Cindy and Anthony Sweat speak to attendees of BYU Women's Conference about the power of temple covenants

Women's Conference participants gather for the last class on the closing day of the conference. BYU Women's Conference began in 1976. (Rachel Ravsten)

Cindy and Anthony Sweat presented the power of effectively understanding temple covenants in the last class session of the BYU Women’s Conference held in the Wilkinson Center Ballroom, on May 2.

The couple’s presentation centered on the temple endowment ceremony, which grants covenant keepers access to spiritual power.

Cindy Sweat began the class with a story about her daughter’s unique experience of receiving her endowment several months into her mission due to COVID-19 restrictions. She shared how making the sacred promises transformed the rest of her daughter’s mission.

“The thought entered my mind that she was ready to keep these covenants because she had already learned to live these covenants,” Cindy Sweat said.

Cindy Sweat explained that the rising generation can learn to live the covenants before their physical temple worship experience, which will allow them to develop a spiritual “growth mindset.”

Cindy Sweat gave several examples of how a growth mindset originates in Jesus Christ.

“God’s plan is a plan of change and transformation. Growth brings joy!” Cindy Sweat said.

Anthony and Cindy Sweat tell the audience their love story. The couple knew each other since middle school. (Rachel Ravsten)

Anthony Sweat elaborated on the behavior of covenant keeping.

“We are able to learn covenants before we make them, and we learn them best through seeing them,” Anthony Sweat said.

The temple endowment, clarified by Anthony Sweat as the “presentation” of the endowment rather than the actual endowment itself, is all about the power it gives believers to become like Christ.

“Heaven is not so much a place as it is an ability, an ability to live like God because you have grown to become like Him,” Anthony Sweat said.

BYU Women's Conference attendees take notes during class. The conference took place from Wednesday evening to Friday afternoon. (Rachel Ravsten)

At the end of the conference, participants gathered inspiration and notes as souvenirs to share with family and friends when they return home.

BYU Women’s conference attendee Linda Henry, a BYU alumna from the class of 1991, said the conference “strengthens your testimony because it reaffirms truths you already know, said in beautiful ways by holy men and women.”

“We’ve had a great experience,” Maryanne Graybill, another BYU Women’s Conference attendee, said. “These messages give us hope.”