A very Happy New Year to you. I pray that 2026 brings you peace, joy, and a deeper sense of the Lord’s nearness.
Thank you for all you do to lift and bless others as you strive to follow Jesus Christ.
As we move along our sometimes‑wandering path of discipleship, there are seasons when we feel close to the Saviour and our Heavenly Father, and other times when we feel more distant. Lately, one word has stayed on my mind: reconciliation.
The roots of reconciliation come from Latin and carry the meaning of “the act or process of bringing back again into friendliness or unity.” It is a word of return, restoration, and renewed relationship.
In the introduction to Come, Follow Me, we are reminded that God desires to make covenants with us because He loves us. We are His spirit children, and He is in relentless pursuit of our return.
When we enter into a covenant with God, we ‘create a relationship with God that allows Him to bless and change us. The covenant path leads us back to Him. If we let God prevail in our lives, that covenant will lead us closer and closer to Him. All covenants are intended to be binding. They create a relationship with everlasting ties’. The Everlasting Covenant
This “act” or “process” of being brought back begins with something small: a simple act of faith. It starts with believing that God will accept our efforts to come closer to Him. And He will. Through the grace of His Son, Jesus Christ, He will not only accept your effort but strengthen you as you work toward reconciliation—seeking to repair whatever has lessened the unity or closeness in your covenant relationship with Him.
As you continue your journey, I invite you to begin the process with a prayer. From there, the Spirit may lead you to take the sacrament again, reach out to a trusted gospel friend, open a scripture that has meaning for you, or review—or seek to receive—your patriarchal blessing. Any of these can be a beginning.
I promise that as you let God prevail in your life this year, He will help you draw nearer to Him through your covenants. He is ready to meet you in every sincere step you take.
Gospel love
President Peter Cope
President Mark Plumbley
President Steve Cottrell