Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ

Throughout my whole study of General Conference the last five months, my mind has kept going back to this message from Sister J. Anette Dennis, Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ. She spoke of covenants and symbols.

I was particularly drawn to her thoughts on symbols in the gospel. I feel like those that study the Bible quickly learn of the many symbols there, including the Savior’s own teachings. And while there is still so much for me to learn, I knew about the symbolism in the temple and in the covenants that we make. But I don’t think I ever thought of my own life as being symbolic.

I have been really intrigued by the thought that Sister Dennis shared that how I live my life is symbolic of the love I feel for my Savior and my desire to be with Him always. And it has led me to reflect a lot on this. What is my life reflecting? If I were to step back, and look at my life, read my own story, would I see the attributes of the Savior in my conduct? Would I see that my choices were made to more fully follow Him?

I feel like I have some work there.

The other part of Sister Dennis’ message that particularly struck me was her teaching on the temple garment. This was probably the most impactful and helpful instruction I have ever been given on the garment. She spoke of it being a “sacred obligation and a sacred privilege.” That the garment works as a symbol of the Savior’s Atonement and it’s ability to “cover us“. This enhanced everything about the garment for me and I am so grateful for that teaching.

Prompting

I want to make my life a personal symbol of my love and deep gratitude for my Savior by keeping my covenants and obligations with God. I want to live my life in that way – as a symbol for the Lord.

Invitations

• Choose a deeper relationship with God by making covenants with Him in the house of the Lord
• Study the talks of our Prophet (including the beautiful teachings in the footnotes)
• If needed, speak with your bishop and let him know of your desire to deepen your relationship with your Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ by making sacred covenants in the house of the Lord

Highlights

“Jesus taught through stories and symbols.

When God the Father offered His Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice for us, Jesus Christ Himself became the highest symbol of our Father in Heaven’s undying love for each of us.

We have the privilege and blessing of being invited into a covenant relationship with God in which our own lives can become a symbol of that covenant. Covenants create the kind of relationship that allows God to mold and change us over time and lift us to become more like the Savior, drawing us closer and closer to Him and our Father and eventually preparing us to enter Their presence.

Each person on earth is a beloved son or daughter of God. When we choose to be part of a covenant, it enhances and deepens our relationship with Him…The covenant path is all about our relationship with God.

Our Father wants a deeper relationship with all His sons and daughters, but it is our choice. As we choose to draw nearer to Him through a covenant relationship, it allows Him to draw nearer to us and more fully bless us.

When we choose to enter into that relationship, we witness to Him, through the symbolic actions of each covenant, that we are willing to abide by the conditions He has set.

Baptism by immersion is the symbolic gate through which we enter into a covenant relationship with God…With our baptism we symbolically put on Christ.

The ordinance of the sacrament also points to the Savior…As we perform the action of eating and drinking the emblems of His flesh and blood, Christ symbolically becomes a part of us. We again put on Christ as we make a new covenant each week.

As we make covenants with God in the house of the Lord, we further deepen our relationship with Him. Everything we do in the temple points to our Father’s plan for us, at the heart of which is the Savior and His atoning sacrifice.

As part of the temple endowment, we are authorized to wear the garment of the holy priesthood. It is both a sacred obligation and a sacred privilege.

The garment of the holy priesthood is deeply symbolic and also points to the Savior…Our temple garment reminds us that the Savior and the blessings of His Atonement cover us throughout our lives. As we put on the garment of the holy priesthood each day, that beautiful symbol becomes a part of us.

There is deep and beautiful symbolic meaning in the garment of the holy priesthood and its relationship to Christ. I believe that my willingness to wear the holy garment becomes my symbol to Him. It is my own personal sign to God.

As I keep my covenants and obligations with God, including wearing the garment of the holy priesthood, my very life can become a personal symbol of my love and deep gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my desire to have Him with me always.

Through a covenant relationship with God, our own lives can become a living symbol of our commitment to and deep love for our Father in Heaven…and our desire to progress and eventually become like our Savior, being prepared to one day enter Their presence. I testify that the great blessings of that covenant relationship are well worth the price.”

FULL text and video of Sister J. Anette Dennis’ talk can be found HERE.

Other messages from the April 2024 General Conference that I found particularly impactful:

• Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Key by President Russell M. Nelson
• Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ by Elder Ulisses Soares
• “Be Still, and Know That I Am God” by Elder David A. Bednar
• Jesus Christ at the Center of Our Lives by Elder Jose L. Alonso
• The Powerful Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ by Elder Dale G. Renlund