Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 5-7

The first time the phrase "covenant path" was used in General Conference was in October  2007 by Elaine S. Dalton in her talk entitled, "Stay on the Path," when she quoted the following from Jeffrey R. Holland: 

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]”.

Since then, that phrase "covenant path" has been repeated 61 times in General Conference; 36 of those times were during this year's April and October 2018 General Conferences.

My reading today made me recognize how easy it is to get off the covenant path, and the personal and social dangers that come when the covenant path is not followed. Particularly for those who know the will of God and willfully rebel.

Which has made me think of something President Nelson has warned in the past:

Difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.” That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

I will not be crushed into silent weakness, for I, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.