Covenant with the Lord | 1 Nephi 2:16-24

Another thing that helps me in my scripture study is to look for patterns. Patterns are examples of how to personally apply principles of the gospel in my day-to-day life. They bring to light specific steps I can follow to come unto Christ.  Patterns are templates to follow that can be applied in various ways and situations. In this section, Nephi describes the pattern of covenanting with the Lord.

Preparation

Nephi describes the preparation needed to be ready to covenant with the Lord:

• Great desire to know Him
• Prayer
• Allow my heart to be softened
• Believe the words of the prophets
• Share what I've learned with others
• Pray for those that have hardened their hearts

Promises

He describes the covenant or the promises made to God:

• Humbly seek God—remember Him
• Keep His commandments

Blessings

Nephi describes the blessings that the Lord promises:

• Shall prosper (to succeed, to thrive, to grow, to increase)
• Led by the Spirit to eternal life
• Ruler and teacher in His kingdom 

Cursing

There is a cursing associated with every blessing if I choose not to follow Him. They are not designed as punishments but rather as natural consequences to help me to come back to Him.

• Cut off from God. I would be separating myself from Him and His Spirit by rejecting His covenants.
• Scourged to remembrance. The afflictions and trials that I would face would be more than I could bear without His help.

Some of the examples of covenanting in my life are my baptismal covenant (weekly sacrament) and my temple covenants. This pattern or template of covenanting with the Lord by preparing, promising, seeing blessings, and being aware of the cursing can be used in my everyday life as I strive to follow God.