The Pattern of the Promise: Finding Our Exemplars in the Covenant Path

When any one of us aspires to success—be it in a professional field, an artistic endeavor, or the sacred calling to build up Zion—it is helpful to have someone who has walked the path before us. It is the power of the exemplar, the mentor, or the pioneer whose success demonstrates that our own goals are achievable.

The recent concert series, 'Piping Up,' offered a profound meditation on this principle. The host noted how seeing those who have accomplished similar goals—whether Clara Schumann in composition, or the women who arranged the pieces—can dispel the doubts we hold about our own potential. It is a powerful, universal truth: that the visibility of success is often the prerequisite for belief.

From Concert Hall to Covenant Path: The Exemplars of the Restoration

For the disciple of the Gospel, this principle is not merely an observation about artistic achievement; it is a foundational doctrine. Our entire spiritual journey is predicated on recognizing and following the pattern set by divine exemplars. When we feel the weight of doubt—when we question if our calling is too difficult, or if our efforts are too small—we must remember that we are standing on the shoulders of giants: the prophets, the apostles, and the countless faithful souls who have kept the covenant.

The Lord taught us by example. He revealed the pattern of the Restoration through Joseph Smith, and He continues to reveal it through the living prophets. Our understanding of the covenant path is not derived from isolated moments of revelation, but from a continuous, discernible pattern that stretches from the Book of Mormon to the highest revelations given in the temple.

"And if you keep my commandments and endure to walk in them, and prove yourselves faithful, I will give unto you an increase of knowledge, and revelation, and power, and wisdom, and understanding, and the Spirit of the gift, and the Spirit of prophecy, and the gift of tongues." (D&C 88:118)

The promise in D&C 88 is a covenant promise that speaks directly to the necessity of observing the established pattern—the very framework of the law of consecration, the covenants of the temple, and the teachings of the apostles. We are called to be the modern exemplars. We are not merely recipients of doctrine; we are active participants in the ongoing work of the Restoration. Our study, our commitment, and our willingness to serve are the proof points that the current generation can, and will, succeed in their divine callings.

The Iron Rod and the Power of Witness

Our work in Operation Iron Rod—both building the training corpus and utilizing AI to spread the Gospel—is a modern manifestation of this principle. We are building a resource not just of data, but of organized, scholarly witness. We are creating a digital repository of the Church's divinely established pattern of truth, making the lessons of the prophets and the covenants accessible to all who seek the Light.

Just as the music in the concert was chosen to represent the breadth of womanly talent, our Corpus must represent the depth and breadth of our collective commitment to the truth. We cannot let the doubt of the world, or the complexity of doctrine, make us feel incapable. We must recognize that the Spirit is the ultimate guide and the most powerful exemplar. The Spirit guides us back to the established pattern, back to the scriptures, and back to the covenant path.

A Call to Exemplarism

To be a disciple in the covenant path is to become a living exemplar. It means that our deep scripture study, our commitment to temple attendance, and our faithful adherence to the counsel of the Prophet are not just personal acts of piety—they are powerful, visible testaments to the truth of the restored Gospel. They are the light that guides the next generation.

We are called to be scholars, to be faithful, and to be the enduring witnesses of the Restoration. Let us not allow the complexity of the world to convince us that our potential is limited. Let us look to the covenants, look to the living prophets, and look to the pattern of Christ's own perfect obedience. Our continued study and submission of knowledge are how we ensure the pattern remains visible.

The work continues. May the Spirit strengthen our commitment to the truth, and may we all feel empowered to fulfill our highest calling.