenants","tag-david-brooks","tag-latter-day-saint","tag-promise","tag-promises","tag-temple","tag-temples"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>