Two words that have become ubiquitous are “covenant path.” Listen to any general conference of the church and you are sure to hear the words — multiple times.

Covenants, as defined by Nelson during an October 2011 general conference address, are a “sacred promise” between a person and God.

“(God) fixes the terms,” Nelson said. “Each person may choose to accept those terms. If one accepts the terms of the covenant and obeys God’s law, he or she receives the blessings associated with the covenant. We know that ‘when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:21)

THE ORIGIN

The first documented reference to the words “covenant path” at general conference was in April 2007 by Sister Elaine S. Dalton during a talk titled “Stay on the Path.” The words were used in 18 general conference addresses prior to Nelson becoming president, twice by Nelson himself (October 2015 and April 2017). Elders D. Todd Christofferson, Gary E. Stevenson and David A. Bednar, all of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the church, each used the phrase prior to 2018, as did President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the church.

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Initially, the words were used mostly by female speakers. Seven of the first 10 talks in general conference that included the words were by women. Carole M. Stephens used it in three talks and Linda K. Burton used it in two. Of the 18 total addresses with the words prior to Nelson becoming president of the church, nine were by women.

It’s hard to know the times the words were used in settings other than general conference. Knowledge of general conference references comes from the use of what’s called the scripture citation index, curated by Stephen W. Liddle and Richard C. Galbraith.

A look at how Dalton used the words in her 2007 talk shows that she took the phrase from Jeffrey R. Holland, current acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

She said: “Elder Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us:

‘Beginning with our baptism, we make covenants as we follow this path to eternal life, and we stay on the path by keeping them. …

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‘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.'”

Dalton was referencing remarks Holland gave as part of an address called “What I wish every new member knew–and every longtime member remembered” in the October 2006 issue of the Liahona and Ensign.

THE POPULARITY

Nelson spoke of the “covenant path” during a live broadcast from the Salt Lake Temple’s annex on Jan. 16, 2018, two days after he was set apart as the president of the church. The remarks that he gave, which included the words, were published as the First Presidency message in the April 2018 issue of the Ensign.

In his remarks, Nelson said:

“Now, to each member of the church I say, keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the savior by making covenants with him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere.

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“As a new presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind. For this reason, we’re speaking to you today from a temple. The end for which each of us strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord, sealed as families, faithful to covenants made in a temple that qualify us for the greatest gift of God — that of eternal life. The ordinances of the temple and the covenants you make there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.

“Now, if you have stepped off the path, may I invite you with all the hope in my heart to please come back. Whatever your concerns, whatever your challenges, there is a place for you in this, the Lord’s church. You and generations yet unborn will be blessed by your actions now to return to the covenant path. Our father in heaven cherishes his children, and he wants each of us to return home to him. This is a grand goal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — to help each of us to come back home.”

In the April 2018 general conference, the first general conference after Nelson became president, the words “covenant path” were used by seven speakers.

Said Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop:

“Our sole aim is to invite each son and daughter of God to come unto Christ and to guide him or her along the covenant path. Nothing is more important. Our work is all about people and covenants.”

Said Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency:

“I believe we all desire to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s challenge to press forward ‘on the covenant path.’ Our commitment to do so is strengthened by consistently following the ‘small things’ we are taught by the gospel of Jesus Christ and the leaders of his church. I testify of him and invoke his blessings on all who seek to keep on his covenant path, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Said Elder Dale G. Renlund, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed. No wonder President Russell M. Nelson, in his first message as president of the church, declared, ‘Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.'”

Said Devin G. Durrant, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency:

“As parents, we introduce our children to Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ. We help our children say their first prayer. We offer guidance and support as they enter the covenant path through baptism.”

Said Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, of the Seventy:

“The prophet Amulek declared, ‘This … is the time … to prepare to meet God’ (Alma 34:32). How do we prepare? By worthily receiving ordinances. We must also, in President Russell M. Nelson’s words, ‘keep on the covenant path.’ President Nelson continued, ‘Your commitment to follow the savior by making covenants with him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women and children everywhere.'”

Said Elder Lynn G. Robbins, of the presidency of the Seventy:

“In this lifetime curriculum of repentance, the sacrament is the Lord’s designated way of providing continual access to his forgiveness. If we partake with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, he proffers us weekly pardon as we progress from failure to failure along the covenant path. For ‘notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them.'”

Said Elder Brian K. Taylor, of the Seventy:

“Coming to know our father changes everything, especially our hearts, as his gentle spirit confirms our true identity and great worth in his sight. God walks with us along the covenant path as we seek him through prayerful pleadings, scriptural searchings and obedient strivings.”

Since Nelson became president, the words “covenant path” have been used in 135 general conference addresses. It was used in 13 talks this past general conference in April, the most references in a single conference since October 2019.

That words used by the president of the church would suddenly be amplified should not be a surprise based on what Elder Ronald A. Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said at general conference in April.

“Second, the words of prophets matter,” he said after talking about the importance of the Lord’s words. “Prophets testify of the divinity of Jesus Christ. They teach his gospel and show his love for all. I bear my witness that our living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, hears and speaks the word of the Lord.”

Later in the talk, Rasband said:

“Elder George Albert Smith, long before becoming president of the church, spoke of sustaining the prophet and heeding his words. He said: ‘The obligation that we make when we raise our hands … is a most sacred one. … It means … that we will stand behind him; we will pray for him; … and we will strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct.’ In other words, we will diligently act upon our prophet’s words.”

Rasband then shared a story about how he was inspired to alter the words he was planning on using for the dedicatory prayer at the dedication of the Bangkok Thailand Temple to include words that had been used by Nelson.

“The night before the dedication, I was awakened from my sleep with an unsettled, urgent feeling about the dedicatory prayer,” Rasband said. “I tried to set aside the prompting, thinking the prayer was in place. But the spirit would not leave me alone. I sensed certain words were missing, and by divine design they came to me in revelation, and I inserted these words in the prayer near the end: ‘May we think celestial, letting thy spirit prevail in our lives, and strive to be peacemakers always.’ The Lord was reminding me to heed the words of our living prophet: ‘Think celestial,’ ‘let the spirit prevail,’ ‘strive to be peacemakers.’ Words of the prophet matter to the Lord and to us.”

THE IMPACT

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints like Wade and Shanna Dummer and Liza Mickelsen, the repetition of words and phrases by prophets and apostles is crucial.

“The prophet and apostles ‘see around the corners,’ and so repeated phrases help me know I should pay particular attention to what is being said,” Wade Dummer said.

Said Shanna Dummer: “The word remember is so important to our focus on the savior and his wonderful gifts he has given us. The Lord asks his chosen servants to help us remember what is most important, through repeating themes and phrases, to bless our individual and family lives.”

Added Mickelsen: “Prophets and apostles receive direction and guidance from the spirit. I don’t believe any word choice is by chance. When they repeat words over and over again, I believe they are trying to put as much emphasis on it as they can.”

According to Wade Dummer, the effect of the increased focus on the words “covenant path” has been hope “as it emphasizes this life is a journey.”

Shanna Dummer highlighted continued progression as an effect of the emphasis.

“Adding ‘spiritual momentum’ as President Nelson invites us helps us keep moving forward on that path back to our Heavenly Father and savior Jesus Christ,” she said. “When I picture what the covenant path looks like, it is filled with light but also has room enough on the path to stumble without falling off. We can stay on the covenant path by adding more spiritual light to our lives every day and turning to God — repenting — daily to stay on that path of light.”

Mickelsen said the emphasis has centered her on Jesus Christ and the promises she has made to him, as well as his promises to her.

“That is what is most important, and it’s a constant reminder to remain faithful to him in a constantly changing world,” she said.

Nelson penned an article for the October issue of the Liahona, a church publication, titled “A Pattern for Unity in Jesus Christ.” In his commentary, Nelson explained the impact of remaining on the covenant path.

“When we make and keep covenants, we take the Lord’s name upon us as individuals,” he said. “In addition, we take His name upon us as a people. All who make covenants and strive to keep them become the Lord’s people, His special treasure (see Exodus 19:5). Thus, we travel the covenant path both individually and collectively. Our covenant relationship with God gives us a common cause and a common identity. As we bind ourselves to the Lord, He helps us to have our ‘hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another’ (Mosiah 18:21).”

Three young sisters shared their thoughts on the words “covenant path” and the impact the words have had on them.

“The covenant path is a way to follow Jesus,” 10-year-old Devyn Sturm said. “It helps me get closer to Christ and know what to do.”

12-year-old Reagan Sturm said the covenant path is “the path we follow to get to heaven” and that it’s helped her “come closer to Christ.”

Said 7-year-old Bentley Sturm: “I get baptized next year and that’s the first part of the path.”

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.