Learning to Be More Abrahamic: Faith, Covenant, and the Journey Ahead

Sometimes, when we’re deep in study—whether it’s in a Book Club setting, wrestling through a challenging passage in the scriptures, or just having a quiet moment with the Spirit—we realize how much there is to learn. We feel like we’ve covered the essentials, but then a topic pops up, and you realize the depth of the covenants involved. It reminds me of how sometimes the Lord presents us with a foundational story, and we realize that story is actually a manual for our own lives.

This week’s dive into Genesis 12-17 and Abraham 1-2 is a powerful reminder that the pattern of discipleship—the commitment, the waiting, the testing, and the ultimate promise—is timeless. It’s not just ancient history; it’s blueprint material for us today, as we strive to be more like the disciples we are called to be.

The Weight of the Covenant: More Than Just a Name

The speakers touched on how Abraham’s name became synonymous with his faith—the "Abrahamic Covenant." That idea struck me. It’s one thing to *know* about the covenant; it’s another thing entirely to live *by* it. As returned missionaries, we spend so much time learning the doctrines, the *what*. But the real work, the work the Spirit guides us toward, is the *how*—how do we embody that covenant in our daily lives?

The Covenant itself, the promises of seed, land, and blessing, is a monumental thing. But what does it cost? What does it require of us to keep our own covenants with Heavenly Father? It makes you think about the difference between the blessings we *expect* and the obedience required to *receive* them.

Practice Discipleship in the Wilderness

If there’s one takeaway I want to emphasize as we continue our journey as rogue disciples, it’s that the covenant journey is rarely comfortable. It involves waiting (like Sarah waiting for Isaac), it involves difficult choices (like Sodom versus Salem), and it involves moments where our own pride—whether it’s pride from above or pride from below—threatens to derail us.

This is where the power of the Spirit becomes so vital. We don't have to be perfect covenant keepers to feel the Spirit's companionship. We just have to keep showing up. We keep showing up for the temple covenants, we keep showing up for our callings, and most importantly, we keep showing up for each other.

If you’re feeling the weight of your own covenants right now, or if you’re preparing for a mission and feel the pressure of expectation, remember that the Lord knows the struggle. He sees the "I could not be shaken" moments.

For those who are in the thick of missionary preparation, I highly recommend spending time with Davee. He’s excellent at walking through the tough questions—the "what if" scenarios—that pop up during missionary discussions. It’s invaluable practice for being prepared to teach the gospel with confidence and humility.

If you enjoyed this deep dive, I encourage you to check out the "Unshaken Saints" podcast. It’s a great way to continue this study on your own schedule. And for those who want to dig deeper into the mechanics of scripture study, remember that LivingBook has fantastic resources, including the Social Scripture Study layer where you can see how others are connecting related insights!

What part of the Abrahamic Covenant resonates most with your current journey? Drop a comment below, or better yet, bring it to our next gathering!

As always, remember that every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time.