Zarahemnah was a wicked man. He was an apostate from the truth who desired power and dominion. Why then would he be so concerned about breaking an oath? Couldn’t he simply make an oath to Moroni and then break it as soon as he and his troops were safe in the Lamanite wilderness? In this instance, we see the importance of oath-making and oath-keeping among the ancients. The same strict adherence to an oath can be seen in the behavior of Old World societies (Judges 11:30-40, Josh 9:3-21, 1 Sam 14). This, in part, prompted the Savior to teach the wicked that they should not take oaths, saying, Swear not at all…But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay (Matt 5:34,37).
In truth, oaths are to be taken in holy and sacred situations—to bind one to a covenant made not with man, but with God. Herein lies the irony, for the wicked Zarahemnah would not dare to make an oath which he might someday break, yet thousands of latter-day “saints” go to the temple and make oaths and covenants which they subsequently break with little or no remorse. Apparently, many do not take their covenants very seriously. But if the wicked Zarahemnah was concerned about breaking oaths made with a man, how much more should we be concerned about breaking sacred oaths made with God?
James A. Cullimore
"Some of the facts that come to our attention in the line of our duty make me wonder if we take as seriously as we should the covenants we have made as members of the Church: The covenants made in baptism…Promises made to our spouse and unto the Lord as we enter into the marriage covenant…All covenants made in the temple…Promises made to our bishop and stake president, branch president or mission president as we accept assignments to offices in the Church…The oath and covenant of the priesthood. The obligations we accept as we are ordained to the priesthood and act in its offices.
“The Lord expects us to be obedient to our covenants. Great blessings are promised us as we are obedient, both temporal and spiritual, the greatest of which is eternal life. (D&C 59:23.) Likewise, condemnation follows disobedience. The Lord expects us to be strong and conquering as we exercise our agency.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1970, p. 88)