Do the Works of Abraham

The prophet besides the Savior that is perhaps most often put forth to us in the scriptures as an example to follow is Abraham.  For example, the prophet Isaiah wrote, and Jacob quoted him, "Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him" (2 Nephi 8:2, Isaiah 51:2).  His invitation to look to Abraham is at least in part an invitation to look at Abraham's actions and follow after him.  Jesus similarly suggested that Abraham was the example they should be following when He told the Jews of His day who rejected His teachings: "If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham" (John 8:39).  Paul suggested to the Romans that we should also "walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham" (Romans 4:12).  In the Book of Mormon Alma questioned the people of Zarahemla, "Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?" (Alma 5:24)  Abraham is "cleansed and spotless" and so if we want to enter the kingdom of God we must be like him and the other prophets.  At a time of great persecution in Missouri, the Savior revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son" (D&C 101:4).  He reiterated again the importance of being like Abraham when He said in another revelation,"Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved" (D&C 132:32).  Clearly the Lord expects us to learn from Abraham's example in the scriptures and seek to be like him.  

               So what were the works of Abraham that we should do?  Surely as we look at his life we aren't envious of the trials that he had to pass through.  He was nearly slain by his father, escaped from the land of Ur and spent at least part of his life wandering from place to place.  He suffered the emotional pains of not being able to have children for many years.  He had to flee to Egypt where the Pharoah wanted his wife, and of course he had to go through the excruciating drama of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac after having had to give up Ishmael already.  In his experiences we see his desire to seek the Lord, live righteously, and to be obedient to His commands.  He sought "to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God" (Abraham 1:2).  Notice that he didn't say that he sought wealth or the things of the world; in fact refused the idolatry of Ur and fled into the wilderness in order to maintain his integrity.  When Abraham's herdmen and Lot's herdmen had a strife, Abraham said to Lot, "Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left" (Genesis 13:9).  Abraham was more concerned with his relationship to Lot than getting the best land.  He was “good” and chosen by the Lord before he was even born (Abraham 3:23).  He also showed that he was perfectly obedient to the Lord no matter what the command.  His experience with Isaac is of course the most poignant example, but we also see his willingness to follow whatever the Lord commanded in his departure from Ur, taking Hagar as a wife, and in going to Egypt.  As the Lord commented, “Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord” (D&C 132:29).  Abraham received all the commandments the Lord gave him, and he fulfilled him.  As we seek to heed the Lord’s injunction to be like Abraham we can look to his goodness and obedience as our model to follow.