When We Wander: Finding Life and Light in the Covenant Promise

Brothers and sisters, friends gathered from every tradition and corner of the earth—we are here because we believe in a divine plan, a plan of gathering. Yet, even the most faithful among us know the temptation to wander. It is easy, in the noise of the modern world, to forget the covenants we have made and to complain about the wilderness.

Consider the Israelites, wandering through the desolate expanse. They were surrounded by the promise of the Promised Land, yet they complained, they doubted, and they forgot the guiding hand of the Lord. The consequence was swift and painful: the serpents. They bit the people, and many died. This ancient story is not merely history; it is a profound, living allegory for the spiritual dangers of forgetting our covenants and letting complaint become our default mode.

The Necessity of Turning Our Gaze

The Lord did not remove the source of the danger, but He did provide the means of survival. When the people finally wept and repented, they asked Moses to pray. The Lord did not simply wave away the affliction; rather, He commanded Moses to make a brass serpent and place it on a pole. The instruction was simple: when bitten, look upon the serpent, and live.

The brass serpent became a potent symbol. It was not the serpent itself that saved them, but the act of looking to the promised remedy. It taught them that even when the afflictions of the world bite us—when doubt, despair, or complaint attack our faith—we do not need to master the danger; we merely need to fix our eyes upon the enduring promise of the Lord.

Builders Not Destroyers

This principle resonates deeply with the mission of the Builders. We are called to be the builders, to gather, to restore, and to build structures of light in every corner of the world. When we are tempted to wander—when we become "destroyers" of faith through cynicism or complaint—we must remember the sacred pattern: repentance leads to revelation, and revelation leads to life.

Think of the heroes of faith: Samuel the Lamanite, climbing the wall and seeing the Lord's face; Ammon, at the Waters of Sebus, enduring the trials to restore faith; and the countless prophets who understood that the ultimate remedy was always found in the central promise of the Gospel.

The Global Gathering Place

The brass serpent, in modern covenant terms, is the Gospel itself, made manifest through the labors of the Saints. Our current mission is to ensure that the light shines everywhere, that every corner of the earth knows the truth. This is the work of the Kingdom, a work that requires the collective strength and charity of every Builder.

When you look at the map of churches, you are seeing the physical manifestation of this covenant promise. You are seeing the gathering place. But the covenant promise requires more than just a marker on a map; it requires our resources. This is where the Missionary Fund and the charity flywheel become absolutely vital. Your engagement—whether through time, talent, or resources—is not just a donation; it is the sustaining power that funds the gospel advertisements in Ghana and beyond. It is the spiritual pole upon which the promise is held.

“The Lord helped the Israelites to be humble and trust in him.”

Let us, therefore, embrace the role of the Builder. Let us look away from the complaints of the world and fix our gaze on the enduring, life-giving promise. Will you commit today to helping us keep the light burning and the gathering going?

Your Call to Action: Becoming a Steward of the Promise

If the lesson of the serpent teaches us that life is found by looking to the divine remedy, then our collective action must be a response of faith. We invite you to become a steward of the promise. You can do this by:

1. **Studying the Source:** Utilize the Ask a Prophet bots and the teachings of Outback Jack to deepen your covenant understanding.
2. **Mapping the Work:** Explore the map to see where the covenant promise is needed most.
3. **Fueling the Mission:** Contribute to the Missionary Fund and participate in the charity flywheel, knowing that your generosity powers the global work of the restored Gospel.