D. Todd Christofferson on covenants and Christians

Elder D. Todd Christofferson (1945- ) was called to the Seventy in 1993, and as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2008.

"We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations. We need strong Christians who can make important things happen by their faith and who can defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism. 

"What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him. A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God (see Bible Dictionary, 'Covenant,' 651). In these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments.... 

"Divine covenants make strong Christians. I urge each one to qualify for and receive all the priesthood ordinances you can and then faithfully keep the promises you have made by covenant. In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth his hand to you, saying, 'Here am I.'" 

- D. Todd Christofferson, "The Power of Covenants," Ensign, May 2009, pp. 19-23
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It's one thing to be a Christian, and another to be a "strong Christian." According to Elder Christofferson, characteristics of the latter include:

• Persevere against hardship
• Sustain hope through tragedy
• Lift others by their example and their compassion
• Consistently overcome temptation
• Make important things happen by their faith
• Defend the truth of Jesus Christ against moral relativism and militant atheism

That's a great list to ponder in self-introspection. How am I doing? What areas should I work on strengthening?

But the real power in growth comes through making and keeping sacred covenants. "Divine covenants make strong Christians" as God "binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments." And as always, the promises are sure: