Nephi said that people who aren't descendants of Israel but who choose to repent are "the covenant people of the Lord." President Russell M. Nelson emphasized this principle, promising that everyone who accepts the gospel inherits all of God's blessings.
“With the Power of God in Great Glory”
Nephi saw that even though church members would be outnumbered in our day, God's power would descend upon them. President Russell M. Nelson testified that we are the people from Nephi's vision. God will bless us with His power as we exercise faith in Him.
Belonging
One of the purposes of the Book of Mormon is to assure us that we belong, that because of "the covenants of the Lord," we "are not cast off forever." Jesus taught that we belong to the covenants God made with our ancestors, and that He will not forget us.
A New Covenant
Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a new covenant with us. He wants this covenant to be "written in our hearts." That's because covenants are all about relationships. We need to view our covenants as relationships, not merely a set of requirements.
The Promise and the Law
Abraham received promises long before God gave the Law of Moses to his descendants. Here's the lesson for us: God makes promises to us when we believe in Him. Then, He teaches us how to receive those blessings.
“Take My Yoke”
A yoke is a wooden beam connecting two animals. It is associated with hard work and even bondage. But Jesus invites us to take His yoke, promising that it is easy. As we connect ourselves to Him through sacred covenants, we gain access to His power.
The Ordinances of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
We all interact with unreliable people. We are disappointed at times when someone fails to follow through on something they have agreed to do. If we're honest with ourselves, we can't be too hard on them, because we aren't perfectly reliable ourselves. We're all imperfect, falling short even when we do the best we can.... Continue Reading →
Hesed
Isaiah contrasted the temporary nature of this world with the permanence of God's love for us: The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10, 3 Nephi 22:10 The Hebrew word translated "kindness" in... Continue Reading →
“Look unto Abraham…and Sarah”
After reminding Israel that God has not abandoned them (Isaiah 50, 2 Nephi 7), the prophet Isaiah invites them to look back to their roots. "Look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged" (Isaiah 51:1, 2 Nephi 8:1). Specifically, he wants them to look to their ancestors and remember... Continue Reading →
“They Have…Changed the Ordinance”
A disciple is a person who learns a discipline from someone who has already mastered it. You can't do that by simply memorizing facts or understanding concepts. A discipline is a set of habits and skills, and it requires practice. Self-directed learning is popular, and exploration has its place. But when you're trying to develop... Continue Reading →