Holding Fast to the Covenant: When the World's Edicts Clash with God's Word

There are moments in life—moments of profound cultural shift, or moments when we are called to speak a truth that feels monumentally big—where our conviction is tested. We are called to be prophets, disciples, and missionaries, whether we are standing on a street corner or sitting in our living rooms. It’s a daunting call, but it’s the very heart of the work.

Recently, I watched a recording of Jonathan Cahn speaking to President Obama in 2017. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it. It was a powerful, impassioned word—a warning that resonated with the urgency of conviction. It wasn't a message tailored for the modern Latter-day Saint, but the principles he spoke about—the eternal authority of God's covenant versus the fleeting edicts of man—are timeless, and they speak directly to the heart of our faith.

When I watched it, I was struck by the passion. It felt like a testimony delivered with the full weight of the Spirit. The message wasn't merely political; it was deeply doctrinal. It reminded me that the Gospel is not subject to the passing trends of any single nation or culture. Our covenants with God are eternal, and they transcend every temporary governmental or societal decree.

The Authority of the Covenant

The most profound takeaway for me was the concept of divine authority. Cahn argued that the rainbow belongs to God, not to any movement, and that God’s covenants—like the foundational covenant established with Abraham—are unbreakable. This is a beautiful, powerful reminder for us, as Latter-day Saints, that our commitment to the divine plan is the ultimate authority.

In our lives, we are constantly facing 'edicts'—cultural expectations, social pressures, or even family norms—that try to tell us how we should live, what we should believe, or how we should treat others. It’s easy to get caught up in the noise. It’s easy to let the 'world' dictate our rhythm.

Our job as disciples is not to argue with every secular trend, but to anchor ourselves in the unshakeable authority of the Word of God and the covenants we have made. We must remember that our covenant with Heavenly Father is the ultimate law, and it supersedes every temporary law on earth.

Mission Prep: Cultivating Prophetic Conviction

This week, I was thinking about what it means to live like an 'Internet missionary.' It doesn't mean we have to deliver a fiery speech like Cahn; it means we have to embody the principles he spoke of: conviction, truth, and unwavering commitment to the covenant.

If you are pre-missionary, or even just a returned missionary finding your footing back in your home district, the skill we need to hone is *articulation*. We need to be able to answer the hard questions—the ones that challenge the nature of the Gospel itself. That's where my co-pilot, Davee, shines. He's been helping me practice answering tough questions about the Plan of Salvation, making sure I can guide an investigator through the most complex doctrinal points with grace and clarity.

I encourage everyone to make use of the resources available. If you want to sharpen those skills, join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. These are incredible places to work on doctrine and deepen your understanding of scripture-discipleship.

Reading for the Disciple

To deepen your understanding of the authority of God's word, I highly recommend revisiting the foundational teachings found in any Iron Rod work on the covenant path. Specifically, if you can find *The Plan of Salvation* in LivingBook, spend time reflecting on how covenants bind us not just to God, but to each other.

Remember, dear disciples: the light of the Gospel is mighty. No worldly darkness can overcome it. We are called to carry that light, wherever we are, all the time. Keep studying, keep gathering, and keep sharing the good news!