We must study the Old Covenants

On my blog, I talk a lot about the Old Covenants—but that’s really nested in something deeper: an appreciation for walking back to Eden. For returning to the presence of God. For learning again how to become His people, and how He becomes our God.

In a world where covenants are treated like casual agreements and the sacred is often exchanged for the convenient, the Restoration Edition of the scriptures has reintroduced to us a treasure: the Old Covenants, cleansed and corrected by God’s instruction, and placed back into the hands of a believing remnant. This is more than a return to ancient texts—it is a return to the God of our fathers.

A Record for a Remnant

The Old Covenants are not dusty tales of outdated laws. They are stories of wrestlings, of altars built in deserts, of God walking with His people. They are also stories of families led by wise servant-parents, communities built by skillful workers in every needful thing, and cities governed by righteousness.

These people lived in covenant relationship—not just with God, but with each other. Their labor was holy and patterned after heaven.

“And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest. Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the days of Melchizedek…” (Alma 10:1 RE)

The Old Covenants contain the promises given to patriarchs and matriarchs—covenants made and kept in blood, fire, and faith.

They are a record of what a people once were when they walked with God. And they are also a measuring rod for what we must become.

What We Learn from Father Abraham

Abraham’s life is a masterclass in covenant discipleship. From his willingness to leave all behind to his daily walk with the Divine, Abraham sets a pattern for us to follow in a fallen world.

Here are just a few of the lessons we learn from him:
  • He trusted God with all his heart, even when led into the unknown.
  • He withheld nothing God asked of or from him, including his own son.
  • He submitted to the Holy Order, seeking greater light and knowledge.
  • He led and taught with love—not just for his family, but for the “Babylon” of his day—Egypt.
  • He was not in bondage to the world, and therefore gave freely, including tithes.
  • He studied the scriptures and records he had, valuing sacred knowledge.
  • He communed directly with God, and patterned his life after divine guidance.
  • He led an army into battle to rescue his nephew, defending family with courage and faith.
  • He taught his children the laws of God, ensuring the covenant would continue through generations.

This is a Father we can be connected to—not by lineage, but by faith and obedience.

“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” (John 6:15 RE)

Why Were The OC Restored?

We did not edit the scriptures. The Lord did.

Even when we noticed blatant changes or corruptions in the text, our suggestions required humble submission to the Lord’s will on the matter. These scriptures were not corrected by ambition or scholarly assertion, but by revelation and reverence. What was removed or restored was only done with His direction and approval.

Through careful labor by inspired individuals—and under His guiding hand—the Old Covenants were corrected to remove the false traditions and errors of men. The Lord Himself accepted them as part of a standard for our day. That alone should make us sit up straight. But it’s more than textual accuracy. It’s about identity.

The Old Covenants declare who God is, and just as importantly, who we are when we walk in His ways. 

A Covenant-Keeping God Seeks a Covenant-Keeping People

Many want the blessings of Abraham and the patriarchs but ignore the covenant that produced them. But God has always been clear:

“If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.” (Exodus 19:5 RE)

“I covenanted with Adam at the beginning, which covenant was broken by mankind. Since the days of Adam I have always sought to reestablish people of covenant among the living, and therefore have desired that man should love one another, not begrudgingly, but as brothers and sisters indeed, that I may establish my covenant and provide them with light and truth.” (T&C 157:2)

The Restoration Edition Old Covenants make the path clear. They show the kind of people God has always gathered to Himself—those who walk humbly, who love righteousness, who fear Him more than they fear the world. These records are not meant to be admired from afar. They are meant to be lived.

A Foundation for the Future

If we are to become Zion, we must understand what it means to be Israel. And to be Israel, we must remember the covenants God made with those who came before—and then enter into those same kinds of covenants ourselves, in our day.

The Old Covenants in the Restoration Edition remind us that covenant is not just about belief—it’s about behavior. Not just about hope—it’s about holiness. They are a blueprint for building holy families, wise communities, and cities where righteousness can reign again.

“Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11 RE)

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