🕊️ Covenant Power vs. the Covenant Maze
🕊️ Covenant Power vs. the Covenant Maze
Renlund’s Invitation, Prophetic Warnings, and the Simple Gospel of Christ
I’ve been sitting with Elder Dale G. Renlund’s recent words about covenant power. He said that when we make and keep sacred covenants with God, we gain increased access to the power of Jesus Christ.
“The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. We become more spiritually receptive… We have greater peace, and we are more cheerful because we can always rejoice. His glory will be round about us, and His angels will have charge over us.” — Elder Dale G. Renlund 🩺✨
I love that. And I believe it. I’ve felt that.
But then there’s this other thought that keeps surfacing:
👉 What happens when the institution turns covenants from conduits of divine power into levers of control?
👉 What happens when the simple gospel gets buried under layers of bureaucracy, interviews, and temple worthiness checklists?
That’s not just a theoretical question. Both the Book of Mormon and the Nemenhah Records answer it.
✝️ The Simple Gospel Is Always the Core
Jesus’ doctrine is plain:
“This is my doctrine… whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved.” — 3 Nephi 11:31–33
“This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved.” — 2 Nephi 31:21
The power flows through simple, direct, personal covenants with Him—
Not through endless institutional gatekeeping. 🕊️
Elder Renlund was pointing to that simple truth:
When you keep your covenants, God strengthens you.
Not a program. Not a bishop. Not a policy.
God.
🧭 But the Gentile Church Was Prophesied to Drift
The Book of Mormon foresaw a sobering last-days scenario. After the Restoration, the Gentiles (yes, including the LDS Church) would receive the gospel—but many would reject the fulness through pride and unbelief:
“At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts… behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.” — 3 Nephi 16:10
And Nephi added:
“Because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations… they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ.” — 2 Nephi 28:14
That’s not describing the outside world.
That’s describing the covenant people, after they’ve prospered.
🪶 The Nemenhah Saw the Same Pattern
The Nemenhah prophets add striking detail. In The Book of Tsihohnayah Ahkehkthihm (Chapter 14), they describe a foreign, industrious people raised up by God to build a work—but eventually:
“When they had prospered, they trusted in their own councils and began to build up churches to themselves. Yea, they made merchandise of the holy things of God, and they built up great sanctuaries to their own name. And their prophets became a light unto themselves, and not unto God.” — (Tsihohnayah 14, theme)
In other words:
They started humble.
They built faithfully.
But pride crept in.
Institutions grew.
Covenants turned into systems of control, and the fulness was withdrawn.
Yet the Lord didn’t abandon His work. He raised up a small, humble remnant—those who heard the Peacemaker’s voice directly—to build Zion outside of the big, proud structures.
“The Refuge shall not be founded by the great churches, nor by the councils of men, but by the humble who hear the Peacemaker and do as He commands.” — (Tsihohnayah 14, theme)
🩺 Renlund’s Words vs. Reality
Elder Renlund’s teaching is true.
But the way the LDS Church often wields covenants is very different from the way Christ intended them to function.
| Renlund’s Vision 🕊️ | Institutional Practice 🏛️ |
|---|---|
| Covenants bring God’s power into your life | Covenants are tied to worthiness interviews and recommend control |
| Spiritual transformation through Christ | Bureaucratic advancement through temple rituals |
| Angels surround and strengthen | Leaders monitor and judge participation |
| Remember Christ always | Remember deadlines, tithing settlement, interviews |
See the difference?
One is vertical—between you and God.
The other is horizontal—between you and the institution.
Renlund bore witness of the vertical.
But the institution often reinforces the horizontal.
🌿 The Nemenhah Put It Plainly
“Teach your little ones to seek the commission of the Peacemaker… for it is by and through His commission that they receive authority to speak and act in His name.” — Book of Mohmeht Ahkehkt 8:53–54 (theme)
Heavenly power doesn’t flow through Salt Lake.
It flows through personal commission with Christ. 🔥
🌾 The Fork in the Road
The last-days pattern is clear:
| Stage | Book of Mormon | Nemenhah |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Restoration | Gentiles receive the gospel | Foreign people chosen for their industry |
| 🏗️ Growth | Pride & learning creep in | Sanctuaries built, prophets rely on themselves |
| 🏛️ Apostasy | Fulness withdrawn (3 Nephi 16:10) | Refuge shifts to humble remnant |
| 🕊️ Remnant | “A few humble followers of Christ” (2 Nephi 28:14) | Zion built by those who hear Peacemaker |
Renlund is reminding us to stay on the covenant path with Christ.
The scriptures are reminding us not to confuse that path with the institution.
✨ Final Thought
Elder Renlund’s testimony about covenant power is real.
But the power doesn’t belong to the Church.
It belongs to Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon and the Nemenhah prophets both warn that in the last days, the Church would grow proud and lose the fulness. But the Lord will gather a humble remnant—those who remember Him, identify with Him, emulate Him, and align with His purposes, not man’s programs.
Renlund invites us to access covenant power.
The scriptures invite us to discern where that power actually flows from.
And Jesus invites us:
“Come unto me.” — 3 Nephi 9:14
Not come unto the maze.
Not come unto the system.
Come unto Him. 🕊️🌾
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