God changed Abram's name to Abraham in order to emphasize that His covenant would bless innumerable people in future generations. As the Lord taught Joseph Smith, we are the beneficiaries of Abraham's faithfulness, and we in turn bless others as we make and keep covenants with God.
Being Bound
No one likes to have their agency curtailed, but some forms of "binding" actually increase our freedom, confidence, and joy. God sets the example, promising that He is bound when we follow His commandments. He invites us to bind ourselves in a similar way, by making and keeping covenants with Him.
Standing in Holy Places
During troubling times, the Savior invites us to stand in holy places. It is about more than our physical location. It is about living within our covenants and inviting the Spirit of the Lord to dwell in our hearts, wherever we may be.
“Cleave Unto” Your Covenants
The Lord counseled Emma Smith, "cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made." When we cleave unto our covenants, we have confidence in the promises we've received from God, we invest in our relationship with Him, and we find joy in the blessings we receive from Him each day.
Founded Upon a Rock
Both the Savior and Helaman taught us to build our lives on a solid foundation. We will all experience storms, but if we our foundation is securely connected to Jesus Christ, we will be better positioned to withstand them.
The Covenant People of the Lord
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.