The phrase “covenant path” was first introduced by Jeffrey R. Holland in the October 2006 Ensign and was quoted by Elaine S. Dalton in her April 2007 conference address.
“Beginning
with
our baptism, we make covenants as we follow this path to eternal life,
and
we stay on the path by keeping them. …
“…
The
promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs
if we keep
to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we
receive for
the climb is literally divine. We have three members of the
Godhead—the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost—helping us because of the covenants we
have made.
“To
remind
us of those covenants, we partake of the sacrament each week. In the
prayer offered on the bread, we ‘witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal
Father,
that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son, and
always
remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]; that
[we] may
always have his Spirit to be with [us]’ D&C 20:77 (“What I Wish Every New
Member
Knew—and Every Longtime Member Remembered,” Liahona and Ensign, Oct.
2006,
11–12).
As the phrase continued to be used, the meaning seemed to evolve.
D. Todd Christofferson, April 2009
In the covenant path we find a steady supply of gifts and help.
“Charity never faileth”
Linda K. Burton, October 2011
Sisters, do we realize our vital role in the work of
salvation as we nurture, teach, and prepare children to progress along
the covenant
path?
Carole M. Stephens, October 2013
we counseled together about how to help these
families receive the ordinances they needed to progress on the covenant path
and strengthen
their homes.
Henry B. Eyring, April 2014
Heavenly Father smiles on you as well whenever He
sees you help a daughter of His move along the covenant path toward eternal life.
Gary E. Stevenson, April 2014
Recently, Elder David A. Bednar described a simple
way to conduct a family assessment to mark progress on the covenant path by
essential
ordinances. All that is needed is a piece of paper with two columns:
“name” and
“plan for next or needful ordinance.”
Carol F. McConkie, October 2014
When we choose to live according to the words of the
prophets, we are on the covenant
path that leads to eternal perfection.
David A. Bednar, April 2015
I promise the bright light of godly fear will chase
away the dark shadows of mortal fears (D&C
50:25) as we look to the Savior,
build upon Him as our foundation, and press forward on His covenant path with
consecrated
commitment.
Russell M. Nelson, October 2015
We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s
children along the covenant
path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive
personal
revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple
endowment; women
who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and
strengthen
children and families; women who teach fearlessly.
As Elder Stevenson (from Bednar) suggests, the covenant path could be thought of as a checklist. But we could check all the boxes and never experience the Baptism of Fire or encounter the Savior as the “keeper of the gate” (2 Nephi 9:41) in the strait and narrow path.
The strait and narrow path includes the baptism of fire and it leads to the tree of life.
1 Nephi 8:20, 24
20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even
to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the
fountain, unto
a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
. . .
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing
forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of
iron; and
they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the
rod of
iron, even until they did come forth and partake
of
the fruit of the tree.
2 Nephi 9:41
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord,
the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way
for man is
narrow, but it lieth in a
straight
course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy
One of Israel;
and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way
save it be
by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
2 Nephi 31:17-19
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I
have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this
cause have
they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye
should enter.
For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by
water; and then
cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then
are ye in this strait and
narrow path
which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye
have done
according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have
received
the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the
fulfilling
of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye
should
receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have
gotten into this strait and
narrow path,
I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have
not come
thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in
him, relying
wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a
love of God
and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon
the word
of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye
shall have
eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the
way; and there is none
other way
nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of
God. And
now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true
doctrine of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God,
without
end. Amen
Helaman 3:29-30
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon
the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide
asunder all
the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the
man of
Christ in a strait and narrow
course
across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the
wicked—
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls,
at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with
Abraham,
and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no
more out.