Abrahamic Covenant!

The Abrahamic Covenant

The covenant that the Lord first made to Abraham 11 and reaffirmed to Isaac 12 and Jacob 13 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.” 14

Some of these promises have been accomplished; others have yet to be. I quote from a prophecy given nearly 600 years b.c.: “Our father 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.” 15

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.” 16

Abraham received the gospel and was ordained to the higher priesthood (D&C 84: 14; Abr. 2: 11), and he entered into celestial marriage, which is the covenant of exaltation (D&C 131: 1-4; 132: 19, 29). Abraham received a promise that all of the blessings of these covenants would be offered to his mortal posterity (D&C 132: 29-31; Abr. 2: 6-11). Together, these covenants and promises are called the Abrahamic covenant. The restoration of this covenant was the restoration of the gospel in the last days, for through it all the nations of the earth are blessed (Gal. 3: 8-9, 29; D&C 110: 12; 124: 58; Abr. 2: 10-11).