Seeing the Thread: How the Old Testament Points to the New Covenant

Remember those times when you’re studying the scriptures, and you hit a passage—maybe in Leviticus or Isaiah—and you stop? You just pause, feeling that quiet nudge from the Spirit, like something is clicking into place? That’s the feeling of seeing the thread connecting everything.

When I was first getting back into full-time missionary work after my last assignment, I felt a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of doctrine. It’s so much! We have the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and then we have the deep, rich tapestry of the Old Testament. It’s easy to treat it like an appendix rather than the profound foundation it truly is.

But the truth, my friends, is that the Old Testament isn't just history; it’s prophecy, it’s covenant, and it’s the beautiful setup for everything that follows. It’s the prologue to the greatest story ever told.

The Misconception vs. The Reality

I was recently looking at some material discussing the Old Testament, and it hit me how often we treat it like a collection of disconnected books. It's a collection of genres—history, law, poetry, prophecy. But more importantly, it’s a collection of covenants.

When the professors discussed the name "Testament," it brought to mind that the very word is a variant of "Covenant." This isn't just a name; it’s a doctrinal pointer. The Old Covenant was established, yes, but it was always, always framed by the anticipation of something *more*—something better. And that "more" is the New Covenant established through the Savior.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the details of the old laws or the historical accounts, and forget the overarching narrative arc. We need to see the pattern!

The segment on Jeremiah 31:31-33 was a real moment for me. Reading that passage—"I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts"—it’s a promise of fulfillment. It’s the ultimate promise that points directly to the Atonement. The old covenant was powerful, but the New Covenant, sealed by Christ, elevates it all.

A Little Mission Prep Thought

If you are preparing for your own mission, or if you are in missionary discussions with an investigator, keep this principle front and center. When they ask, "Why do we need to study the Old Testament if we have the Book of Mormon?" Don't just list books. Point to the *pattern*. Point to the covenant progression. Show them that the scriptures are one unified testimony of Jesus Christ.

It’s not about *if* we study the Old Testament, but *how* we study it—with eyes wide open for the Savior’s hand guiding us through every single chapter.

If you want to dig deeper into this concept of covenant fulfillment, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod resources on covenants. It helps frame these historical narratives within the grand scope of our plan of salvation.

Fellow disciples, let’s commit to seeing the thread. Let’s keep studying with the anticipation of the Savior’s return and the fulfillment of every promise. We are all internet missionaries, and our greatest tool is seeing the gospel as one beautiful, interconnected story.

If you’ve found a passage in the Old Testament that really made you pause and think about Christ, drop it in the comments below! Or, if you want to discuss this further, join us this week for a virtual Book Club session—details are posted in the Disciple Corner.