The oath and covenant of the priesthood is a sacred agreement between a man receiving the priesthood and Heavenly Father, central to Latter-day Saint beliefs. When a man receives the priesthood, he enters into a covenant (a solemn promise) with God to faithfully magnify his priesthood calling, keep the commandments, serve as Jesus Christ would, live by every word from God, and marry in the temple for time and eternity. In return, God makes an immutable oath (a solemn guarantee) that those who keep this covenant will be sanctified by the Spirit, be numbered among the elect of God, receive all that the Father has, including exaltation and eternal life, and become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. This covenant comes specifically with the Melchizedek Priesthood, but the preparatory Aaronic Priesthood teaches commitments to serve, forsake worldly things, and live worthily. Failure to keep these covenants has severe consequences, but those striving faithfully will receive God's help and blessings. In simpler terms:
- The man promises to serve God faithfully, magnify his calling, obey commandments, live righteously, and be sealed in temple marriage.
- God promises that he will bless the man with sanctification, exaltation, and eternal life, giving him all that He has.
This is described in Doctrine and Covenants 84 and emphasized by Church leaders, who explain that this sacred oath and covenant is a path to eternal life and godhood. Notably, the oath is God's promise that He cannot break, ensuring blessings for the faithful priesthood holder. Thus, the oath and covenant of the priesthood is both the responsibility of the priesthood holder and the unbreakable promise of Heavenly Father for exaltation and eternal blessings in return for faithfulness and service. This understanding underscores the eternal significance and sacredness of the priesthood in the LDS faith. If you want, I can provide specific scripture references or quotes from leaders that elaborate further on the promises and responsibilities. Let me know if you'd like more detailed quotes or explanation.
