Welcome.

In the church, when we talk of the Anti-Nephi Lehi’s, we often remember their remarkable covenant with the Lord that they would never again shed human blood. Incredibly impressive, they held fast to what they covenanted, and when the Lord required their lives, they willing stepped forward and gave them, as they had said they would.

This story moves me every time, every line.

But today I was brought to realize that what they actually made was a three part covenant. Furthermore, they didn’t just covenant to not do three things; they covenanted to do three things.

One:

“…and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives…” (Alma 24:18)

Today in Sunday School, my friend observed that it was “a blood for blood covenant.” Yes. Shed no blood but willingly give their own.

Two:

“…and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him…” (Alma 24:18)

A shift from thievery to generously giving.

Three:

“and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands.” (Alma 24:18)

Hard work in place of laziness.

I especially love the verse that immediately follows.

“And thus we see that, when these Lamanities were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin: and thus we see…they buried the weapons of war for peace…” (Alma 24:19)

Was it this three part covenant that caused such firmness or was it the firmness that birthed the three tier covenant?

In my experience, honoring my covenants has provided me with a firmness of mind and spirit. As I have sought to keep them, they have actually kept me.

Over the years, I have come to appreciate the cross. Not that I ever felt fondly towards it being used as an instrument of cruel death, because I haven’t. Innocently innatimate, wood has tragically been fashioned to become a supporting beam for cruxifiction. Just like Mother Earth groans under the weight of the wickedness she must presently witness, I believe the wooden beams, had they a voice to be heard, would have vehemently protested the cruxifiction of our Lord.

But still, I have come to regard the symbol of the cross as something meaningful, and it reminds me of my covenants actually. Two beams lay crosswise of one another. And of no small importance, they intersect in the midpoint. One points upward and one lays horizontally. One reminds me that I am covenanted with God in the heavens, and that my covenants also expand laterally, across the way as it were to my brother. I can’t think of a single covenant into which I have entered that does not point me to God and ask me to consider my fellowman.

Up and across.

This is how the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s covenanted: in a cross fashion.

To God, they gave their lives and to man they gave their blood.

To God they gave allegiance and commitment to the eighth of ten commandments given by Jehovah Himself:

“Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) And to man they gave their substance.

To God, they consecrated their time and talents. To man, they were not burdens.

And so these covenants we make, I love that we covenant not to do and to do. I love that they constitute levels and parts of a whole. This is how we become consecrated, how we shoulder our part of His cross, how we make His cross beautifully efficacious in our lives, how we overcome our achilles heels.

Notice that?

The three-part covenant the Anti-Nephi Lehi’s made hit them where it hurt most. Formerly, they were murderers, robbers and plunderers, and idle. Converted to the core, they were changed men and women. Once shot in the achilles heel, now totally recovered. Wounded, through obedience to covenant, no more.

Carrying crosses of conviction that very literally led them back to God’s presence.

Unto all the world: I love the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s and thank God for their faithfulness to their crosswise covenants.