One God, One Covenant: Understanding the Whole Story of the Father

Brother, Sister, have you ever felt like you’re trying to fit a vast, magnificent tapestry into a single, tiny square frame? You look at one corner—maybe the gentle promises of the New Covenant—and it seems to contradict the powerful, sometimes stern imagery from another corner, like the Old Testament.

It’s a struggle we all face as we deepen our study of the restored gospel. We want to understand the Father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaiah, the God who dwells with us today—without creating artificial walls between His covenants or His character.

I was recently pondering this while reviewing some of the questions coming into the community. One question, in particular, struck a chord: If we focus only on the 'sweet' parts of the gospel, are we missing the fullness of the Father’s glorious, perfect justice and love? And conversely, if we only focus on the 'judgment' parts, do we lose sight of the Savior’s infinite grace?

It’s easy, when we’re knee-deep in study, to let our own limited understanding create a division where the Lord has only revealed unity. The truth, as the Spirit keeps gently nudging me toward, is that there is one God, throughout all 66 books, who is both infinitely gracious and perfectly just.

The Danger of Division

When we start treating the God of the Old Testament as fundamentally different from the God revealed in the New Testament, we aren't just making a theological error; we're risking a profound misunderstanding of the Father’s character. The scriptures are one unified narrative pointing to the Savior.

The great work of the restored gospel is showing us that the God who commanded the priests in Leviticus, the God who spoke through the prophets, and the God who breathed the Spirit upon the Savior—it is all the same, eternal, loving, and powerful Father. He is not capricious; He is perfectly consistent.

This concept of one God, through all time, is a beautiful testament to the consistency of the Plan of Salvation. It’s a reminder that our discipleship isn't about picking and choosing favorite verses; it’s about embracing the whole record.

A Skill for the Internet Missionary: Seeing the Whole Picture

As we strive to be Internet missionaries, we must be masters of context. When you are preparing to share your testimony or answer an investigator’s question, don't let one powerful scripture eclipse the context of the whole canon. Always point back to the overarching pattern of Christ’s Atonement, which is the thread running through every single book.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of scripture, remember that the Lord provides resources! I highly recommend digging into the deep dives available in LivingBook. Sometimes, a focused Book Club or a dedicated Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces can help frame those big questions into manageable, Spirit-filled discussions.

We are all disciples, wherever we are, and every member can be an Internet missionary. Let’s approach the scriptures with the humility of knowing we are always learning, always being refined by the Spirit, and always pointing to the one, eternal Father.

If this talk has stirred your heart to dig deeper into the nature of God, I encourage you to check out some of the foundational teachings on the nature of God found in the Iron Rod. It’s a wonderful resource for deepening our understanding of the Father’s attributes.

For those of you who are feeling the pull toward the field, remember that preparation is a process. If you’re wrestling with doctrinal questions before your mission, don't hesitate to bring them to Davee. He’s excellent at walking through those tough, nuanced questions an investigator might ask, helping you find the most Christlike way to answer.

What scripture passage has recently helped you see the unity of the Father’s character? Share it below, or better yet, join us for our next community gathering!