A Peculiar Treasure

Recognize that the Lord calls His people His treasure

Elder Walker begins by contrasting worldly treasure with the astonishing truth found in scripture: the Lord refers to His covenant people as His “peculiar treasure.” Rather than placing ultimate value on earthly riches, disciples are invited to understand their worth to God. This identity is tied to obedience and covenant relationship with Him.

As we study the scriptures, we encounter the word treasure dozens of times—most often as a warning not to set our hearts upon riches or upon the fleeting things of the world.

Yet among all those warnings about earthly treasure, there is one passage that reveals something astonishing: the Lord Himself speaks of us as His treasure.

I speak of the moment when the Lord addressed the prophet Moses upon Mount Sinai and declared that His people would be a peculiar treasure unto Him if they would obey His voice and keep His covenant.

In His benevolent teaching to Moses, the Lord established a pattern of application not only to the ancient children of Israel but to all those who desire to become His treasure—the Lord’s covenant people.

• How does Elder Walker contrast earthly treasure with the way the Lord views His people?
• What conditions did the Lord give for His people to become His “peculiar treasure”?
• Why is the phrase “peculiar treasure” significant in understanding our relationship with God?
• Do I think of myself as someone precious to the Lord? Why or why not?
• What worldly “treasures” might be competing with my devotion to God?
• How can I remember more often this week that my greatest worth comes from being known and loved by the Lord?

Trust the Father’s plan and the Savior’s redeeming love

The talk teaches that Heavenly Father’s greatest desire is to bring His children back to live with Him and receive eternal life. To accomplish this, He established the plan of salvation and sent Jesus Christ to overcome death and atone for sin. The love of the Father and the Son is the foundation of the covenant invitation extended to all people.

Our Heavenly Father’s greatest desire is for us to live with Him again and enjoy eternal life by His side.

His work and glory are “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

In order to make this possible, He designed the plan of salvation.

He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to break the bands of death and atone for the sins of the world.

This sacrifice is the greatest expression of our Father’s infinite love for all His children.

Above all loves, the love of our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, stands supreme—“greater love” has no man.

As a part of our Savior’s love, He invites us to come unto Him, to choose Him.

• What does Elder Walker say is Heavenly Father’s greatest desire for His children?
• How does the plan of salvation make eternal life possible?
• What does the Savior’s Atonement reveal about the love of the Father and the Son?
• How is the invitation to come unto Christ an expression of His love?
• How has the Savior’s love influenced my desire to follow Him?
• When have I felt gratitude for the plan of salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
• What can I do to choose the Savior more intentionally in my daily life?

Obey the Savior’s voice and keep your covenants

A central message of the talk is that becoming the Lord’s treasure follows a clear pattern: obey His voice and keep His covenants. Elder Walker teaches that this pattern applies not only to ancient Israel but also to modern disciples. Covenant faithfulness identifies us as God’s people and opens the way for divine blessings through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

The living Christ still calls a covenant people today.

That pattern includes two simple but powerful conditions: to obey His voice and to keep our covenants with Him.

Then we will be a peculiar, or special, treasure; and as such we will be blessed, strengthened, and favored through the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

The same God who called the children of Israel calls us now—to become His covenant people, to rise above the ways of the world, and to receive blessings that only He can bestow.

• What two conditions does Elder Walker identify as necessary to become the Lord’s treasure?
• How does he show that the Lord’s invitation to be a covenant people applies today?
• What blessings are associated with obeying the Lord’s voice and keeping covenants?
• What covenant responsibilities do I need to remember more consciously?
• In what ways is the Savior asking me right now to obey His voice?
• How can I better show through my actions that I cherish my covenants?

Draw closer to God through covenant relationship

Elder Walker uses President Russell M. Nelson’s teaching to show that covenants deepen our relationship with God. Through covenant bonds, God remains tirelessly committed to helping His children, and each person has a special place in His heart. Covenants are not merely obligations; they are a sacred relationship of closeness, mercy, and divine hope.

Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant.

Now we are bound together.

Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us.

Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. He has high hopes for us.

• How does making covenants change our relationship with God?
• What does President Nelson teach about God’s efforts to help covenant keepers?
• What do these teachings suggest about God’s feelings toward His covenant children?
• How have my covenants helped me feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
• When have I felt God’s patience and help in my life?
• How can I act with greater confidence in the truth that I have a special place in God’s heart?

Rise above the world through covenant power

The talk teaches that covenant faithfulness does more than identify disciples as God’s people—it empowers them to rise above the limitations and challenges of a fallen world. Quoting President Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Walker emphasizes that obedience and honoring covenants enable us to receive promised blessings that help us soar to celestial heights.

Covenant faithfulness does more than identify us as God’s people—it empowers us to rise above the limitations of this fallen world.

President Dallin H. Oaks has taught that obedience to God’s commandments is essential to rise above life’s challenges.

As we honor those covenants by keeping Their commandments and following Their plan of redemption, Their promised blessings enable us to soar to celestial heights.

• According to Elder Walker, what does covenant faithfulness empower us to do?
• Why is obedience essential in overcoming life’s challenges?
• What does it mean to “soar to celestial heights” through covenant living?
• What challenges in my life could be faced with greater faith in covenant power?
• How has obedience helped me rise above discouragement, temptation, or fear?
• What commandment or covenant obligation could I honor more fully to receive greater strength?

Offer an honest heart and willing sacrifice to the Lord

Elder Walker explains that the Lord does not demand instant perfection. Instead, He asks for honesty, broken hearts, contrite spirits, and a willingness to observe covenants by sacrifice. Becoming the Lord’s treasure requires persistence and the laying aside of lesser things that distance us from Him. Sacrifice is presented as evidence of love and devotion to God.

In modern revelation, the Lord provides a beautiful description of how we can know we are accepted of Him.

Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.

The Lord does not ask for perfection all at once; rather, He asks for honest and broken hearts, humble spirits, and a willing readiness to keep our covenants—even when it requires sacrifice.

Becoming the Lord’s treasure and receiving His divine acceptance are not something casual or accidental.

They require patient effort, faithful persistence, and sacrifice.

We must be willing to lay aside lesser things—habits, ambitions, or comforts that distance our hearts from Him—so that we may offer ourselves wholly and without reservation.

As we choose to follow prophetic counsel, even when it stretches us or feels inconvenient, we demonstrate our love for the Lord and show that we cherish Him above all worldly desires.

• What qualities does the Lord say characterize those who are accepted of Him?
• How does Elder Walker distinguish between perfection and willing sacrifice?
• Why are sacrifice and persistence necessary in covenant discipleship?
• What kinds of “lesser things” can distance our hearts from the Lord?
• What sacrifice might the Lord be asking of me right now?
• Are there habits, ambitions, or comforts that are distancing my heart from God?
• How have I shown willingness to follow prophetic counsel when it was difficult or inconvenient?
• What would it look like for me to offer myself to the Lord more wholly and without reservation?

Receive continual blessings, strength, and hope through covenant obedience

The talk teaches that faithful obedience to covenants brings a continual stream of divine blessings. Elder Walker quotes President D. Todd Christofferson to show that covenant keeping brings visible fruits of obedience, communication from the Spirit of God’s pleasure, and hope rooted in God’s promises. Through covenant power, the Lord strengthens and sustains His people in every step of life.

President D. Todd Christofferson taught that as we walk in faithful obedience to our covenants, there flows into our lives a “continual [stream] of blessings” from God—divine power that enables us to endure trials and even “convert tribulation into triumph.”

He explained that when we honor our covenants, three sacred blessings follow: “the promised fruits of obedience become evident, … the Spirit communicates God’s pleasure, [and] we can face life with hope … , knowing … we will succeed in the end because we have God’s promise to us.”

This is part of what it means to be the Lord’s peculiar treasure.

He not only claims us as His covenant people—He strengthens us, sustains us, and surrounds us with covenant power every step of the way.

• What does Elder Walker say flows into our lives as we walk in faithful obedience to our covenants?
• What three blessings did President Christofferson identify as following covenant faithfulness?
• How can covenant power help a disciple endure trials and convert tribulation into triumph?
• What blessings have I seen from honoring my covenants?
• When has the Spirit communicated God’s pleasure or approval to me?
• How has the Lord strengthened or sustained me during a trial?
• What can I record in my journal about times when covenant obedience brought me hope?

Seek the Lord’s acceptance through daily faithful discipleship

Elder Walker concludes with a testimony that as disciples obey the Savior’s voice and keep their covenants through small and quiet daily sacrifices, they will feel His love more deeply and receive clearer guidance. Because Jesus Christ lives, faithful Saints can look forward with assurance to standing before Him and being accepted of Him. The talk ends by centering discipleship on enduring, daily faithfulness in Christ.

I testify that as we obey the Savior’s voice and keep our covenants—even by small and quiet sacrifices each day—we will feel His love more deeply and receive His guidance more clearly.

And because He lives, we can have the assurance that one day we will stand before Him and hear the words that matter most: that we are accepted of Him.

• How does Elder Walker say we can feel the Savior’s love more deeply?
• What role do small and quiet daily sacrifices play in discipleship?
• What assurance does the living Christ offer to faithful covenant keepers?
• What small and quiet sacrifice can I make each day to follow the Savior more faithfully?
• How have I felt the Lord’s guidance become clearer as I have obeyed Him?
• What would it mean to me personally to be accepted of the Lord?
• What daily habits can help me prepare to stand confidently before Jesus Christ?