What Does “Still, Small Voice” Mean to You?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Kings 12-13; 17-22 and a lesson titled “If the Lord Be God, Follow Him.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

The house of Israel was in disarray. The kingdom had divided, with ten tribes forming the Northern Kingdom of Israel and two tribes forming the Southern Kingdom of Judah. But worse than their separations from each other was both kingdoms’ separation from their covenants. Wicked kings led the people away from the Lord, and many people wavered in their faith.

In this setting, the Lord called Elijah to be a prophet. His life shows that a person can have great faith in the Lord even in bad circumstances. Sometimes the Lord responds to such faith with impressive, public miracles, like fire falling from heaven. But He also works quiet, private miracles, like feeding a faithful widow and her son. And most often the Lord’s miracles are so individual that they are known only to one person – for example, when the Lord reveals Himself to you through “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

The scripture blog teaches several principles, including (1) Christlike leaders serve the people they lead (1 Kings 12:1-20); (2) An invitation to sacrifice is an opportunity to exercise my faith in Jesus Christ (1 Kings 17:8-16; 19:19-21); (3) “If the Lord be God, follow him” (1 Kings 18);

(4) The Lord often speaks in quiet, simple ways (1 Kings 19:1-18). This essay will discuss principle #4 about how the Lord often speaks.

Elijah called down fire from heaven in a powerful miracle on Mount Carmel, but the miracle did not make Elijah’s mission any easier. In fact, his life was in danger, and he had to hide in a cave in the wilderness. There, struggling with loneliness and discouragement, he had an experience with the Lord that was very different from the experience on Mount Carmel. I will share the scripture block, but I ask you to consider the following question as you read it: What does Elijah’s experience in 1 Kings 19:1-18 teach you about how the Lord communicates with you in your times of need?

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 ¶ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9 ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Did you ponder the times when you felt the Lord speaking to you? How do you describe the way He communicates with you? Why are the words “still” and “small” good ways to describe the voice of the Spirit? What do you need to do to receive the Lord’s guidance more often?

Modern revelation tells us how God communicates with His children. Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 tells us that God speaks to us in our mind (thoughts) and heart (feelings) by the power of the Holy Ghost. Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 teach us how to prepare to receive revelation.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn [warm feeling] within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; …

We learn from these verses that the Lord expects us to use multiple senses to enhance our learning. He also expects/requires us to do some of the work – study it out in our minds. We should use the knowledge that we know to be true to gain more knowledge and understanding. Once we have an idea of what we should do, then we pray and ask God if that is a correct action.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the “still small voice” refers to the gentle, quiet guidance that comes from God through the Holy Ghost. Those individuals who want to hear the word of the Lord must make times of quiet in their lives – times when there is no social media blasting in our ears, times that shut out the world. We must remember that the Holy Ghost speaks in a still small voice, and we must be listening to hear His voice.

What Are Your Feelings About the House of the Lord?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 2 Samuel 11-12 and 1 Kings 3; 6-9; 11 in a lesson titled “Hear Thou in Heaven Their Prayer.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

Saul, David, and Solomon, the first three kings of Israel, all started out with so much promise. Humble, courageous, and wise, they each found favor with the Lord – at least at first. Sadly, each king also gave in to human weaknesses and temptation. They put their own desires before the Lord’s. And as we’ve seen over and over in the scriptures – and in our own lives – that led to tragedy.

But something important happened during the reign of Soloman that provided some hope for stability in the lives of the covenant people. Solomon built a temple. It was to be a more permanent house of the Lord than the tabernacle had been. And it would represent a more permanent presence of the Lord among His people. Solomon knew that the people would continue to face weakness and trials of various kinds. In dedicating the new holy house, Solomon pleaded with the Lord, “If they … return unto thee with all their heart, … then hear thou their prayer” (1 Kings 8:47-48). That’s part of what temple covenants do for us – they create a connection to God. They secure for us the promise that through our repentance and His mercy, He can “dwell among [us]” and never forsake us (1 Kings 6:13).

This block of scriptures teaches several principles, including the following: (1) The Lord can help me make good choices when I am tempted to sin (2 Samuel 11; 12:1-14). (2) The gift of discernment helps me distinguish between right and wrong (1 Kings 3:1-15). (3) Through covenants in the Lord’s house, the Lord dwells with me (1 Kings 6-8; 9:1-9). (4) “His heart was not perfect with the Lord” (1 Kings 8:61; 11:1-11).

This essay will discuss principle #3 about making covenants in the Lord’s house. Covenants are promises between God and an individual. God sets the conditions, and the individual agrees to abide by those conditions – or not.

The writer of 1 Kings 6-7 wrote a detailed description of the sacred house that Solomon built for the Lord. Although we may not understand the importance of the details, the ancient Israelites knew their importance. The important thing for us to take from these chapters is to get a sense of how important it was to the Israelites to have a house of the Lord. How important is it to you to have a House of the Lord that you can attend or in your community?

Some years ago, I was visiting my daughter and her new baby in Spring, Texas. The Houston Temple was close to her home, so I attended a temple session one day. I knew about where the temple was – particularly from a distance – but I lost sight of the temple as I drew closer to it. I stopped at a little store and asked for directions. There were three people in the store when I asked, and they knew exactly where “their” temple was located. They gave me directions, and I was able to find the temple without any problems. Although none of those people were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple was important to their community.

I lived in Alaska for about twenty-five years before a temple was built about one mile from my home. Until that temple was built, I had to travel outside of Alaska to attend a temple. Although our assigned temple was the Seattle Washington Temple, I usually traveled to Hawaii or Utah to attend the temple – Hawaii because it is Hawaii, and Utah because it is home and family. Whenever I was near a temple, I attended numerous temple sessions to soak up the temple spirit because I knew it would be months or even years before I could return.

Now, I live approximately one mile from the Anchorage Alaska Temple. Attending the temple is so convenient now that I feel an obligation as well as a desire to attend often. I usually attend the temple at least once each week because it gives me spiritual strength to face the problems of life.

Attending the temple often is one way that I keep the covenants that I make in the temple. Temple attendance gives me an opportunity to renew the covenants and to remember the promises that I made. It also gives me strength to better keep those covenants. I love to see the temple, and I love to go inside temples to feel the presence of the Savior there.

President Henry B. Eyring, then-Second Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke in the April 2021 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the topic “I Love to See the Temple,” the title of a song that children often sing in Primary. He taught the following information about temples. 

I know that temples of the Lord are holy places. My purpose today in speaking of temples is to increase your desire and mine to be worthy and ready for the increased opportunities for temple experiences that are coming for us.

For me, the greatest motivation to be worthy of temple experiences is what the Lord has said of His holy houses:

“Inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;

“Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

“But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples.”

President Russell M. Nelson made clear for us that we can “see” the Savior in the temple in the sense that He becomes no longer unknown to us. President Nelson said this: “We understand Him. We comprehend His work and His glory. And we begin to feel the infinite impact of His matchless life.”

 

Did the Children of Israel Keep Their Covenant with God?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Exodus 19-20; 24; 31-34 in a lesson titled “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

Although the children of Israel had murmured and wavered in the past, when Moses read the law at the foot of Mount Sinai, they made this covenant: “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). God then called Moses onto the mountain, telling him to build a tabernacle so “that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).

But while Moses was at the top of the mountain learning how the Israelites could have God’s presence among them, the Israelites were at the bottom of the mountain making a golden idol to worship instead. Soon after promising to “have no other gods,” they “turned aside quickly” from their promise (Exodus 20:3; 32:8; see also Exodus 24:3). It was a surprising turn, but we know from experience that faith and commitment can sometimes be overcome by impatience, fear, or doubt. As we seek the Lord’s presence in our lives, it is encouraging to know the Lord did not give up on ancient Israel and He will not give up on us and the people we love—for He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

Some of the principles taught in this scripture block are: (1) The Lord’s covenant people are a treasure to Him (Exodus 19:3-6); (2) Sacred experiences require preparation (Exodus 19:10-11, 17); (3) Obedience to God’s commandments brings blessings (Exodus 20:1-17); (4) Making covenants shows my willingness to obey God’s law (Exodus 24:1-11); (5) Sin is turning away from God; repentance is turning toward Him and away from evil (Exodus 32-34); (6) The Sabbath is a sign (Exodus 31:13-16), and (7) What was the difference between the two sets of stone tables Moses made? (Exodus 34:1-4). All the principles deserve some discussion, but this essay will discuss only principle #3 about obedience to commandments brings blessings.

While the Israelites were gathered at the base of Mount Sinai, they heard the voice of God give the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 4:12-13). We know that these are not God’s only commandments because there are many other commandments in the scriptures. However, this discussion will concentrate only upon the Ten Commandments, which are as follows.

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Emphasis added.)

The first observation is about a division among the Ten Commandments. The first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God. The last six commandments have to do with our relationships with other people. The Ten Commandments are an enlargement on the two great commandments taught in Matthew 22:36-40.

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Emphasis added.)

If you choose to learn more about the Ten Commandments and how they can bless your life, I suggest that you study them. You might make a simple table as you ponder the significance of the Ten Commandments in your life.

Commandment	In other words, what does God want me to do	Blessings that come from living this commandment

 You could consider the following questions as you study:

·       How does keeping these ten commandments help you keep the two great commandments that Jesus gave in Matthew 22:34-40?

·       What are things that you may be tempted to put before God? What blessings have you seen from putting God first?

·       How would you respond to someone who says the Ten Commandments were given a long time ago and do not apply today? What examples from your life would you share as part of your response?

·       How has the Lord fulfilled the promise in Exodus 20:6 in your life?

Who Was the Seer of the Latter Days?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 42-50 in a lesson titled “God Meant It unto Good.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

It had been about 22 years since Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Joseph had suffered many trials, including false accusations and imprisonment. When he finally saw his brothers again, Joseph was the governor of all Egypt, second only to the pharaoh. He could easily have taken revenge on his brothers, and considering what they had done to Joseph, that might seem understandable. And yet Joseph forgave them. Not only that, but he helped them see divine purpose in his suffering. “God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20), he told them, because it put him in a position to save “all his father’s household” (Genesis 47:12) from famine.

In many ways, Joseph was like Jesus Christ. Even though our sins caused Jesus great suffering, He offers forgiveness, delivering all of us from a fate far worse than famine. Whether we need to receive forgiveness or extend it—at some point we all need to do both—Joseph’s example points us to the Savior, the true source of healing and reconciliation.

This scripture block taught numerous principles, including (1) “God sent me before you to preserve you” (Genesis 45:5-7; 47:12); (2) Forgiveness brings healing (Genesis 45; 50:15-21); (3) Jacob gave his family prophetic blessings (Genesis 49); (4) God can help me find meaning in my trials (Genesis 50:19-21); (5) “A seer shall the Lord my God raise up” (Genesis 50:24-25).

All the principles are worthy of discussion and extremely interesting. However, this essay will discuss the last principle about a seer being raised up. The scripture verses are as follow, the first set from Genesis 50:24-25, and the second set from Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:24-38.

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage.

25 And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom.

26 A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.

27 Thus saith the Lord God of my fathers unto me, A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren.

28 And he shall bring them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers; and he shall do whatsoever work I shall command him.

29 And I will make him great in mine eyes, for he shall do my work; and he shall be great like unto him whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel, out of the land of Egypt; for a seer will I raise up to deliver my people out of the land of Egypt; and he shall be called Moses. And by this name he shall know that he is of thy house; for he shall be nursed by the king’s daughter, and shall be called her son.

30 And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days;

31 Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

32 And out of weakness shall he be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them, who are of the house of Israel, in the last days.

33 And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my people unto salvation.

34 And the Lord sware unto Joseph that he would preserve his seed forever, saying, I will raise up Moses, and a rod shall be in his hand, and he shall gather together my people, and he shall lead them as a flock, and he shall smite the waters of the Red Sea with his rod.

35 And he shall have judgment, and shall write the word of the Lord. And he shall not speak many words, for I will write unto him my law by the finger of mine own hand. And I will make a spokesman for him, and his name shall be called Aaron.

36 And it shall be done unto thee in the last days also, even as I have sworn. Therefore, Joseph said unto his brethren, God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land, unto the land which he sware unto Abraham, and unto Isaac, and to Jacob.

37 And Joseph confirmed many other things unto his brethren, and took an oath of the children of Israel, saying unto them, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

38 So Joseph died when he was an hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and they put him in a coffin in Egypt; and he was kept from burial by the children of Israel, that he might be carried up and laid in the sepulchre with his father. And thus they remembered the oath which they sware unto him. [Emphasis added.]

In his article “Two Josephs Across the Centuries: The Strong Prophetic Ties between Joseph of Israel and Joseph Smith,” published at Latter-Day Saint Magazine, Paul Bishop shared the symmetry in sacred history. 

Sacred history sometimes unfolds with a symmetry inviting to careful attention. One such pattern appears in the prophetic link between Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith. Latter day Saint scripture presents this relationship not as coincidence but as part of a divine design reaching across millennia. The idea emerges in the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 50 and receives powerful reinforcement in the Book of Mormon, particularly in 2 Nephi 3. When the passages are read together, they present a compelling vision of prophecy fulfilled through lineage, revelation, and the restoration of sacred records. 

Joseph of Egypt already stands as one of the great figures of the Old Testament. His story carries the drama of betrayal, endurance, and eventual deliverance. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, he rose through years of hardship to become a trusted leader in Egypt. Through revelation and wisdom he prepared the land for famine and preserved the family of Jacob during a time of desperate need.

However, Latter day Saint scripture adds another dimension to Joseph’s prophetic role. According to the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 50, Joseph did not look only to the immediate future of his people. He also saw far down the corridors of time. In this vision he spoke of a latter-day seer who would arise from among his own descendants. That seer would bear Joseph’s name. His mission would involve bringing forth the word of God and helping restore truth obscured over the centuries.

The prophecy becomes even more specific. The future seer’s father would also be named Joseph. The Lord would raise him up to perform a work of great value for the house of Israel. His words would bring people to the knowledge of the covenants made with their fathers. Those familiar with the life of Joseph Smith cannot miss the striking parallels.

The Book of Mormon strengthens this prophetic connection in a remarkable way. In 2 Nephi 3, the prophet Lehi gathers his sons and speaks directly to his youngest son, who is also named Joseph. In this intimate setting Lehi recalls the prophecy of Joseph of Egypt. The ancient patriarch, Lehi explains, foresaw a latter-day seer among his descendants. This seer would bring forth long hidden sacred records.

The passage then moves from prediction to purpose. The records brought forth by this latter-day Joseph would work together with the Bible to establish the truth of God’s word. They would restore plain and precious lost teachings. They would also help convince scattered Israel of the covenants made with their fathers. This is not a vague forecast. The prophecy identifies lineage, mission, and even name. It describes a seer whose work would center on scripture, revelation, and the gathering of Israel.

Joseph Smith’s life aligns closely with this description. Born in 1805 to Joseph Smith Sr., he emerged from a family line identified in Latter-day Saint patriarchal blessings with the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph of Egypt. Through divine guidance he translated the Book of Mormon from ancient plates and published it in 1830. Latter-day Saints view this moment as the opening chapter of the Restoration.

The connection between the two Josephs becomes even more meaningful when their roles are considered side by side. Joseph of Egypt preserved physical life during a season of famine. By preparing the storehouses of Egypt, he ensured his family and many others survived a devastating crisis.

Joseph Smith entered a different kind of famine. The spiritual landscape of the nineteenth century included deep religious yearning but also widespread confusion about doctrine, authority, and revelation. Through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of priesthood authority, Joseph Smith helped reopen channels of revelation we see as essential to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Another shared element in their stories involves adversity. Joseph of Egypt endured betrayal by those closest to him. He faced slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment before his calling became widely known. Joseph Smith encountered relentless opposition during his ministry. Mobs drove him and his followers from their homes more than once. The hardships of his life formed part of the larger narrative surrounding the Restoration. These parallels do not suggest identical experiences. But they do reveal a pattern in which God prepares chosen servants through trial before placing them in positions of sacred responsibility.

The prophecy in 2 Nephi 3 also emphasizes the gathering of Israel. Joseph of Egypt preserved the house of Jacob in his generation. Joseph Smith taught extensively about the gathering of Israel in the latter days. Missionary work, temple covenants, and renewed attention to the promises made to Abraham have all become central elements of Latter- day Saint belief and practice.

Seen through this lens, the prophecy concerning the latter-day Joseph forms more than an interesting historical detail. It places the Restoration within a much longer sacred narrative. The covenant promises made to the ancient patriarchs continue to unfold in later generations.

For Latter day Saints, the connection between Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith illustrates how prophecy and fulfillment can span vast stretches of time. A patriarch in ancient Egypt looked forward to a future servant who would help restore God’s word. Centuries later, a young man in rural New York stepped into the role and began a work which continues to shape the faith of millions.

This prophetic thread invites a deeper appreciation for the unity of scripture. The Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and modern revelation do not stand as isolated witnesses. They join together in telling a single unfolding story of covenant and redemption.

When those passages are read together, the voice of Joseph of Egypt reaches across the centuries with quiet certainty. The Lord would raise up a seer named Joseph. Through him sacred records would come forth and the knowledge of God’s covenants would expand again among His people.

History has now provided the name that prophecy anticipated.

How Was Abraham a Blessing to Others Because of His Covenant with God?

My Come Follow Me Studies for this week took me to Genesis 12-17 and Abraham 1-2 in a lesson titled “To Be a Greater Follower of Righteousness.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Because of the covenant God made with him, Abraham has been called “the father of the faithful” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:41) and “the Friend of God” (James 2:23). Millions today honor him as their direct ancestor, and others have been adopted into his family through conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet Abraham himself came from a troubled family—his father, who had abandoned the true worship of God, tried to have Abraham sacrificed to false gods. In spite of this, Abraham’s desire was “to be a greater follower of righteousness” (Abraham 1:2), and the account of his life shows that God honored his desire. Abraham’s life stands as a testimony that no matter what a person’s family history has been, the future can be filled with hope.

The scripture block teaches numerous principles, including (1) God will bless me for my faith and righteous desires (Abraham 1:1-19); (2) God wants me to make and keep covenants with Him (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15-16; 15:1-6; 17:1-8, 15-22; Abraham 2:6-11); (3) “Melchizedek was a man of faith” (Genesis 14:18-19; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:25-40); (4) Abraham paid tithing (Genesis 14:18-24; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:36-40), and (5) God hears me (Genesis 16). This essay will discuss making and keeping covenants with God.

God wants me – and you – to make and keep covenants with Him. It is important for us to know about the covenant God made with Abraham because God wants to make a similar covenant with you. God promised that this covenant would continue in Abraham’s posterity, or “seed,” and that “as many as receive this Gospel shall be … accounted thy seed” (see Abraham 2:10-11). In other words, the covenant continues in you – when you are baptized and more completely when you make covenants in the temple (see Galatians 3:26-29; Doctrine and Covenants 132:30-32).

For that reason, we should desire to study Abraham 2:6-11 and make a list of exactly what God promised Abraham and Sarah (see also Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15-16; 15:1-6; 17:1-8, 15-22). Consider how these blessings might apply to you.

The following ideas were part of a special section in the February Come Follow Me lessons. It is called “Thoughts to Keep in Mind: The Covenant.” 

God’s covenant with Abraham promised wonderful blessings: an inheritance of land, a large posterity, access to priesthood ordinances, and a name that would be honored for generations to come. But the focus of this covenant was not just on the blessings Abraham and his family would receive but also on the blessing they would be to the rest of God’s children. “Thou shalt be a blessing,” God declared, “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Did this covenant give Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants a privileged status among God’s children? Only in the sense that it is a privilege to bless others. The family of Abraham were to “bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations,” sharing “the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abraham 2:9, 11). Being God’s covenant people didn’t mean they were better than others; it meant they had a duty to help others be better.