Elder Yoon Hwan Choi
Elder Yoon Hwan Choi encourages us to find happiness by staying on the covenant path, emphasizing the importance of making and keeping sacred covenants with God.
What Is the Covenant Path?
Elder Choi explains that the covenant path is a series of covenants that lead us to Christ, beginning with faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, followed by baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. These covenants provide access to God’s eternal power, with the path culminating in temple ordinances like the endowment.
Elder Dale G. Renlund: “Through this covenant bond, we have access to His eternal power.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- 2 Nephi 31:17: “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do…”
- Doctrine and Covenants 84:33: “For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit…”
Are You on the Covenant Path?
Elder Choi shares a touching story of a returned missionary who was battling anxiety and depression. After much prayer, he found his way back to the covenant path by heeding the promptings of the Spirit, specifically regarding tithing. The young man said, “I felt the prompting of the Spirit tell me that I needed to be paying my tithing in full… if you pay your tithing, everything will be OK.” Elder Choi emphasizes that seeking Heavenly Father’s guidance may yield unexpected but personalized answers.
President Thomas S. Monson taught: “The greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right.”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21: “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated… And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”
- Moroni 10:5: “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
How Can Keeping Covenants with God Make You Happy?
Elder Choi compares the yoke of marriage to yoking ourselves to the Savior through covenants. Keeping sacred covenants yokes us to Christ, allowing us to accomplish things we couldn’t do alone. He emphasizes that this yoking brings access to the Savior’s strength and redeeming power, making life easier and happier.
President Nelson, “Yoking yourself with the Savior means you have access to His strength and redeeming power… Keeping covenants actually makes life easier!”
Scriptural references for further study:
- Matthew 11:28-30: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- Doctrine and Covenants 88:63: “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Calls to Action:
- Return to the covenant path.
- Stay on the covenant path. “Your life will be easier, happier, and filled with joy.”