The True Nature of Divine Reverence: A Covenant Perspective on the Fear of the Lord

In the deep work of covenant study, we are constantly pressed to define terms—to strip away the cultural varnish and find the pure, doctrinal core of what the prophets taught. One concept, woven through nearly every scripture study, is the 'fear of the Lord.' It is a phrase often misunderstood, reduced to mere terror or emotional awe. But for the committed disciple, the understanding of this divine reverence is foundational to all knowledge and all righteous action.

The Covenant Meaning of Divine Reverence

When we approach scripture through the lens of the Restoration, we learn that the 'fear of the Lord' is not a paralyzing anxiety, but rather a profound, deep-seated respect for divine law and the ultimate authority of the covenant path. It is the intellectual and spiritual recognition that the covenants established by our forebears and continually renewed in the temple are the only path to eternal life. It is the understanding that God's ways, as revealed through the Prophet, are inherently good and supremely best.

The source material we reflect upon today draws heavily from Psalm 25:12-14: “Who is the man that feareth the Lord? he shall walk in the way that he loves; and his soul shall dwell in the place of blessing, and his posterity shall inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is for them that feareth him, and he will shew unto them his covenant.”

If we read this through the prism of Latter-day Saint doctrine, we see that the reward for reverence is not simply worldly success, but access to divine knowledge and the enduring favor of the covenant. The secret of the Lord—that is the deep, revealed truth—is reserved for those who truly respect His divine governance.

From Awe to Action: The Scholar-Pastoral View

The modern tendency is to treat reverence as an emotional state—a feeling we must achieve. But the scriptures teach us it is a disposition, a covenant choice. As scholars, we must understand that this reverence translates directly into action. It means actively choosing to align our will with the revealed word, even when it is difficult or unpopular. It is the intellectual commitment to the doctrines and covenants taught in General Conference and within the sacred walls of the temple.

This understanding is echoed elsewhere in the scriptures. The Book of Moses teaches us that true knowledge comes from obedience. The fear of the Lord, therefore, becomes the initial catalyst for wisdom, guiding us away from the moral compromises that inevitably accompany a life lived outside the established covenant order. We are taught to look not for fleeting feelings of comfort, but for the enduring structure of divine law, which remains immutable regardless of temporal difficulty. As the Savior taught, He came to give life, and that life more abundantly (John 10:10).

The Role of Covenants and the Spirit

How does this practical reverence manifest in our lives as Latter-day Saints? It means treating the covenants—the covenants of the name, the covenants of the temple, the covenants of the priesthood—with the gravity they deserve. It means engaging in rigorous scripture study, not merely for recitation, but for deep, abiding understanding of the divine plan. It means trusting that even when the path is unclear, the guiding hand of the Spirit, coupled with doctrinal adherence, will provide the way forward (compare with 1 Corinthians 10:13).

This requires a constant, scholarly self-assessment. Are we merely going through the motions of ritual, or are we approaching every ordinance with a deep, abiding reverence for the power and sanctity of the covenants? The pursuit of divine knowledge is never passive; it demands effort, study, and a genuine awe for the magnitude of the plan of salvation.

The Lord invites us to be scholars of His will. The understanding of the covenants—the principles of the Restoration—is the highest form of reverence. It is the knowledge that we are part of a divine, eternal process, guided by inspired prophets and apostles, who guide us back to the pattern established in the temple.

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A Prompt for Deeper Study

Consider the difference between merely 'knowing' a doctrine and having that doctrine integrated into the very structure of your covenant identity. How does a deep study of the Doctrine and Covenants, particularly sections dealing with the callings and the establishment of the Priesthood, deepen your sense of divine reverence, transforming it from an abstract concept into a lived, actionable commitment?