When the Narrative Hits a Speed Bump: Finding Covenant in the Unexpected

Sometimes, when we’re studying the scriptures, it feels like the narrative just… trips. You’re following a beautiful, sweeping story—one that feels like the glorious climax of a major undertaking—and then, BAM. The text throws you into something utterly bizarre. Like Moses, who is just on the way, and suddenly, *that* happens. You might feel that familiar tug of, “Wait, where did this come from? What’s the explanation?”

As returned missionaries, we’ve learned that the Book of Mormon is full of these moments—moments where the Spirit whispers, “Pay attention to the theme, not just the plot point.” The Old Testament, bless its wonderfully weird complexity, is no exception. We are taught to look for the overarching covenant, the divine promise that holds the whole thing together, even when the immediate details feel like they’ve been stitched together from different eras.

The Theme Over the Plot Hole

Jennifer Roach-Leese pointed out something vital while walking through Exodus 1–6. The narrative structure itself—the sudden jump of 400 years after the joy of Genesis—is a massive structural speed bump. It’s the equivalent of finishing the best movie franchise installment and then starting the next one with a depressing, confusing opening act. It’s natural to feel frustrated or even confused by the gaps.

But here’s the disciple perspective: When the details are murky, we must anchor ourselves to the eternal themes. In this case, the theme is covenant. The covenant between God and His people doesn't pause because the narrative skips ahead, or because the historical account seems incomplete. The covenant is the constant, the unwavering promise of divine care and rescue.

Finding Christlike Patience

This is a powerful reminder for all of us who are out in the field, whether we are in the MTC, doing missionary discussions, or simply trying to teach a friend about the Plan of Salvation. Sometimes the investigator asks a question that seems to contradict a passage, or the scripture itself seems contradictory. We are tempted to get stuck on the 'plot hole'—the inconsistency, the unexplained event.

Instead, we must practice what we’re learning: trusting the overarching narrative of divine love and covenant keeping. We focus on the *why*—the eternal pattern—rather than getting lost in the *how* of every single verse.

“The weirdness of the scripture is often a prompt to look deeper, to look past the surface narrative and find the thread of covenant that binds it all together.”

This principle applies to our own discipleship. When you are studying the scriptures, don't just read the story; ask, “What covenant principle is God illustrating here?” Is it the covenant of baptism? The covenant of keeping commandments? The covenant of forgiveness?

I encourage you to take this concept of looking for the underlying theme—the covenant—and apply it to your own study. If you're feeling bogged down in a difficult passage, remember the big picture. Remember the promise. Remember that no matter how strange the details seem, the covenant of the Atonement is always true.

If you want to dig into this concept of thematic study, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod materials on covenant keeping. For those who want to apply this immediately, I’ve set up a quick challenge. Join our free weekly Disciple Challenge this week—it’s a low-stakes way to practice finding the theme in a challenging passage. It’s a great way to build up that muscle memory before your next transfer or mission.