Review
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Title: Covenant Keepers: Unlocking the Miracles God Wants For You
Author: Wendy Watson Nelson
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Inspirational
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 74
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-162-0
Price: $15.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
There are many doctrinal topics within the teachings of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including some that are multi-level in the depth, understanding and meaning for our lives. Such is the crucial doctrine of covenants and covenant keeping.
In her beautiful new book, Sister Wendy Watson Nelson explains the importance of covenants in our lives with the following statement: When it comes to making and keeping covenants with God, nothing is more important. And nothing is more filled with power! There has never been a more important time to understand the power to which we have access because of our covenants right now!
Sister Nelson concentrates on our baptismal, sacramental, and temple covenants. She quotes Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s definition of covenants: A covenant is a binding spiritual contract, a solemn promise to God our Father that we will live and think and act in a certain way-the way of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In return, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost promise us the full splendor of eternal life.
The author goes on to tell the story of giving a group of exhausted, overtaxed, stressed young mothers a challenge. They were encouraged to make a sacrifice of time to the Lord by increasing their time in family history and temple work for a period of 21 days. What seemed like a counterintuitive, even cruel suggestion, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for these sisters. The sisters who took part in this exercise wrote of how they felt when they made time to do these things. They found they had more time for other things as well. There was an overall sense of joy, happiness, and peace. They experienced less stress and anxiety, and more energy. The sisters had learned that sacrifice does indeed bring forth the blessings of heaven. When we make a sacrifice to the Lord, a sacrifice that means something to Him, heaven is bound to respond.
Sister Nelson continues to expertly weave the doctrines of covenants, sacrifice, blessings, miracles and other doctrinal truths together with personal stories, insights and observations from the scriptures and church leaders. This small, delightful and uplifting book packs a powerful punch with gems of truth and hope. It is compact enough to tuck into nearly any woman’s purse and would be a thoughtful and meaningful gift for the women in your life.
This was the first book I have read by Wendy Watson Nelson, and now I am eager to read her other books and listen to the talks on CD she has done. Her wisdom, perception and discernment on gospel topics is enlightening and informative. I found her words of wisdom both delightful and encouraging and inspiring.