In his April 2026 General Conference address, Elder Thierry K. Mutombo taught that every covenant God invites us to make is motivated by His perfect love. Rather than imposing unnecessary rules, Heavenly Father gives commandments and covenants because He desires something infinitely greater for His children: an eternity of joy in His presence. Through his own experiences of profound grief, Elder Mutombo testifies that covenant discipleship anchors us to Jesus Christ, whose power makes that eternal promise possible.
Some people see religion as a collection of restrictions that prevent people from living freely or finding happiness. Elder Mutombo offers a very different perspective. God’s commandments are not barriers to joy—they are the path that leads to it.
His desire, purpose, and glory are to have us return to Him pure, having proven ourselves worthy of an eternity of joy in His presence.
Common Criticism: Commandments Restrict Happiness
Many people assume that religion asks us to sacrifice happiness in exchange for obedience. Commandments can appear limiting, especially when they require us to resist immediate desires, challenge cultural expectations, or trust God through difficult circumstances. From this perspective, God’s laws can seem like arbitrary rules rather than expressions of divine love.
Fallacy at Work: Present Bias
Present Bias is our tendency to prioritize immediate comfort or short-term rewards while undervaluing future blessings.
When we evaluate God’s commandments only by what they require today, we can lose sight of what they are preparing us to become tomorrow. Elder Mutombo reminds us that Heavenly Father always sees beyond today’s sacrifice to the eternal joy He desires for His children.
Doctrine
Throughout scripture, God establishes covenants to bless His children, draw them closer to Him, and prepare them for eternal life (Mosiah 18:8–10; Doctrine and Covenants 82:10). His commandments are not arbitrary tests of loyalty—they are invitations to become more like Jesus Christ. As we faithfully keep the covenants we make at baptism and in the temple, we deepen our relationship with Heavenly Father and receive His promised strength, peace, and guidance.
Elder Mutombo’s Correction
Elder Mutombo illustrates this truth through one of the most heartbreaking experiences imaginable. After losing four children, he and his wife faced another trial when extended family members insisted that cultural tradition required them to separate because of their repeated losses.
In that moment, he remembered the covenants they had made with God.
Nathalie is my eternal companion. We are striving together to build an eternal family, and the Savior is helping us achieve it.
Choosing the covenant path did not immediately erase their grief. It did something even more important—it gave them peace, purpose, and confidence that God’s promises extended beyond mortality. Their experience demonstrates that covenant faithfulness is not about earning God’s love; it is about trusting the God whose love is already perfectly given.
Solution
The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches that obedience is not an end in itself. God asks us to keep commandments because He knows what kind of people we must become to enjoy eternal life with Him. What may feel like sacrifice today is preparation for everlasting joy tomorrow. Elder Mutombo reminds us that every covenant reflects the loving purposes of a Heavenly Father whose “desire, purpose, and glory” is our eternal happiness.
Living Apologetics: Seeing Commandments Through God’s Eternal Perspective
One of the greatest challenges of discipleship is remembering that God sees what we cannot. We naturally focus on today’s inconvenience, unanswered questions, or painful trials. The Lord sees the person we are becoming and the eternal future He is preparing for us.
Elder Mutombo’s testimony invites us to trust God’s perspective even when we do not yet understand His timing.
Practical Apologetic Use
If someone says: “Why would a loving God give so many commandments?”
You can respond: “The restored gospel teaches that God’s commandments are expressions of His love, not His control. He isn’t trying to keep us from happiness—He’s preparing us for the fulness of joy that comes from becoming like Jesus Christ and living with Him forever.”
Ways to Apply Today
1️⃣ Look beyond today’s inconvenience. The next time a commandment feels difficult, ask yourself what Christ may be helping you become through your obedience.
2️⃣ Remember the end of the story. When discouragement comes, reflect on the Savior’s Resurrection and Elder Mutombo’s reminder that “Sunday will come.”
3️⃣ Review your covenants. Spend a few minutes pondering how your baptismal or temple covenants have brought greater peace and direction into your life.
Keep This Talk With You
Elder Mutombo’s message reminds us that God’s vision for our lives extends far beyond mortality. Every commandment, every covenant, and every invitation to follow Jesus Christ flows from a loving Father’s desire to bring His children safely home. Even when discipleship requires sacrifice, we can trust that God never asks us to surrender lasting joy for temporary obedience. Instead, He invites us to exchange temporary comforts for eternal blessings.
This week, try one small step:
- Read Mosiah 3:19 and consider how yielding to the Savior changes your heart over time.
- Identify one commandment you have come to appreciate more deeply than when you first tried to live it.
- Thank Heavenly Father in prayer for one covenant blessing you have experienced, even during difficult seasons.
As Elder Mutombo beautifully reminds us, God’s ultimate desire is not merely our obedience—it is our return to Him, “having proven ourselves worthy of an eternity of joy in His presence.”
When God’s commandments require patience or sacrifice, what helps you remember that His ultimate purpose is not to restrict your happiness but to prepare you for an eternity of joy in His presence?
The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.
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