Original question: What are the covenants that are made in a Mormon temple?

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Thank you for this excellent question, Quora User (Dhruval Patel). A covenant in this context is a solemn promise to God, like a vow. God sets the terms, and we choose whether to enter into the covenant. If we keep our end, God always blesses us. On April 26, 1832, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed the following to the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–1844): “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” So a covenant is an act of faith, a sign of trust in God as well as a divine guarantee.

Before we enter the temple, we must make a covenant that we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, and demonstrate that commitment for a year. Males have an additional covenant to make before qualifying for admission to the temple.

Once inside the temple, we make higher covenants that are outlined in the Holy Bible and in the Doctrine and Covenants. In exchange for our faithfulness in these covenants, God promises us everything He has.

In the picture you see the altar where the highest covenant is made. A married (or marrying) couple kneels across from each other, holds hands, and covenants their lifetime faithfulness to each other and to God’s law. The officiating high priest “seals” them together and pronounces blessings on them that last well beyond this life and into eternity. The ceremony lasts about two minutes, not counting the words of advice the officiator may wish to share with the couple.

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Jim Silsby's answer

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Additional note

I have a nuclear scientist friend (my apologies for the low quality photo) who when sealed to his wife in the Denver Colorado Temple, was told by the officiator that he should be the one washing dishes. He has washed the dishes every night of their whole marriage, and look how happy they are. Both their children have been married in the temple. (But neither their son nor their son-in-law received advice related to household chores.)