The Blessings of Abraham

About four years ago, President Nelson said this: “For the more than 36 years I’ve been an Apostle, the doctrine of the gathering of Israel has captured my attention. Everything about it has intrigued me, including the ministries and names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” As I looked through some of his previous conference addresses, I found that Abraham is indeed one of his favorite subjects to discuss. In 1995 he taught about the covenant God made with Abraham: “The covenant that the Lord first made to Abraham and reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises: Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to eternal increase and to bear the priesthood; He would become a father of many nations; Christ and kings would come through Abraham’s lineage; Certain lands would be inherited; All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed; That covenant would be everlasting—even through ‘a thousand generations.’” He highlighted that it was particularly relevant to us in the latter days: “Precisely as promised, the Master appeared in these latter days to renew the Abrahamic covenant. To the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord declared: ‘Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins—from whose loins ye are, … my servant Joseph. … This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham.’ We are also children of the covenant. We have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and the everlasting gospel. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our ancestors.” President Nelson clearly wants us to understand that the covenant God made with Abraham is just as important to us today as it was to the ancient patriarch thousands of years ago.

In another address in 2002, President Nelson taught, “Father Abraham was uniquely called a ‘Friend of God.’ Peace was one of Abraham’s highest priorities. He sought to be a ‘prince of peace.’ His influence could loom large in our present pursuit of peace. His sons, Ishmael and Isaac, though born of different mothers, overcame their differences when engaged in a common cause. After their father died, they worked together to bury the mortal remains of their exalted father. Their descendants could well follow that pattern. Abraham’s posterity has a divinely decreed potential. The Lord declared that Ishmael would become a great nation and that the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would bless all the nations of the earth. So descendants of Abraham—entrusted with great promises of infinite influence—are in a pivotal position to emerge as peacemakers.” Again, President Nelson applied Abraham’s story to us in our day—as his posterity we can be like he was and receive the promises he received.

In 2006 in general conference President Nelson once more focused on the Abrahamic covenant. He taught, “Anciently, the Lord blessed Father Abraham with a promise to make his posterity a chosen people. References to this covenant occur throughout the scriptures. Included were promises that the Son of God would come through Abraham’s lineage, that certain lands would be inherited, that nations and kindreds of the earth would be blessed through his seed, and more. While some aspects of that covenant have already been fulfilled, the Book of Mormon teaches that this Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled only in these latter days! It also emphasizes that we are among the covenant people of the Lord. Ours is the privilege to participate personally in the fulfillment of these promises. What an exciting time to live!”  He also added, “To us the honored name of Abraham is important. It is mentioned in more verses of scriptures of the Restoration than in all verses of the Bible. Abraham is linked to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord reaffirmed the Abrahamic covenant in our day through the Prophet Joseph Smith. In the temple we receive our ultimate blessings, as the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  President Nelson connected what we do today—in particular our worship in the temple—with Abraham and his covenant.

President Nelson also referred to Abraham and his covenant in several other talks. In one he declared, “Ours is the responsibility to help fulfill the Abrahamic covenant.” In another he questioned, “Why would any man waste his days and settle for Esau’s mess of pottage when he has been entrusted with the possibility of receiving all of the blessings of Abraham?” Just a few years ago he taught, “Thus, in the house of the Lord, we can make the same covenants with God that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made. And we can receive the same blessings!” And in the most recent general conference President Nelson said this: “Priesthood keys give us the authority to extend all of the blessings promised to Abraham to every covenant-keeping man and woman. Temple work makes these exquisite blessings available to all of God’s children, regardless of where or when they lived or now live…. These keys authorized Joseph Smith—and all succeeding Presidents of the Lord’s Church—to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, to bless all covenant children with the blessings of Abraham.” The covenant God made with Abraham is crucial for us as members of His restored Church, and its importance and relevance for each of us is perhaps best summed up in these words of the Lord to Abraham: “I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) 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” (Abraham 2:11). We have the privilege of helping fulfill the Abrahamic covenant as we help take the gospel and its blessings to all the families of the earth.