The Abrahamic
Covenant
Text
(Abraham 2)
“All the sources attest that [Sarah]
was a close relative—perhaps a halfsister (the daughter of his father
through another wife) (Gen. 20:12),
or perhaps a niece or a cousin. The
close kinship with Abraham and the
quality of her character suggest the
possibility of mutual sympathy and
support long before their
P. 59-61
marriage….
“The name Sarai, which God would later alter to
Sarah, means ‘princess’ or possibly ‘queen’ suggesting
royal blood. Was this perhaps a reflection that her
bloodline ran through the royal patriarchal line to
which Abraham himself was heir? …
“[H]er name was a fitting title for a
woman who possessed singular
loveliness of both body and soul. Her
unequaled physical beauty would turn
the heads of the most powerful kings,
while she was also ‘gifted with every
excellence’ and ‘great wisdom.’ It is
said that her spiritual attainments
matched and in some cases exceeded
those of her remarkable husband, she
P. 59-61
being gifted with profound ‘intuitive
Perception’ of spiritual realities. A number of sources
assert yet another name for her—Iscah, meaning
‘prophetess’ or ‘seer.’ And with all her talents, she had a
deep ‘love and compassion … for the needy.’ She was
indeed ‘a Princess in name and in nature.’…
“Jewish tradition insists that she is the
one described in the famous Proverbs
passage extolling the ‘virtuous woman’
(31:10). Her worth is far above rubies,
and her husband safely trusts in her;
she is an industrious homemaker, a
tireless worker, and generous to the
poor; she speaks wisdom and
kindness, is cheerful and hopeful
about the future, and is clothed with
P. 59-61
strength and splendor; she is, in short,
the ideal wife, deserving of her husband’s highest praise.
Sarah’s example was held up through the generations
among her Jewish descendants, in whose homes the
Proverbs passage was traditionally recited on the
Sabbath eve.
“Sarah had her work, and Abraham
had his, but it was all part of the
same cause. From this point on in
Abraham’s life, to speak of his
mission and accomplishments is
necessarily to include Sarah also….
Abraham and Sara were a part of
something larger than either of
them. They were a family, they were
P. 59-61
Zion, and they are to be remembered
together, according to Isaiah: the
righteous are to look not only to their father Abraham
but also to their mother Sarah (Isa. 51:1-2).”
God Covenants with Abraham
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1.
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1.
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Abraham 2:6, 19
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abraham 2:6, 19
Promised Land—Abraham and his posterity would
inherit the land of Canaan.
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2.
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
1. Promised Land
2. Abraham
3.
Mortal Promise
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
2:9-10
Eternal Promise
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abraham 2:9-10; D&C 132:30
Posterity—innumerable descendants—like the sand
on the seashore & the stars in the heavens.
Genesis 15
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3.
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Abraham
2:11
Descendants have a right to
all gospel blessings,
through the priesthood
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
Abraham 2:11
Priesthood/Gospel—his posterity would be heirs to
all the blessings of the Gospel (ordinances &
covenants) available through the priesthood and
would in turn take those blessings to all the families of
the earth.
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Priesthood/Gospel
Rights
Descendants have a right to Inherit Eternal Life—the
all gospel blessings,
end result of gospel
through the priesthood
covenants
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Priesthood/Gospel
Rights
Descendants have a right to Inherit Eternal Life—the
all gospel blessings,
end result of gospel
through the priesthood
covenants
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Priesthood/Gospel
Rights
Descendants have a right to Inherit Eternal Life—the
all gospel blessings,
end result of gospel
through the priesthood
covenants
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
How do we enter into the
Abrahamic Covenant today?
Bruce R. McConkie
Quorum of the Twelve
("The Promises Made To
The Fathers," in Studies in
Scripture: Vol. Three The
Old Testament, p. 61)
“And so I go to the Salt Lake
Temple and marry my wife for
time and for all eternity, and so
begins a new kingdom of God. And
if we are faithful, that marriage
exists here and it exists hereafter.
And I have been given through that
ordinance every promise that
Abraham received. It is given on
conditional basis. We must be true
and faithful and keep the covenant
that we make in the temple, but if
we are faithful, we will receive the
blessings.”
Bruce R. McConkie
Quorum of the Twelve
(A New Witness for the
Articles of Faith, p.539)
The crowning blessings of the
gospel are received in temples.... It
is in these holy houses that faithful
couples enter into the ordinance of
celestial marriage through which
they become parties to the
Abrahamic covenant, the covenant
of eternal increase, the covenant
that in them and in their seed all
generations shall be blessed.
Gather Israel
D&C 132:19
Kingdoms, Thrones, Principalities
(Promised Land)
Powers, Dominions
(Priesthood)
Continuation of Seed “forever and ever”
(Posterity)
Abrahamic Covenant Implications
Promised Land: Freedom to Worship
Promised Land: a Modern Case Study
1955-1957. GDR Saints allowed to
Go to Switzerland Temple.
1985. First temple to be built and
dedicated in a communist country.
1990. The German Democratic
Republic (East Germany) was
reunited with the Federal Republic
of Germany (West Germany).
The Freiberg Germany Temple
Let’s do it again!
May 1996. Hong Kong China
Temple was dedicated while Hong
Kong was under British rule.
July 1997. The sovereignty of
Hong Kong is transferred to China.
Hong Kong China Temple
Abrahamic Covenant Implications
The Rights of Your
Posterity to Gospel Blessings
Joseph Smith
President
(The Words of Joseph
Smith, p.241)
“Now I would ask who knows the
seal of the living God? Behold the
ignorance of the World!
A measure of this sealing is to
confirm upon their head, in
common with Elijah, the doctrine of
election or the covenant with
Abraham—which, when a Father &
mother of a family have entered
into, their children who have not
transgressed are secured by the seal
wherewith the Parents have been
sealed. And this is the Oath of God
unto our Father Abraham and this
doctrine shall stand forever.”
David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve
(S&I Broadcast , 2 Aug. 2011)
We read the statement by the
Prophet Joseph and Orson F.
Whitney and the elaborations by
President Packer about the
tentacles that will reach out to
wayward children. Some parents,
I believe, over interpret that to
mean that if I’m faithful to my
temple covenants, then my
children will be okay.
David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve
(S&I Broadcast , 2 Aug. 2011)
Well, that can’t be right. We
believe that men will be punished
for their own sins, not for Adam’s
transgressions, and therefore you
can’t be saved through the
faithfulness of your parents. But
the tentacles that reach out
because of the faithfulness of
parents in honoring temple
covenants exert a spiritual pull
and a tug on those wayward
children.
Abrahamic Covenant Summary
The Overarching Covenant
“I WILL BE YOUR GOD; YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE”
(Abr. 1:17-19; Gen. 17:7-8; Isaiah 41:8-10; D&C 132:28-33, 47-50)
Covenant Element
Mortal Promise
Eternal Promise
1. Promised Land
A land of inheritance to
gather to and to worship
God freely
Inherit the Earth in its
Celestial state
2. Posterity
a) A vast posterity
Innumerable posterity;
b) A noble posterity who
eternal procreation;
will bless all the families “endless lives”
of the earth with the
blessings of the Gospel
3. Priesthood/Gospel
Rights
Descendants have a right to Inherit Eternal Life—the
all gospel blessings,
end result of gospel
through the priesthood
covenants
ordinances, which lead to
Eternal Life
End