The Covenants and Blessings of Abraham

“Friend of God” (James 2:23) Father of the Faithful (Galatians 3:8–9)

The life of Abraham exemplifies a perfect faith, qualifying him for the blessings
he had covenanted to obtain. In their old age, Sarah and Abraham trusted that
the Lord would bless them with a lawful heir to the fulfillment of these promises
(Gen. 15:1–6). They patiently endured, and they were eventually blessed with
Isaac, of whom the seed of the “multitude” would come (Gen. 21:1–3; Heb.
11:11–12). The inheritance of the land for his future posterity was never actually
received by Abraham in mortality, and he lived as a stranger there (Heb. 11:8–
10, 13–16), but the promise of a resurrection through the atonement of Christ
caused Abraham to rejoice, knowing he would obtain such an inheritance (JST
Gen. 15:9–13; John 8:56). God’s command to Abraham to offer Isaac, the son of
the birthright, as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:1–19) provided the opportunity for Abraham
to demonstrate a complete and “perfect” faith (James 2:21–22), and his
obedience was accounted “unto him for righteousness” (D&C 132:36). Through
this great test, Abraham not only obeyed in wholeness of faith (Heb. 11:17–19),
but also learned of the future atonement of Christ with great personal feeling
(Jacob 4:5). “Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation
and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his
exaltation and sitteth upon his throne” (D&C 132:29). All who would qualify to be
heirs of Abraham, the “jewels” of God, “must needs be chastened and tried,
even as Abraham, ” who was commanded to offer up his only son (D&C 101:4).

References for blessings to

1. Blessing of a Promised Land
“…a strange land which I will
give unto thy seed after thee for
an everlasting possession…”
(Abr. 2:6)
2. Blessing of Posterity
A. “…I will make of thee a great Gen. 12:2;
nation” (Abr. 2:9). 18:18
B. “…thou shalt be a father of Abr. 1:2
many nations” (Gen. 17:4–6,
16).
C. “…I will multiply thee, and thy
seed after thee, like unto…the
number of sands [and stars in
the heavens]” (Abr. 3:14).
D. “…kings shall come out of
thee” (Gen. 17:6, 16).
3. Blessing of the Priesthood
A. “…I will take thee, to put
upon thee my name, even the
Priesthood” (Abr. 1:18–19).
B. “…thou shalt be a blessing
unto thy seed…they shall bear
[my]…ministry and Priesthood
unto all nations” (Abr. 2:9).
C. “…this right [of priesthood]
shall continue in thee, and in thy
seed […the literal seed, or the
seed of the body]” (Abr. 2:11).
D. “…I will bless them that bless
thee, and curse them that curse
thee…” (Abr. 2:11).
E. “…through thy ministry my
name shall be known in the
earth forever…” (Abr. 1:19).
Jacob The Blessings of Abraham and the
Abraham Isaac Explanatory Notes
(Israel) Latter-day Saints
Gen. 12:7; Gen. 26:3– Gen. 28:4, In blessing his son Joseph, Jacob prophesied of Jackson County, Missouri, is designated
13:15; 4 13; 48:4 another land for his posterity (Gen. 49:22–26; Ether as the center place of the “land of
15:9–14; 13:2, 7–8) with the promise that a remnant would promise”—the location of the New
JST Gen. never be destroyed (Alma 46:24–25). Joseph’s Jerusalem (D&C 52:42; 57:1–3; 84:2–5).
15:7, 18; descendants were led to this land (1 Ne. 2:20), and Judah will assemble to the lands given to
17:8; 24:7 it stands consecrated to all whom the Lord shall Abraham (D&C 109:64). To the faithful, the
bring (2 Ne. 1:6–7; 10:10–11; 3 Ne. 15:13; Ether earth will eventually be their inheritance
2:7) upon condition that they serve the Lord (Ether (D&C 45:58; 56:20; 63:20) in its celestial
2:12). state (D&C 88:18–20; 130:6–9).
“…let my army become very great…” (D&C
105:26, 31–32).
A “multitude, ” even a “great nation, ” was also
promised through Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was
born of Hagar (Gen. 16:10; 17:20; 21:13; D&C
132:34). Abraham’s wife Keturah bore him six sons;
of these, Midian and his descendants are
particularly mentioned as a numerous people (Gen.
25:1–4; Ex. 3:1; D&C 84:6). It is generally accepted
that Ishmael’s descendants form a large part of the
Arab nation, and the posterity of Midian are also a
part.
Gen. Gen. Gen. 28:3, Abraham received promises concerning
13:16; 24:60; 14; 35:11; “his seed [that]…both in the world and out
15:5; 17:2; 26:4, 24 48:4 of the world should…continue as
22:17 innumerable as the stars…” (D&C 132:30).
Gen. 35:11 The rights of “the sceptre” or lawgiver were
promised to Judah and his descendants (Gen. 49:9–
10). The greatest king to be born of Abraham’s
lineage through Judah was Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1,
17; Luke 1:68–72), “the King of Israel” (John 1:49).
Gen. 17:7, Gen. 17:9; “…you, with whom the priesthood hath
19; Abr. 21:12 continued through the lineage of you
1:3–4 fathers—For ye are lawful heirs, according
to the flesh…” (D&C 86:8–9)
Gen. 12:3 Gen. 27:29 Those who function in the priesthood likewise have
power in righteousness to bless and to curse (D&C
75:18–22; 132:47).
Gen. 17:7– Gen. 26:24 Gen. 28:13 The true knowledge of God and the gospel was and
8 is made known to the world through Abraham and
those called of his seed (Ex. 3:7, 13–15; 4:5; Matt.
22:32; John 8:56–58; 1 Ne. 19:10; D&C 136:21).

4. Blessing of Salvation and Exaltation
A. “And I will bless them
through thy name;…as many as
receive this Gospel shall be
called after thy name, and shall
be accounted thy seed…” (Abr.
2:10).
B. “…and make thy name great Gen. 12:2
among all nations…” (Abr. 2:9).
C. “…and [many] shall rise up
and bless thee, as their father”
(Abr. 2:10; see also Isa. 51:2).
D. “…and [Abraham] will
command his children
and…they shall keep the way of
the Lord, to do justice and
judgment…” (Gen. 18:19).
E. “…in thy seed after
thee…shall all the families of
the earth be blessed…” (Abr. 22:18
2:11).
F. “…I will bless thee above
measure…even with the
blessings of the Gospel, which
are the blessings of salvation,
even of life eternal” (Abr. 2:9,
11).
References for blessings to
Jacob The Blessings of Abraham and the
Abraham Isaac Explanatory Notes
(Israel) Latter-day Saints
Acceptance of the gospel brings into an individual’s “…ye are the children of Israel, and of the
life the Holy Ghost; and “as the Holy Ghost falls seed of Abraham…” (D&C 103:17; see
upon one of the literal seeds of Abraham, it is calm also Gal. 3:7–9; Mosiah 5:7).
and serene; and his whole soul and body are only
exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the
effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge
out the old blood, and make him actually the seed of
Abraham.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
pp. 149–50)
On April 3, 1836, Elias appeared in the Kirtland
Temple and “committed the dispensation of the
gospel of Abraham” (D&C 110:12).He restored the
fullness of the gospel blessings that Adam (Moses
5:58; 6:51–52) and Noah (Moses 8:19–20, 23–24),
as well as other patriarchs before Abraham, had
possessed. But Abraham is honored to have the
blessings spoken of in his name, because through
his ministry and the ministry of his seed, the name
of God and the gospel would be made “known in the
earth forever” (Abr. 1:19).
Gen. 17:9; Rom 9:13 Through the generations, many have claimed that a “…whoso is faithful unto the obtaining
JST Gen. blood relationship to Abraham guaranteed his these two priesthoods…and the magnifying
17:4–7, blessings unto them. But the scriptures testify that their calling…become the sons of Moses
11–12 “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham…”
because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all (D&C 84:33–34).
children…” (Rom. 9:6–7); “they which are of faith, “Go ye, therefore, and do the words of
the same are the children of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7). Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall
For the promises of the gospel are obtained only by be saved” (D&C 132:32).
righteousness (Rom. 4:13). Those who are the
children of Abraham “do the works of Abraham”
(John 8:39).
Gen. 12:3; Gen. 26:4 Gen. 28:14 The gospel message of the Atonement of Jesus Through the work of the Restoration at the
18:18; Christ is the single most important blessing for all hands of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the
the families of the earth (Teachings of the Prophet promise is being fulfilled wherein
Joseph Smith, p. 121; 1 Cor. 15:22). The seed of Abraham’s seed would be a blessing unto
Abraham (Israel) was scattered among the families the “kindred of the earth…” (D&C 124:58).
of the earth (Deut. 4:27; 28:64; Lev. 26:33) that “the
blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles…”
(Gal. 3:14) and the nations. (See also 1 Ne. 15:16–
18; Jacob 5.)
Gen. 12:2 The prophets foresaw the restoration of the gospel Those who qualify and enter into the
(1 Ne. 22:4–9; 3 Ne. 20:27; 21:1–7) and the renewal covenant of celestial (temple) marriage and
of the covenants (D&C 1:17, 22–23; Deut. 4:31; Jer. who are sealed “by the Holy Spirit of
31:31–34; Ezek. 37:24–28), even the promise” shall obtain and exaltation, with
instrumentalities in Israel who should carry out this “a continuation of the seeds…. Then shall
work (2 Ne. 3:4–21). The gathering of the house of they be gods…” (D&C 132:19–20; see also
Israel is part of the work of the Restoration (Deut. D&C 132:29–31).
30:1–5; 1 Ne. 14:7; 15:12–16).
(Adapted from Ensign, February 1973, pp.42–43.)