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QR CODES

The first time I used a QR code was at a community theater where my husband and I attended a play. Prior to that theater season, full-color high-gloss paper playbills were handed out for patrons to peruse before each show, so I was surprised when the usher who helped us find our seats informed us that the playbill was now digital–accessed through a QR code affixed to the seatbacks in front of us.

According to Google, “A QR code is a two-dimensional, machine-readable barcode consisting of black and white squares that stores data . . .” We see these codes everywhere these days: at restaurants to access a menu; on posters to access event information; even on the door of the ward clerk’s office to allow access to a signup sheet for tithing declaration appointments.

Example: QR code for Wikipedia

As instructed by my husband while sitting at the theater, I opened the camera app on my phone, centered the code within the box that appeared on my screen, then clicked on the pop-up link that appeared. And just like that I had access to all the information I wished for: director’s notes, the play synopsis, cast bios, a list of scenes, performance schedules, and a list of future productions coming to the theater.

Glancing around the theater before showtime, I found it interesting that many of the attendees didn’t bother to scan the QR code. Many others scanned it and looked only briefly at the available material provided by the link. There were others, however, who eagerly read every word of the information once they were given access.

This experience drew my thoughts to the temple. The day a person is endowed in the holy temple, it is as if Heavenly Father has handed them a QR code. The person endowed can choose to do nothing with that code, or he or she may make an occasional, feeble attempt to access the information made available. Eventually, as the person matures spiritually, he or she will reach a point of yearning to know more about the endowment, the covenants made, and begin a serious search–a reaching–for God and all He offers.

COLUMNS

Last summer, my daughter Rebecca and I spent a few days at Great Basin National Park. We were happy to exchange the July heat for the cooler temperatures of Lehman Caves, a limestone and marble cavern system. Handheld lanterns were provided for each member of our tour group, then we followed a young park ranger through a tunnel until it opened up into a large cavern which was heavily decorated by natural formations.

As the ranger taught about the various formations surrounding us, she spoke of stalactites, which hung from the cavern ceiling, and stalagmites, which grew from the floor of the cave. She explained that when rainwater soaks into the ground, it picks up tiny amounts of dissolved minerals. Once the water seeps into

the ceiling of a cave, the minerals gradually build up into icicle-like formations hanging from the ceiling or mound-like formations on the cave floor.

Most of this information I had learned as a child, but I was fascinated by what the ranger said next. She explained that when a stalactite and the stalagmite directly below it grow over a long period of time — hundreds or even thousands of years — they eventually meet and begin to grow together, forming a delicate column which slowly strengthens each time more minerals are deposited.

I’ve recently been thinking about my experience in the cave and the process of stalactites and stalagmites forming columns. I picture the stalactites as God reaching down toward His children, sending light and truth to guide us. I picture us — those beloved children — gradually receiving that light and truth and desiring to connect with our Heavenly Father in a powerful way. When our reaching meets His reaching through the keeping of sacred temple covenants, a column is formed, and our connection strengthens as we enter a new relationship with the God who has always been “in relentless pursuit” of us. (1)

The slow seeping of water from the cave ceiling brings to mind the scripture which says, “the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.” (D&C 121:45) The column which forms when we meet God through the keeping of our covenant commitments becomes a conduit of heavenly power and blessings.

COVENANTS

When we get serious about keeping our covenants, we are essentially saying to God, “I want to become more like You, and I need more of Your power so I can help build Your kingdom.” In essence, God answers, “Okay. Buckle up!” He is eager to pour out blessings upon covenant keepers and will use us to do His work.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson has taught, “Our covenant commitment to Him permits our Heavenly Father to let His divine influence “the power of godliness” (D&C 84:20), flow into our lives. He can do that because by our participation in priesthood ordinances we exercise our agency and elect to receive it.” (2)

While studying the Pearl of Great Price recently, I recognized in the prophet Abraham one who knew how to reach toward God, who wanted access to heavenly power, and actively sought for it. Abraham described himself as “a follower of righteousness.” But, at some point in his life, he desired “to be a greater follower of righteousness” and “to possess greater knowledge … desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God. . .” He “sought for the blessings of the fathers” — for priesthood power. (Abraham 1:2)

This is what reaching looks like: like Abraham, who actively sought for God’s choicest blessings; like the stalagmite which finally grows tall enough to connect with a stalactite and form a column; like the person who scans the QR code, clicks on the link, and devours all of the information made available.

My friend Stephanie accepted President Russell M. Nelson’s challenge to search for God’s promises to covenant Israel. In an unusually difficult season of her life, Stephanie was hungry for those blessings. She began her search by asking herself:

“How do I identify the promises? I discovered it was simple. Have you ever sorted through a bag of trail mix, pushing aside the peanuts and raisins in search of an M&M? Or sifted through a bag of change, brightening each time the light catches on a quarter?

“That’s how I identify the promises. While reading the stories and doctrine in the scriptures, I watch for the light to touch on words that reveal a promise — little snippets of hope spoken by God or by prophets who remind us of His promises. Once I find them, I write them down in a central location so I don’t lose them.” (3)

Through her diligence, Stephanie has discovered and recorded pages and pages of promises made by God to those who keep the covenants they’ve entered into with Him. Here are just a few:

“. . . as I was with Moses, so shall I be with thee.” (Joshua 1:5)

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

“. . . I will make weak things become strong unto them.” (Ether 12:27)

“. . . it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go.” (D&C 31:11)

Elder Dale G. Renlund listed several more blessings that come through covenant keeping:

“By making and keeping temple covenants, we learn more about the Lord’s purposes and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost. We receive direction for our lives. We mature in our discipleship so that we do not remain perpetual, unknowing children. Rather, we live with an eternal perspective and are more motivated to serve God and others. We receive increased capacity to fulfill our purposes in mortality. We are protected from evil, and we gain greater power to resist temptation and to repent when we stumble. When we falter, the memory of our covenants with God helps us return to the path. By connecting to God’s power . . . our destinies are changed because the covenant path leads to exaltation and eternal life.

“Keeping covenants . . . also provides us with strength to withstand mortality’s trials and heartaches. The doctrine associated with these covenants eases our way and provides hope, comfort, and peace. (4)

Accessing God’s promised blessings is found in the keeping of our covenants, the continual reaching toward God, the intentional studying about and searching for the light and truth and promises our Heavenly Father has offered to all who will make the effort to claim those blessings. By seeking God’s blessings through intentional, consistent covenant keeping, we will discover that, “. . . the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)

Notes:

Elder Patrick Kearon, God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home, April 2024 General Conference.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, The Power of Covenants, April 2009 General Conference.
Stephanie Francom, Bound to Him, Rooftop Publishing, 2023, p. 90.
Elder Dale G. Renlund, Accessing God’s Power Through Covenants, April 2023 General Conference.