All the Kindreds of the Earth

In a talk in general conference many years ago, President Nelson spoke about the Abrahamic covenant. He said, “The covenant God made with Abraham and later reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises, including: 

  • ·        Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham’s lineage.
  • ·        Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood.
  • ·         Abraham would become a father of many nations.
  • ·         Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.
  • ·         All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.
  • ·         And that covenant would be everlasting—even through ‘a thousand generations.’”   

He then highlighted the fact that this covenant would be fulfilled in the last days as he quoted this Book of Mormon passage: “Our father [Lehi] hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham” (1 Nephi 15:18). The covenant of Abraham would be of utmost importance in the last days. President Nelson highlighted that the Lord has indeed renewed this covenant in our dispensation in these words to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph—which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them. This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:30-31). The Lord also said in another revelation to the Prophet Joseph: “And as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph: In thee and in thy seed shall the kindred of the earth be blessed” (Doctrine and Covenants 124:58). Our mission as members of the house of Israel and children of Abraham is to bless all the kindreds of the earth through covenants and priesthood ordinances, binding individuals to the Savior Jesus Christ and connecting them with their families forever. Our greatest work is to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant to bless all the earth.

                I remember one faithful sister in my first area in my mission who recounted to me how previously she had been very sick and in the hospital. If I remember right, she described to me how many things had been tried to help her be healed, including prayer and fasting and priesthood blessings. But still she remained very sick for some time. Ultimately, she was indeed healed and she felt that she received a witness from the Spirit of why she was given that blessing: the Abrahamic covenant. It was because of that great covenant that she retained her life. As I reflect on that, perhaps what it meant was that the Lord needed her on earth to help fulfill the Abrahamic covenant and bless all the kindreds of the earth. She was a spiritually powerful woman and an incredible missionary and emissary of the gospel, and I think that He preserved her so she could continue fulfilling the covenant of Abraham in her part of the vineyard. Perhaps then too the Lord would encourage each of us who are striving to be His disciples today to do our part to fulfill the promises of the Abrahamic covenant to bless all the nations of the earth. That is our greatest work we can do. What He told to the Nephites He surely would say to us, “And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” He further explained what that meant: “And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all…. And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time…. And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 20:25-31). We bless all the nations of the earth by helping them receive the Holy Ghost—primarily through the ordinance of baptism—and by gathering them through the preaching of the gospel so they can believe in Jesus Christ. The fulfilling of the Abrahamic covenant to bless all the earth is happening right now, and as followers of the Savior we have the great privilege to participate in that work if we so choose. 

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