Why it Matters that God is an “Unchangeable Being”

 In the weekly email from our sealing coordinator, the sealers in the San Antonio Temple where I serve were asked to review the recently updated Temple Presidents Handbook. As I did so, I was again impressed (as I had been in many earlier readings) of the many evidences therein of the truth proclaimed in bold lettering above the entrance to every temple—“HOLINESS TO THE LORD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD” (see Exodus 28:36; 39:30; Zechariah 14:20). The overriding impression I came away with was, “God cares about how His ordinances are administered.” Why? Because eternal consequences flow from the acceptance and keeping of the covenants administered in these ordinances. 

Temple ordinance procedures, including the procedures learned and administered by temple workers, witness to the truth that “mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion” (D&C 132:8). To those who would second guess or seek to counsel the Lord about how His gospel has been or should continue to be administered, the Lord explained simply and directly: “Behold, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing [that is, in His continuing restoration of, or revelation about, His gospel and ordinances and how they should be administered and received]; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning.” In other words, the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ are not new—they were given from the beginning, that is, beginning with Adam and Eve. Indeed, as “Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve has taught, [these] ‘laws and ordinances of the priesthood [were] instituted before the foundation of the world.’” (Stephen L. Fluckiger, Drawing Upon the Spiritual Treasures of the Temple, 155, quoting, Cook, “Safely Gathered Home,” Liahona, May 2023). “Wherefore,” the Lord declared, “enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God.” (D&C 22:1, 4) 

With this understanding, individuals receiving their own endowment, or couples being sealed, would do well to carefully review sections of the General Handbook describing certain elements of, and important procedures related to, these all-important ordinances.[1]

The “orderliness” of God’s House, as well as of His laws and Plan of Salvation, reflect His character. Another way of describing this divine attribute of “orderliness” or the eternal consistency that characterizes God and His Law is the oft-repeated scriptural phrase, God “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (2 Nephi 27:23; see also Hebrews 13:8; 1 Nephi 10:18; 2 Nephi 29:9; Mormon 9:9; D&C 20:12). Similarly, God’s “course is one eternal round” (D&C 35:1).

Why is this attribute of “order,” or unchangeableness, so important? Simply put, it is why we can trust our Heavenly Father. The same unvarying outcomes flow from obedience to His eternal laws governing those outcomes (eg. “wickedness never was [and never will be] happiness” because it is “contrary to the nature of happiness” (Alma 41:10-11)). By the same token, God’s unchangeable goodness (Mormon 9:19; Moroni 8:18) is why all created things “honor” and obey Him (Abraham 4: 10, 12, 18, 21). As Christ, speaking for the Father, explained, this “honor” is what Lucifer coveted and why He rebelled, “‘saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power’ (Doctrine and Covenants 29:36).” (Drawing, 13)

We should not be surprised by the absolute character or unvarying results that flow from God’s law. Isn’t the same true in our human sphere? How many times in our own day-to-day lives have we suffered the consequences of our own poor choices resulting from the breach of a contract, law or social expectation? 

Perhaps in no other sphere is the principle—“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10—more important than in our family relationships, specifically our relationships with our spouse and children. The Lord declared boldly and clearly, all covenants or expectations related to our “belonging” to each other as family members after death must be made “by me or by my word, which is my law.” Otherwise, they will not be “valid neither of force when [we] are out of the world” (D&C 132:18). 

 What makes possible these eternal bonds? God’s restoration of priesthood keys, beginning with the keys bestowed on Joseph Smith by John the Baptist and Peter, James and John and culminating with the keys restored by Moses, Elias and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple. Such keys, President Nelson explained, “place a ratifying seal on [all] priesthood ordinances and covenants, and [seal us to our] families eternally. . . . Without priesthood keys, none of us would have access to essential ordinances and covenants that bind us to our loved ones eternally and allow us eventually to live with God.” (Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” April 2024 General Conference) 

Priesthood ordinances and covenants, especially temple ordinances, also enable men and women to receive the “key” to unlock “the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God” (D&C 84:19; 107:18-19) How grateful we each should be to know, among so many other restored truths, that God is an “unchangeable being” (Mormon 9:19) and that all of His promises to us are sure. May the reverence with which we approach our temple worship reflect our love and gratitude to Him for all that He has done and continues to do for us each day. As we so reverence Him, including our efforts to imitate or pattern our lives after the Only Begotten Son God He gave us, we are assured that They will sanctify us in Their own way and time.” (Fluckiger, Drawing, 16)

[1] See, for example, General Handbook 26.5.1, “Members Receiving Their Own Endowment;” 27.1, “Receiving Temple Ordinances;” 27.2, “The Endowment;” 27.3, “Sealing of Husband and Wife;” 27.4, “Sealing Living Children to Parents;” 38.5.5, “Wearing the Garment.”[2] Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash