T10 Teaching Temple Covenants | An Interview with Anthony Sweat

Anthony Sweat is an Associate Professor of Church History and
Doctrine at Brigham Young University, and previously taught
Seminary and Institute for 13 years. With an early interest in art
he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts before pursuing religious
education, earning a Ph.D in curriculum and instruction from Utah
State University. He is the author of several articles and books
dealing with the teachings and history of the Church, and a regular
speaker at Latter-day Saint events and conferences. As a practicing
artist his paintings center on religious themes, including
underrepresented events in Church history. Anthony and his wife
Cindy are the parents of seven children. He is currently serving as
bishop of his ward. Highlights 1:45 Kurt and Anthony discuss his
books about the temple and covenants 4:15 What can we talk about
outside the temple? Most members are scared to talk about what goes
on inside the temple because they don’t know what’s appropriate.
8:30 Anthony talks about what he does as a bishop to help people
get ready to go to the temple and receive their endowment. 14:20
What to focus on when teaching about the covenants made in the
temple. Make sure people have a great foundation. 18:30 Most
religions aren’t talking about covenants. 20:15 The order of the
son of God is a covenant group of people that are given power and
capacity in their lives to overcome evil, to discern between right
and wrong, to call down the ministering of angels, to know how to
ask and receive revelation, part the veil, etc. 23:30 Covenants
guarantee the future behavior of the participants. We are not
making covenants for that moment but for future moments. 24:45
Listen to your covenants more than the state of your emotions. Your
covenants will tell you what to do. 28:30 How to answer people’s
questions after they go through the temple. What is ok to talk
about? 31:00 The five laws or major covenants of the temple 33:00
Seeing the big picture of the five laws. You are entering into an
order which means that you are patterning your life after the son
of God. 35:00 The first law is obedience to the law of the Lord.
The law is a little different depending on the time that you are
living. 36:00 The law of the gospel. Faith in Christ, repentance,
baptism, and receiving the holy ghost. This law sanctifies us and
purifies us. 37:25 The law of sacrifice. The release of the unholy.
Letting go of the things that are keeping us back from the kingdom.
It’s not about dying for the church but letting go of the natural
man. 38:25 The law of chastity. It’s not just about sex. It’s about
trust. Can I be trusted with power and the power to create? God is
in perfect control of his power. He knows how to control his power
and passion. If we want to be like him we must do the same. 42:00
The law of consecration. There is confusion between the law of
consecration and the applications of the law. We are covenating to
dedicate our time, talents, and means to the kingdom of God. 46:00
Part of the law of consecration is not to have to be told to do
everything. We should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do
things of our own free will. 47:45 Garments are a very personal
thing. As a leader you should teach the doctrine and not focus so
much on the behavior. “True doctrine understood changes attitudes
and behavior.” Boyd K Packer. 53:00 The temple is a house of
progression. It’s a house for revelation. Links Get 14-day access
to the Core Leader Library The Holy Covenants: Living Our Sacred
Temple Promises The Holy Invitation: Understanding Your Sacred
Temple Endowment Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast