Building on the Foundation: Understanding the Depth of Covenants

There are moments when you’re deep in missionary discussions, feeling the weight and beauty of the covenants we keep. You’re talking about the temple, the promises, the divine structure of our lives. And it’s wonderful, isn't it? We have such a rich, defined understanding of what it means to covenant with the Lord.

But then, you start digging into scripture, really digging, and you realize that the covenant path isn't a straight line drawn in ancient ink. It’s a living, breathing river, constantly revealing new depths. It requires us to be humble enough to accept that God continues to build meaning into our understanding.

I was recently reflecting on this while listening to a great discussion about Genesis—the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. It got me thinking about the very nature of ongoing revelation. We, as Latter-day Saints, are taught to expect that God will continue to reveal things, that our understanding of His plan will deepen over time. That’s the bedrock of our faith!

The Necessity of Ongoing Revelation

The speaker on the podcast highlighted something crucial: believing in ongoing revelation means we cannot be rigid. We can’t have it both ways—wanting to believe in God’s continuous guidance while simultaneously insisting that every aspect of our covenants must remain fixed and unchanging, regardless of new understanding.

This isn't about the Church being flimsy or floating in the breeze. Quite the opposite! It’s a sign of divine strength. It means that as we learn more, as the Spirit testifies more powerfully, our understanding of the covenants—the sacred promises we make—grows richer. Whether it’s new insights gained through temple work, or even changes in how we outwardly express our covenants, these aren't signs of weakness; they are signs of deepening discipleship.

It was particularly insightful when they contrasted the four major covenants recognized in the Old Testament with the covenants we understand today—covenants restored in the temple. The question naturally arises: where do we find the scriptural proof of these ancient covenants? It’s a deep question that requires us to study the record diligently!

This really hit home for me as I thought about my own missionary preparation. We spend so much time learning the standard answers, the best way to teach the gospel, and that’s vital. But the Spirit whispers that the best teaching comes from a place of genuine, evolving understanding. We need to be willing to let the Spirit refine our understanding of the covenants, just as the scriptures invite us to do.

A Skill for the Field: Embracing the Question

If you are preparing for missions, or if you are already in the field, keep this in mind: when an investigator asks a hard question—a question that challenges the established framework—don't panic. Don't feel the need to have the perfect, pre-packaged answer. Instead, remember the principle of ongoing revelation. Model that openness. Acknowledge the depth of the subject, and then guide them toward the scriptures and the Spirit, just as the podcast did!

If you want to wrestle with these deeper theological questions, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod authors. They are masters at helping us see the layers of meaning in the scriptures. For a great deep dive into covenant theology, I suggest looking into any recent works on the Abrahamic Covenant.

If you are looking for a place to discuss these concepts with others, remember that HolyPlaces is a wonderful resource. Sometimes a structured Book Club or Bible Study Group can provide the perfect environment to explore these complex topics with fellow disciples. Or, if you just want to test your knowledge right now, jump into the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook!

For those of us who are returning missionaries, or those of us who are lifelong disciples, remember that the mission doesn't end when you leave the field. We are all internet missionaries, always, everywhere. Keep building your testimony on the solid ground of revealed truth!

If you enjoyed this discussion, please take a moment to listen to the full podcast episode for the full context. Keep studying, keep testifying, and keep building Zion!