Scriptural Highlights

• God covenants with Abraham.
• We are heirs to the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.

A study of this lesson should help us understand the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.

God Covenants With Abraham

Abraham's Geneology:

1. Noah>Shem>Arphaxad>Salah>Eber>Peleg>Reu>Serug>Nahor>Terah>Abraham.
2. There are nine generations between Noah and Abraham. Nineteen generations between Adam & Abraham.
3. It is interesting to note that Noah lived past the time of Abraham's birth and Shem actually outlived Abraham.
4. Chronology:
• 4000 BC - the fall of Adam.
• 2300-2400 BC - the flood.
• 1996 BC - the birth of Abraham.

Abraham In Ur

1. Abraham lived the early part of his life in Ur, in the land of the Chaldeans, not too far from the northern tip of the Persian Gulf (now Iraq, close to the borders of Kuwait and Iran).
• Ur was the largest city of Shinar or northern Chaldea, and the principal commercial center of the country as well as the center of political power.
• Ur was consecrated to the worship of Sin, the Babylonian moon-god.
2. READ ABRAHAM 1:2. Abraham seeks for blessings.
• As a young man, Abraham desired to live righteously and live worthy of the blessings of God.
• WHAT BLESSINGS DID ABRAHAM DESIRE?
• Greater happiness & peace.
• The blessings of the fathers & the right to be ordained to administer the same.
• One who possessed great knowledge.
• To be a father of many nations.
• a prince of peace.
• WHAT ARE THE "BLESSINGS OF THE FATHERS"?
• Bruce R. McConkie: "...it has become the right of those holding special inheritance in the Lord's chosen lineage to receive the priesthood, provided they are obedient and faithful. Thus Abraham 'sought for the blessings of the fathers,' and by righteousness 'became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.' The priesthood, he says, 'was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundations of the earth to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, on the first man, who is Adam, our first father, through the fathers, unto me. I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed.' (Abra. 1:1-4)." (Mormon Doctrine, p478)
3. Abraham's fathers turned from righteousness to the worship of the heathen gods (Abr. 1:5).
• "...they turned their hearts to the sacrifice of the heathen in offering up their children unto these dumb idols" (Abr. 1:7).
• They "endeavored" to take away Abraham's life "by the hand of the priest of Elkenah", who was also a priest of Pharaoh (Abr. 1:7, 12).
• Abraham lifted his voice to the Lord and "the angel of his presence" came and released Abraham (Abr. 1:15).
• Abraham was told that he would be taken from his father's house into a strange land (Abr. 1:16).
• "...the Lord broke down the altar of Elkenah, and of the gods of the land, and utterly destroyed them, and smote the priest that he died" (Abr. 1:20).
4. A famine was then sent upon the land of Chaldea. Abraham says: "and my father was sorely tormented because of the famine, and he repented of the evil which he had determined against me..." (Abr. 1:30).
• "...the Lord God caused the famine to wax sore in the land of Ur". Abraham's brother, Haran, died as a result of the famine (Abr. 2:1).
5. Abraham took "Sarai" as a wife (Abr. 2:2).

Abraham Migrates From Ur

1. Abraham 2:3: "Now the Lord had said unto me: Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee."
• Abraham left Ur with his wife Sarai, Lot (his brother's son) and his wife, and his repentent father Terah. The scripture says, "and also my father followed after me" (Abr. 2:4).
• They went to and lived in Haran (near the Turkish-Syrian border) for a time.
2. Abraham 2:5: "And the famine abated; and my father tarried in Haran and dwelt there, as there were many flocks in Haran; and my father turned again unto his idolatry".
• As we can see from Abraham's story, his father wavered between idolatry and worshipping the true God.
• HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD MORE CONSISTENT?
3. While in Haran, Abraham prayed and received a vision in which God covenanted to bless him and his posterity. This is called the Abrahamic covenant.
• READ ABRAHAM 2:6-11. The Lord covenants with Abraham.
• WHAT BLESSINGS DID GOD PROMISE ABRAHAM IN THIS COVENANT? (see chart at end of lesson)
1. He will be taken to a "strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice" (Abr. 2:6).
2. He would be made a great nation (Abr. 2:9).
3. "...thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations" (Abr. 2:9).
4. "...for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father" (Abr. 2:10).
5. "...in thy seed after thee...shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal." (Abr. 2:11)

We Are Heirs To The Blessings & Responsibilities Of The Abrahamic Covenant

All Church Members Are The "Seed of Abraham"

1. WHO HAS RECEIVED THEIR PATRIARCHAL BLESSING? WHAT IS YOUR LINEAGE?
2. "And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father" (Abr. 2:10).
3. Joseph Fielding Smith: "The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph, Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs." (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246)
4. Joseph Smith: "...the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost." (TPJS, p149)

Heirs To The Covenant

1. HOW DO WE BECOME HEIRS TO THIS COVENANT?
• When we are baptized into the Church, the Abrahamic covenant's promise of salvation is renewed with us.
• When we are sealed in the temple, the Abrahamic covenant's promise of exaltation is renewed with us.
• Bruce R. McConkie: "Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6-11; D. & C. 132:29-50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham's posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15-18; Gal. 3.)
         "All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant. This covenant was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 24:60; 26:1-4, 24) and again with Jacob. (Gen. 28; 35:9-13; 48:3-4.) Those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the house of Israel who enters the order of celestial marriage; through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (D. & C. 132; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 3; 4.)" (Mormon Doctrine, p13)
2. WHAT BLESSINGS DO WE RECEIVE AS HEIRS TO THE COVENANT?
   (see chart at end of lesson)
• The gospel.
• The priesthood.
• Exaltation.
• Eternal family relationships.
3. WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS HEIRS OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT? (see chart at end of lesson)
• To help all of God's children receive the full blessings of the gospel.
• "...in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations" (Abr. 2:9).
• "...in thy seed after thee...shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel" (Abr. 2:11).
• Obey God's commandments.
• "...keep the way of the LORD" (Gen. 18:19).
4. HOW DO WE HELP ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN RECEIVE THE FULL BLESSSINGS OF THE GOSPEL?
• Missionary work.
• Ezra Taft Benson: "The responsibility of the seed of Abraham, which we are, is to be missionaries to 'bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations' (Abr. 2:9)." (Ensign, May 1987, p85)
• Doing geneology and performing temple ordinances for the dead.
• D&C 128:24: "Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation."
• Being examples of righteousness.
• Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Summary

WHAT DOES THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT MEAN TO YOU?

As I study this ancient patriarch, Abraham, I often find it difficult to relate to him. He lived nearly 4,000 years ago. There was little technology. There was little contact with the outside world. He lived in a far off and foreign land. How can I, living in this advanced, highly technological age relate to such an ancient figure? I have a word processor and e-mail that enables me within minutes to transmit these written words around the world. Abraham's writings probably saw little distribution in his time. What does this ancient patriarch have to do with me?

My own father passed away a few months ago. He left a legacy for myself, my children, and my newly born grandchildren. What was that legacy? Almost three years ago, the family gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of dad and mom. At that time I shared with the family some of the things that I considered part of their legacy. I would like to share my thoughts from that day that were addressed to dad and mom:

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Our Legacy

Sixty years ago, on June 19, 1935, you were united in eternal marriage. On that sacred day, in the House of the Lord, you began a legacy that has blessed the lives of your children and grandchildren, and will continue to bless your posterity for generations. What is that legacy?

Love - We have been touched in tender moments to see the love which you have for each other. We have felt your love in our lives and been lifted and strengthened by it.

Eternal Principles - Your example has been a foundation in our lives to understanding and living gospel principles. You began your marriage in the House of God, being sealed by the Holy Priesthood. You have taught us the importance of gospel principles by daily family prayer, supporting missionaries, honoring the brethren, service to others, and in the lives of integrity which you have lived.

Commitment - In a day when so many break contracts and promises, you have blessed us with a powerful example of commitment. Your commitment to each other and our family has never wavered through the depression, war, child bearing and rearing, financially difficult times, and the challenges of the golden years. Through times of great change we have all felt the security of that commitment

Honest Work - Through your word and example, we have learned that “a job worth doing is worth doing well.” You have worked hard most of your lives to provide for and care for our family. You did not expect something for nothing, but gave your best effort in all that you did.

Prudence - You have provided a powerful example of prudent living. We were always well provided for and had the necessities of life and yet you always lived within your means. You prepared for the future with savings and food storage.

Pride - Your example has taught us to have pride in ourselves and our belongings. Our home was always neat and our yard well taken care of and groomed. You have been the ideal for personal cleanliness of person and soul.

This is only part of your legacy that continues to bless our lives. You have been as the Lord encouraged his disciples to be, “the salt of the earth.” Thank you for this legacy.

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What does this legacy mean in my life? It has helped me to become what I am. The principles taught by dad and mom have guided me through life and will affect my eternal destiny. They have been a great blessing in my life. Now as I have children growing into adulthood and beginning the process of child bearing, I see many of those principles continuing through the generations. But the blessings only continue as we as a family strive to honor and live the legacy left by dad and mom.

So it is with Abraham. He lived a life of righteousness. In a day when most worshipped false gods, Abraham remained true to the Lord. His faith was strong and he depended on the Lord. So great was his faith that the Lord made a remarkable covenant with him. We can be blessed by that covenant in our lives as much as the legacy dad and mom left me. The key is to follow the example of Abraham. To be faithful, keep the commandments, and endeavor to share the gospel with those around us.

Next Week

Lesson 8: Genesis 13-14; 18-19.

Additional Reading: Genesis 12; JST Genesis 14:25-40; 19:9-15.