The Covenant of Christ: How It Came to Be and Why It Matters

This morning, I received a heartfelt—and rather intense—comment from my old friend, Will Carter. Will and I were baptized on the same day many years ago. I still treasure the photo of us standing together in the water, full of joy, full of faith. So when he reached out in response to my recent post, Defending the Canon of Scripture, I was both surprised and grateful.

Will asked some sincere questions about the Covenant of Christ, and I want to honor those questions by answering them thoughtfully. In particular, he asked:

“Tell me how this happened. Tell me how you report, so matter of factly, that THE LORD did this, ‘accepted’ it, and gave us this new name.”

Let me begin by saying: this is not something I believe lightly. I have studied it carefully over the past several years and watched the events unfold step by step. I also took the matter to the Lord in prayer and received my own witness. But the story itself is public, and I’m happy to walk through it.

How the Covenant of Christ Came Forth

This modern English edition of scripture began as an effort by many individuals to make the Restoration scriptures clearer, more accurate, and more faithful to the original manuscripts. The work was collaborative and prayerful. But no one claimed authorship or control. Denver Snuffer, who many know as a teacher, was one of several contributors, but the guiding principle was always: let the Lord direct.

The effort involved reviewing the Book of Mormon, the New Testament, the Teachings & Commandments (formerly D&C), and the Pearl of Great Price. It included updating formatting, punctuation, and language for clarity, while preserving meaning. But more importantly, it was done with a hope that the Lord would accept the work.

The work was accepted as documented in section 157 (Prayer for Covenant), section 158 (Answer to Prayer for Covenant) and section 159 (The Covenant Ordinance). Will, I am fairly certain you are familiar with all the history up to this point. I seem to recall phone conversations about this time in which we discussed the events of 2017. We discussed the amazing event that this really was and how it affected our understanding of doctrine. I specifically recall discussions about the nature of God.

Conference in the Top of the Mountains

On 29 June 2024 , Denver shared a remarkable message received from the Lord, first alluded to in the T&C Section 177 (6 April 2019), wherein the Lord accepted the scripture project and stated, “You [are] permitted to update language, select a current vocabulary, and you [are] warned not to change any meaning.”

In the June 29th announcement, the modern English version of the Book of Mormon was announced and made immediately available. In his remarks that day, Denver explained that the Lord gave the modern English version a new name: The Covenant of Christ.

As stated here, “… as the project to restate the Book of Mormon in modern English neared completion, the Lord gave it a new title: Covenant of Christ. That new title is the direct result of the Lord’s 2017 Covenant.”

This Thing Was Not Done In A Corner

That message was read aloud during the June 29, 2024, conference held in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho. The live stream is available here, and the PDF is available here which confirms the details of how the Lord communicated His acceptance through revelation.

Finally, at another conference on 27 Oct 2024, the vote was taken and the Covenant of Christ, the modern English version, was accepted by the people as part of the Canon of the fellowships of the Remnant movement.

Here are a few links that explain the sequence clearly:

• Overview of the Covenant of Christ project

• Background: How the project began

• Introduction: The process and purpose

• FAQs, including why the Lord renamed the scriptures

• Official vote by the fellowships to accept the Covenant

Why I Refer to Denver as the Davidic Servant

Will, I know this may be difficult to accept, especially if you haven’t followed Denver’s ministry in recent years. But in T&C Section 162, a revelation received by Denver, the Lord told Denver that he would henceforth be known as David. Although Denver struggled with this, the Lord said, “I thought it no great insult to be called the Son of David.” The wording is clear and unmistakable. It identifies Denver as a servant in the line and spirit of David—chosen, anointed, and appointed by the Lord to prepare His people for Zion.

I know this is a tough pill to swallow for those still influenced by the LDS Church’s narrative. I struggled too. But once you study it out and ask the Lord, it becomes clear: Denver is the only living dispensation head today. Like Joseph Smith in his time, Denver is tasked with declaring the word of the Lord, defending the covenant, and preparing the way for Zion. If this sounds shocking, I invite you to read T&C Section 162 for yourself: Teachings & Commandments Section 162

Why It Matters

We are living in a day when the Lord is once again speaking from heaven. He is extending His hand a second time to recover His people. The Covenant of Christ is not just a book—it is a covenant. It is an invitation from the Lord to become His people, to gather, to repent, and to prepare for Zion. It matters because the Lord said so. And those who take it lightly or reject it out of hand risk cutting themselves off from what He is doing now.

A Personal Word to Will

Will, I still remember your faith, your passion for truth, and your love for the gospel. I don’t believe that’s gone. I believe you’re wrestling, just like we all do when truth confronts our assumptions. Your comment was raw and intense, but I heard the questions behind it. I hope this post helps answer some of them. You don’t have to take my word for any of this. You can take it to the Lord. You already know that. I have done so and am satisfied that this modern English version is a blessing. By the way, using either version is acceptable to the Lord. God bless you my friend.