Power from on high

In his recent General Conference talk (October 2021), Elder David A. Bednar gave a great talk titled "With the power of God in great glory". This is based on 1 Nephi 14:14

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

Hearing him quote that verse, my thoughts went to the purpose of the Book of Mormon as described in the title page and that I have previously posted about and summarized as follows: Christ and covenants. Elder Bednar said:

The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and the great tool of conversion in the latter days. Our purpose in sharing the gospel is to invite all to come unto Jesus Christ, receive the blessings of the restored gospel, and endure to the end through faith in the Savior. Helping individuals to experience the mighty change of heart and bind themselves to the Lord through sacred covenants and ordinances are the fundamental objectives of preaching the gospel.

Elder Bednar repeatedly states in his talk that we bind ourselves to the Savior through covenants. This is what arms us with power. Nephi saw this power descending upon the Lord's covenant people. Elder Bednar gives several examples in his talk where this power is manifest. It can happen in different ways, but my understanding is that it happens in the temple in particular. As stated in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Yea, verily I say unto you, I gave unto you a commandment that you should build a house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high (D&C 95:8)

This is the power that Nephi saw descending on the covenant people. It comes from on high and descends on the covenant people in the house of the Lord. This is exactly what President Russell M. Nelson was saying in another great talk at the Sunday morning session of the same conference.

The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.

As far as I understand, the General Authorities do not compare notes or base their talks on given assignments, but we can easily see how much they are in sync anyway. Again, in the same talk by President Nelson:

Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power.

I think there is beautiful imagery in Christ's power descending from heaven on us, while we bind ourselves to Him in covenants and are thereby lifted upwards. This is a marriage of heaven and earth and the temple is the link between the two.