Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Yesterday at work I was tasked with researching a legal case about water rights and I was touched by a phrase I heard when reviewing the recording of a council meeting. A legal battle started when a board deemed that the water rights of an entity were invalid under the contract that had been negotiated. Law firms on both sides scrutinized the issue and federal courts sided with the board. The legal teams found that the original contract was unilateral, only one party had obligations and responsibilities, and that unilateralism invalidated the contract because by definition a contract needed mutual obligations and responsibilities between both parties. The board and entity later settled and drew up a new contract that had obligations and responsibilities for both parties, which then allowed the entity to have and use its water rights under the guidelines set in the contract.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I have learned about God’s Plan of Salvation, and how from the beginning of time, our Heavenly Father has blessed His children through covenants (Mosiah 5:5-9). Like contracts, covenants are an agreement, but the parties do not act as equals, and only one side sets the terms; there aren’t any negotiations or settlements. Also like contracts, both parties in the covenant make promises to each other, and breaking those promises can break the covenant.

Sometimes obligations and responsibilities can seem daunting or impossible, but keeping God’s commandments are what give us power and rights to move forward and have eternal life. Also contract comes from the Latin con-(together) and trahere (draw). Keeping our covenants with our Heavenly Father will draw us together to Him (Doctrine and Covenants 88:62-64; James 4:8) and give us the rights to drink from the living water, and be perfected in His Son Jesus Christ.