Week 17 (Apr 20–26): Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34

Week Overview

How can a people promise, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7), and then “turn aside quickly” (Exodus 32:8)? This week holds both truths side by side, covenant loyalty and covenant failure, and it places the Lord’s mercy at the center: “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

Key Scripture Moments

1. The covenant promise (and its weight)

“And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7) This public promise frames everything that follows. It suggests that covenant language is not casual language; it creates accountability and belonging.

2. The first commandment, the root of the rest

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) The bundle’s introduction connects this commandment to Israel’s later choice to worship an idol (see Exodus 32:8). This suggests the “other gods” problem is not theoretical; it shows up when fear, impatience, or doubt press in.

3. Turning aside quickly

“They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it.” (Exodus 32:8) The wording “quickly” fits the bundle’s emphasis that faith and commitment can be overcome by impatience, fear, or doubt. The story shows how fast a heart can drift when the Lord’s timing feels slow.

4. The Lord’s revealed character after covenant breaking

“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 34:6) The bundle places this verse as encouragement: the Lord did not give up on ancient Israel. The mercy described here stands in the same narrative as broken tables and a broken covenant, which suggests repentance remains possible because of who the Lord is.

Hidden Connections

• Covenant identity as “treasure”: The bundle links Exodus 19:3–6 with President Russell M. Nelson’s explanation of “peculiar.”

“In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property,’ or ‘treasure.’ … For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 34). Read alongside Israel’s covenant promise (Exodus 24:7) and failure (Exodus 32:8), this suggests the Lord’s commitment to His covenant people is grounded in His valuing of them, not in their flawless performance.

• Preparation before meeting God: The bundle highlights that Israel needed preparation to “meet with God” (see Exodus 19:10–11, 17). It also points to other preparation patterns (see Luke 6:12–13; Enos 1:2–6; Alma 17:2–3). This suggests sacred access is paired with deliberate spiritual readiness.

Pattern Discovery

• Promise, presence, impatience, mercy: Israel covenants (Exodus 24:7). The Lord seeks to “dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8, quoted in the bundle’s introduction). Israel turns aside (Exodus 32:8). The Lord reveals His mercy (Exodus 34:6). This pattern helps readers name their own cycles and then locate hope where the Lord places it, in His longsuffering and goodness (Exodus 34:6).

• Signs that shape identity: The Sabbath appears as more than a rule. The bundle emphasizes it as a “sign” between God and His people (see Exodus 31:13, 16–17), shaping decisions by what a disciple wants to communicate to God.

Simple Questions

1. What does it mean to say, “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7), in public and as a community?
2. Where does modern life pressure people to place something “before” God (Exodus 20:3)?
3. What warnings are contained in the phrase “turned aside quickly” (Exodus 32:8)?
4. What does the Lord choose to emphasize about Himself after Israel’s sin (Exodus 34:6)?
5. How does seeing the Sabbath as a “sign” (Exodus 31:13) change Sabbath decisions?
6. How does President Nelson’s definition of segullah (“treasure”) shape the way covenant belonging is understood? (Nelson, “Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 34)

One Big Idea

The Lord binds His people to Him by covenant, and when they fail, He calls them back through His mercy. Israel’s covenant promise (Exodus 24:7) and their quick turning aside (Exodus 32:8) sit in the same story as the Lord’s self-description: “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). The historical setting matters, wilderness uncertainty and fear about the future (see Exodus 32:1–8 in the bundle’s framing) became a proving ground for covenant loyalty.

Living It

• Prepare for sacred experiences: Use Israel’s preparation to “meet with God” (Exodus 19:10–11, 17) as a model for sacrament worship and other holy moments. If questions arise about temple ordinances, this is sacred and personal, please speak with your bishop or refer to the temple recommend questions.
• Choose the “sign” intentionally: When deciding how to keep the Sabbath, apply President Nelson’s question:

“When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130).

• Return quickly when drifting happens: Let “turned aside quickly” (Exodus 32:8) become a prompt to return quickly as well, trusting the Lord’s mercy described in Exodus 34:6.

Faith Builder

President Nelson’s teachings in the bundle connect covenant identity and daily discipleship: covenant people are the Lord’s “treasure” (Nelson, “Children of the Covenant,” Ensign, May 1995, 34), and Sabbath worship becomes a personal “sign” to God rather than a checklist (Nelson, “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130). See also Dallin H. Oaks, “No Other Gods,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 72–75 (reference provided in the bundle for further reading).

These chapters invite readers to trust the Lord’s mercy (Exodus 34:6) while choosing covenant loyalty that does not “turn aside quickly” (Exodus 32:8).