Elder David A. Bednar

Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise

Quorum of the Twelve

Read the full talk on churchofjesuschrist.org Watch on YouTube

In brief

Elder Bednar, using the image of a damaged passport rejected at a border, teaches that ordinances and covenants are our credentials for returning to God, and that their integrity must be maintained through ongoing faithfulness, ratified over time by the Holy Spirit of Promise. He explains that a temple sealing has both a marriage aspect and a vertical tie to God's eternal family. To a faithful spouse whose partner breaks covenants, his answer is an emphatic no: another person's choices cannot deprive a covenant keeper of any promised blessing.

1,402words

~12minutes

9.3references to Christ per 1,000 words

2questions asked

0direct invitations

Themes in this talk

Covenants 22 Truth with love 2 Giving 2 Adversity 1 Grace 1 Striving 1 Identity 1

Number of coded passages from this talk in each theme.

Teach this talk

Three ready-to-teach 30-minute lessons built on this talk.

Adults · 30 minutesCredentials for the Journey HomeCovenants kept over time are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, and no one else's unrighteous choices can take God's promised blessings from a faithful covenant keeper.Youth · 30 minutesWill It Get You In?A covenant is an enduring promise between God and me; as I keep it over time the Holy Ghost seals it, and no one else's choices can take God's blessings from me.Children · 30 minutesMy Promises with Heavenly FatherA covenant is a special promise with Heavenly Father; I can keep my promises, and the Holy Ghost helps me.

Test yourself on this talk

Three short quizzes on what Elder Bednar taught: easy for families and first-time listeners, medium for understanding, hard for careful study.

Questions and explanations are written for this site and are not official Church materials. Each answer points to the paragraph of the official talk it comes from. All quizzes →

Key passages

Covenants · ordinances as credentials

“Ongoing faithfulness is required for those credentials to be valid and for promised blessings to be received.”

T31.13

Covenants · holy spirit of promise

“Receiving this ratifying sealing by the Holy Ghost typically is not a one-time event; rather, it comes over time as we repent sincerely and consistently, honor our covenants, and yield our hearts unto God.”

T31.17

Covenants · faithful not deprived

“No faithful disciple will ultimately be deprived of any eternal blessing God has promised because of another individual’s unrighteous exercise of moral agency.”

T31.28

Scripture referenced

D&C 132:7
Moses 7:21
D&C 136:4
D&C 64:31–32
Mosiah 2:41

From the talk's official footnotes and in-text citations.