Finding Strength, Protection, and Peace Through Our Covenants with God
Daniel 6 | Come Follow Me for Teens
Imagine being told that tomorrow you have to run a marathon.
Twenty-six miles.
And you're expected to begin running first thing in the morning.
Now imagine that you've never trained for a marathon before.
You haven't been running regularly.
You haven't developed your endurance.
And you have no idea whether your body is prepared for that kind of challenge.
How confident would you feel?
Probably not very!
Now imagine another person standing next to you.
They've been training for months.
They started with shorter distances.
They gradually increased their endurance.
They developed healthy habits.
And through consistent preparation, their body became stronger.
When the race begins, both runners are facing the same distance.
But one has spent months preparing for the challenge.
And that preparation makes a remarkable difference.
I've thought about that illustration when considering the experiences of Daniel.
Because I believe one of the most important lessons we can learn from Daniel 6 involves something he was doing long before he ever encountered a lions' den.
He was developing a relationship with Heavenly Father.
And when the day came that his faith was tested in an extraordinary way, that relationship had already become part of his life.
A Man His Enemies Couldn't Find Fault With
By the time we reach Daniel 6, Daniel has been serving in positions of responsibility for many years.
He has earned the confidence of powerful rulers.
He has demonstrated wisdom.
Integrity.
Faithfulness.
And extraordinary ability in the responsibilities entrusted to him.
The scriptures tell us that King Darius was considering placing Daniel over the entire kingdom (Daniel 6:1–3).
But there was a problem.
Some of the other leaders were jealous of Daniel's position and influence.
They wanted to find a way to discredit him.
And so they began looking for something they could use against him.
Maybe he had made a serious mistake in his responsibilities.
Perhaps he had been dishonest.
Maybe there was something in his personal life that could damage his reputation.
But the scriptures tell us something remarkable.
In Daniel 6:4, we learn that his enemies couldn't find any error or fault in his conduct.
Think about that.
They were actively searching for evidence of wrongdoing.
And they couldn't find it.
What a remarkable testimony of Daniel's character!
But then these men came up with another plan.
They realized that Daniel's commitment to God was so consistent that they could use it against him.
In Daniel 6:5, they concluded that they would have to find something connected to the law of his God.
I find that fascinating.
Daniel had developed such a consistent pattern of faithfulness that even his enemies knew he wouldn't abandon his commitment to Heavenly Father simply because doing so became inconvenient.
So they decided to take advantage of that commitment.
A Trap Designed Around His Faith
Daniel's enemies approached King Darius with a proposal.
They suggested that for thirty days, no one in the kingdom should be allowed to petition any god or person except the king.
Anyone who violated the command would be thrown into a den of lions (Daniel 6:6–9).
Think about how carefully that plan was designed.
They weren't simply trying to create a law Daniel might accidentally break.
They were creating a situation where his obedience to Heavenly Father would place him in direct conflict with the king's command.
They knew Daniel prayed.
They knew he worshipped God.
And they believed they could use his faithfulness to destroy him.
The king agreed to their proposal and signed the decree.
Now imagine being Daniel.
You discover that a new law has been established.
You understand exactly what it means.
Continuing to worship God openly could cost you your life.
What would you do?
Perhaps you would decide to stop praying for thirty days.
Maybe you would try to find a way around the law.
Or perhaps you would tell yourself that God would understand if you temporarily changed your behavior to avoid danger.
But Daniel's response was extraordinary.
And I want you to pay close attention to the words the scriptures use to describe it.
As He Did Aforetime
In Daniel 6:10, we read that after Daniel learned the decree had been signed, he returned to his house.
He opened his windows toward Jerusalem.
And he knelt in prayer three times a day.
Then the scripture adds four words that I absolutely love.
"As he did aforetime."
Think about those words.
Daniel didn't suddenly decide that he needed a relationship with Heavenly Father because his life was in danger.
He already had one.
He didn't begin praying because his enemies had arranged a terrible trap.
Prayer was already part of his life.
He wasn't developing faith for the first time in the middle of an extraordinary crisis.
He had been developing that faith through the ordinary experiences of everyday discipleship.
And when his circumstances changed, his commitment to God remained.
I think there's a wonderful lesson for every one of us in that example.
The spiritual habits we develop today can prepare us for challenges we cannot yet see.
Becoming Strong Before the Challenge
Think about how many different kinds of preparation exist in your life.
If you're learning to play a musical instrument, you practice before the performance.
If you're preparing for an important game, you train before stepping onto the field.
If you're studying for a difficult test, you try to learn the material before the exam begins.
And if you're developing a particular skill, you recognize that improvement usually comes through consistent effort over time.
Now think about your spiritual life.
What happens when we regularly turn toward Heavenly Father in prayer?
We begin developing a relationship with Him.
We learn to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost.
We become more comfortable expressing our thoughts, concerns, hopes, and gratitude.
And over time, we may begin recognizing ways He has guided and strengthened us.
Think about what happens when we regularly study the scriptures.
We become more familiar with God's character.
We begin recognizing patterns in the way He works with His children.
We learn from the experiences of people who trusted Him through difficult circumstances.
And the truths we study can begin influencing our decisions and desires.
Think about what happens when we consistently seek to keep our covenants.
Our commitment to Jesus Christ becomes part of the way we live.
We begin making decisions because of the relationship we've promised to develop with Him.
And gradually, our faith can become a greater source of strength.
I love the thought that Daniel's courage in the lions' den was connected to the devotion he had already demonstrated long before that experience.
The extraordinary moment revealed something that had been developing through many ordinary moments.
And I believe Heavenly Father wants us to develop that same kind of faith.
The Lions' Dens We Face
Now you probably won't be threatened with a literal den of lions.
But I want you to consider some of the challenges you may face.
Perhaps you'll find yourself in a situation where everyone around you is doing something you know is wrong.
Maybe you'll experience pressure to compromise your standards.
Perhaps you'll have an opportunity to defend someone who's being treated unfairly.
Or you might face a difficult decision where doing the right thing could cost you a friendship, an opportunity, or the approval of people you care about.
Sometimes your challenges will involve circumstances beyond your control.
A problem in your family.
An unexpected disappointment.
A serious illness.
Or something that leaves you wondering what the future will look like.
During those experiences, you'll need more than a collection of facts about the gospel.
You'll need a personal relationship with the God who revealed those truths.
You'll need confidence in His character.
And you'll need the spiritual strength that comes from knowing you can turn to Him.
That's why I believe the small decisions we make today are so important.
The prayers we offer.
The scriptures we study.
The covenants we honor.
The quiet moments when we choose to do what's right.
Those experiences help us develop something that can become one of the greatest sources of strength in our lives.
Confidence in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
My God Hath Sent His Angel
Now return to Daniel's experience.
His enemies discovered that he had continued praying.
They reported him to the king.
And although Darius desperately wanted to save Daniel, the decree he had signed left him unable to prevent the punishment (Daniel 6:11–16).
Daniel was thrown into the lions' den.
Imagine that moment.
The darkness.
The uncertainty.
The danger.
And the knowledge that he was facing the consequences of remaining faithful to God.
A stone was placed over the entrance and sealed.
And the king returned to his palace.
But Darius couldn't rest.
Daniel 6:18 tells us that he spent the night fasting.
He couldn't sleep.
And early the next morning, he hurried to the lions' den.
When he arrived, he called out to Daniel, asking whether the living God Daniel served had been able to deliver him.
And then came the remarkable answer.
Daniel was alive.
In Daniel 6:22, he declared:
"My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths."
What an extraordinary miracle!
The same Heavenly Father who had given Daniel wisdom as a young man had remained with him throughout his life.
And now, in one of his greatest moments of danger, God had sent divine help.
But there's something I find especially important about Daniel's experience.
His enemies had carefully designed a situation they believed would destroy him.
They had used deception, political influence, and the power of the king to accomplish their purpose.
And yet the power of God was greater than their designs.
That is a beautiful truth to remember.
The wisdom and power of Heavenly Father are greater than the plans and efforts of those who oppose Him.
And He has given His children remarkable promises of protection and strength through their relationship with Him.
The Safest Place to Be Spiritually
There's a statement from President Russell M. Nelson that I want you to remember.
In his October 2021 general conference address, The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, he spoke about the extensive renovations taking place at the Salt Lake Temple.
Workers were strengthening its foundation so it could better withstand future earthquakes.
Think about how important that work was.
The temple was a beautiful building.
Its walls and towers were familiar to generations of people.
But what would happen if the building didn't have a strong enough foundation to withstand the forces that might eventually act upon it?
The foundation needed to be reinforced.
President Nelson then connected that physical work to something deeply important in our spiritual lives.
He taught:
"The safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants!"
Think about that promise.
Heavenly Father wants us to build our lives upon Jesus Christ.
And the covenants we make with Him provide a sacred relationship through which we can receive His power, guidance, and blessings.
I love that picture.
A strong foundation doesn't mean an earthquake will never happen.
It means the structure has been prepared to withstand forces that could otherwise bring it down.
And the same principle applies to our spiritual lives.
Heavenly Father knows we will experience challenges.
He knows there will be disappointments.
He knows we will face temptation, uncertainty, and difficulties we cannot fully anticipate.
And He wants us to have a spiritual foundation strong enough to help us remain faithful through those experiences.
A Night When Everything Seemed Uncertain
I want to share an experience that beautifully illustrates this promise.
It's one President Henry B. Eyring shared during the April 2024 general conference.
On June 5, 1976, President Eyring and his wife, Kathy, traveled from Rexburg, Idaho, to the Idaho Falls Temple.
They were attending the sealing of a close friend.
Their four young sons remained at home with a babysitter.
And everything seemed to be going as planned.
But while they were at the temple, something terrible happened.
The Teton Dam collapsed.
An enormous amount of water rushed through the surrounding communities.
Homes were damaged and destroyed.
Roads became impassable.
And much of Rexburg was flooded.
Imagine what President and Sister Eyring must have felt when they learned what had happened.
Their four young children were at home.
They didn't know whether the boys were safe.
And because this was long before cell phones and text messaging, they had no simple way of contacting them.
They couldn't even drive home because the roads had been closed.
Think about how frightening that must have been.
They were parents.
They loved their children.
And suddenly, they were facing a situation completely beyond their control.
That night, they stayed in a motel in Idaho Falls.
They knelt together and prayed for the safety of their children.
Sister Eyring continued worrying into the night.
And President Eyring shared that he eventually experienced a remarkable feeling of peace.
When his wife asked how he could sleep during such a frightening experience, he explained the reassurance that had come to him.
He knew that whatever happened, their family had made sacred temple covenants.
They had been sealed together.
And those eternal promises gave him confidence in Heavenly Father's plan.
President Eyring later expressed the truth he learned that night:
"No matter the outcome, all will be well because of temple covenants."
I love that statement.
They didn't yet know whether their children were safe.
They didn't know what condition their home would be in.
And they couldn't control what was happening around them.
But they knew something deeply important about their relationship with Heavenly Father.
They had made covenants with Him.
And they trusted His promises.
Eventually, they learned that their children were safe.
What a wonderful blessing!
But I think the most meaningful part of that experience is the reassurance they received before they knew how everything would turn out.
Their covenants gave them peace in the middle of uncertainty.
And I believe that is a blessing Heavenly Father wants His children to understand.
What Do Covenants Mean for You?
Now you might be thinking:
I'm still a teenager. I haven't made all the covenants adults make in the temple.
And that's true.
But you can begin developing a covenant relationship with Heavenly Father right now.
If you've been baptized, you've already entered into a sacred covenant with Him.
You've promised to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, remember Him, and keep His commandments.
And through the gift of the Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father has provided an extraordinary source of spiritual guidance and strength.
Each week, as you partake of the sacrament, you're invited to remember Jesus Christ and renew your commitment to Him.
You may also have opportunities to participate in baptisms for the dead in the temple.
And as you continue growing, you'll have opportunities to prepare for additional sacred ordinances and covenants.
Think about how beautiful that progression is.
Heavenly Father doesn't expect you to develop a perfect understanding of every gospel principle immediately.
He invites you to begin walking with Him.
To learn.
To keep your promises.
To repent when you make mistakes.
And to grow through your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Your spiritual foundation is something you can strengthen throughout your life.
Just as Daniel did.
The Strength of a Covenant Relationship
There's one more thing I want you to consider.
When we talk about covenants, sometimes we focus primarily on the promises we make to God.
And those promises are extremely important.
But I hope you'll also remember that a covenant involves a relationship.
Heavenly Father makes promises to us as well.
And He is perfectly faithful in keeping them.
Think about what that means.
When you're frightened, you can pray to Him.
When you make a mistake, you can turn to Jesus Christ through repentance.
When you're uncertain about a decision, you can seek revelation.
When you're discouraged, you can ask for strength.
And when you face a challenge you cannot overcome on your own, you can remember that you have a Heavenly Father who knows and loves you.
That's why I love the example of Daniel.
He didn't wait until he was surrounded by lions to begin developing that relationship.
He had been developing it for years.
And his faithfulness had become so consistent that even his enemies knew it was part of who he was.
Now imagine developing that kind of relationship with Heavenly Father yourself.
A relationship that influences the way you make decisions.
The way you respond to temptation.
The way you treat others.
And the way you face uncertainty about the future.
What an extraordinary blessing that would be.
Scripture
Daniel 6:1–5 — Daniel's wisdom and integrity distinguish him, and his enemies seek an accusation against him.
Daniel 6:6–10 — The king signs a decree prohibiting prayer, but Daniel continues his established pattern of worship.
Daniel 6:16–23 — Daniel is cast into the lions' den, and God sends an angel to protect him.
Mosiah 18:8–10 — Baptism includes sacred promises to serve God, bear one another's burdens, and stand as witnesses of Him.
Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 — The Lord's servants seek to go forth from His house armed with His power.
Helaman 5:12 — Jesus Christ is the sure foundation upon which we can build our lives.
John 14:27 — Jesus Christ promises His disciples a peace the world cannot give.
Reflection
What impresses you most about Daniel's character in Daniel 6:1–5?
Why is it significant that Daniel continued praying "as he did aforetime"?
How do regular spiritual habits prepare us for challenges we cannot yet anticipate?
What can Daniel's experience teach us about the wisdom and power of Heavenly Father?
What does President Nelson's promise about living inside our temple covenants mean to you?
What impresses you most about President Eyring's experience during the Teton Dam disaster?
How can our covenants bring peace even when we don't know how a difficult situation will end?
What is one thing you could begin doing now to strengthen your relationship with Heavenly Father and prepare for future challenges?
Today's Challenge
Strengthen your spiritual foundation before the challenge comes.
Daniel had developed a consistent pattern of prayer long before he faced the lions' den.
This week, I want to invite you to strengthen one part of your own relationship with Heavenly Father.
1. Choose one spiritual habit.
Think about a habit that could help you feel closer to Him.
Perhaps it's morning prayer.
Reading a few verses of scripture before school.
Taking time to write down spiritual impressions.
Preparing more thoughtfully for the sacrament.
Or spending a few minutes each evening reflecting on how Heavenly Father helped you throughout the day.
Choose something meaningful and realistic.
2. Connect the habit to a relationship.
Before you begin, consider this question:
How will this help me come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Remember, the purpose isn't simply to complete another task.
It's to develop a stronger relationship with Them.
As you pray, speak honestly.
As you study, look for what the scriptures reveal about God's character.
As you partake of the sacrament, remember the Savior and the promises you have made to follow Him.
3. Prepare for a future challenge.
Think about a situation you might face where you'll need spiritual strength.
Perhaps you're worried about fitting in at school.
Maybe you're trying to overcome a temptation.
Perhaps an important decision is approaching.
Or you may simply want greater confidence in your ability to recognize the Holy Ghost.
Pray specifically for help preparing.
Then ask yourself:
What kind of spiritual strength do I hope to have when that moment arrives, and what can I begin doing today to develop it?
Remember Daniel.
He didn't develop his relationship with God for the first time in the lions' den.
He continued worshipping Him as he had done before.
Christ-Centered Thought
There's one more connection to Daniel's experience that I find particularly beautiful.
I want you to think about the way Daniel's story unfolds.
Daniel was a faithful servant.
His enemies couldn't find any legitimate fault in his character.
So they carefully devised a plan to have him condemned.
He was placed into a situation where his faithfulness led to a punishment he didn't deserve.
And eventually, he was placed in a den where everyone expected him to die.
Then something interesting happened.
A stone was placed over the entrance.
And the stone was sealed (Daniel 6:17).
Now think about another account in scripture.
One involving Jesus Christ.
Throughout His mortal ministry, the Savior lived a perfect life.
He healed the sick.
Fed the hungry.
Comforted the sorrowful.
And taught the truths of His Father.
Yet His enemies sought ways to accuse and condemn Him.
He was betrayed.
Arrested.
Falsely accused.
And eventually sentenced to death.
After His Crucifixion, His body was placed in a tomb.
And a stone was placed at the entrance.
The tomb was sealed and guarded (Matthew 27:62–66).
Now think about what happened next.
In Daniel 6, the king arose early in the morning and hurried to the lions' den.
He desperately wanted to know whether Daniel was still alive.
And when he called out, Daniel answered.
God had sent an angel.
Daniel had been preserved.
Now consider what happened on the morning of the Savior's Resurrection.
When those who loved Jesus Christ came to His tomb, they discovered something extraordinary.
The stone had been moved.
And the tomb was empty.
The angel declared:
"He is not here: for he is risen."
—Matthew 28:6
I love connecting those two accounts.
Daniel's deliverance was an extraordinary miracle.
But the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was something even greater.
Daniel was delivered from the lions.
Jesus Christ overcame death itself.
And through His victory, He made possible the ultimate deliverance of Heavenly Father's children from the consequences of the Fall.
Think about what that means for you.
There will be experiences in your life that you cannot control.
There will be times when you need strength beyond your own.
And there may be moments when the future feels frightening or uncertain.
But Jesus Christ has accomplished something that changes the meaning of every one of those experiences.
He has overcome death.
He has made repentance and forgiveness possible.
He understands our suffering.
And He has opened the way for us to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
That is why our covenant relationship with Him is so extraordinary.
Through the ordinances and covenants of His gospel, we are invited to connect our lives to the Savior and the eternal blessings He has made possible.
When we are baptized, we take His name upon us.
When we partake of the sacrament, we remember Him and renew our commitment to follow Him.
And as we prepare for and participate in the ordinances of the temple, we learn more about His eternal promises and the blessings available through His Atonement.
All of these sacred experiences point us toward Jesus Christ.
The One who has power over sin.
Over death.
And over every obstacle that would otherwise prevent us from returning to our Heavenly Father.
I think that understanding makes President Eyring's experience during the Teton Dam disaster even more meaningful.
He couldn't control the floodwaters.
He couldn't immediately reach his children.
And he didn't know how the night would end.
But he knew something about Jesus Christ and the eternal promises made possible through Him.
That knowledge gave him peace.
Now imagine what it would mean to develop that kind of confidence in the Savior.
The confidence that allows you to turn toward Him when life becomes difficult.
To seek His guidance when you don't know what to do.
To trust His promises when you're frightened.
And to find reassurance in the knowledge that He has overcome death itself.
I love the way Jesus Christ describes the peace He offers His disciples.
In John 14:27, He declares:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."
And then He invites them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid.
Think about that promise.
The Savior offers a kind of peace that comes from knowing Him.
From trusting His character.
And from understanding what He has made possible through His Atonement and Resurrection.
Daniel knew something about that kind of trust.
His faith had become part of the way he lived.
And when he faced extraordinary danger, he continued turning toward the God he had worshipped throughout his life.
I hope you'll begin developing that same kind of relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Pray to Them.
Study Their words.
Remember your covenants.
Seek the influence of the Holy Ghost.
And gradually build your life upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.
Then, when difficult experiences come, remember the God Daniel trusted.
The God who sent an angel into the lions' den.
The God whose Son overcame the grave.
And the God who has promised eternal blessings to His faithful children.
You may not know every challenge you'll face in the future.
But you can begin developing a relationship with the One who knows your future perfectly.
And you can become increasingly confident that through Jesus Christ, you never have to face the challenges of mortality without access to divine help.
He can guide you before the danger comes.
He can strengthen you while you're facing it.
And through your covenants with Him, He can provide promises of peace, protection, and eternal blessings.
Because there truly is no other God who can deliver as our Heavenly Father can through Jesus Christ.
For more weekly devotionals and complete Come Follow Me resources designed specifically for teens, visit:
