The Nephites, righteous and wicked, were serious about their covenants. Even the lawless, murdering, lying Gadianton prisoners were set free as long as they covenanted to repent and murder no more. Well how easy would it have been for them to make a covenant of peace and break it the next day or month? Yet, none of them did as evidenced by the 5 years of peace which followed. You would think that these thieves would say anything to save their own skins. But apparently, they would rather die than break a covenant. This is according to the ancient tradition.
In the ancient tradition, one could never break an oath or covenant, If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth (Num 30:2). This commandment was honored even when all others were completely ignored. The Lamanites also honored this code as evidenced by the account between Moroni and the armies of Zerahemnah. Moroni offered the defeated armies freedom on the condition that they make an oath, ye shall not depart except ye depart with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war (Alma 44:11). The Lamanites rejected the offer, apparently not even considering the option of feigning sincerity in order to be released. As a result the battle continued until finally, the Lamanites submitted, promising…if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they never would come to war again against them (Alma 44:19).
In contrast to the Nephites, Gadianton robbers, and Lamanites, the current generation thinks very little of violating covenants. Paul prophesied of the day when men would be trucebreakers (or covenant breakers) and blasphemers (2 Tim 3:2-3). Unfortunately, this trend extends throughout the culture and affects many church members. Temple covenants are casually entered into and casually broken. At times, the concept that it is better to die than to violate a covenant seems to be lost with the ancients. We would do well to remember how the Lord feels about covenant breakers, the covenant which they made unto me has been broken…And wo to him by whom this offense cometh, for it had been better for him that he had been drowned in the depth of the sea (DC 54:4-5), and Wherefore he broke my covenant, and it remaineth with me to do with him as seemeth me good (DC 40:3).
John Taylor
“God expects you to be true to your vows, to be true to yourselves, and to be true to your wives and children. If you become covenant breakers, you will be dealt with according to the laws of God. And the men presiding over you have no other alternative than to bring the covenant breaker to judgment. If they fail to do their duty, we shall be under the necessity of looking after them, for righteousness and purity must be maintained in our midst.” (The Gospel Kingdom, p. 285)