The Abrahamic CovenantThe Abrahamic Covenant

““Promises fulfilledPromises fulfilled””

CovenantCovenant: : Empowers both parties to Empowers both parties to

accomplish what they want.accomplish what they want.

Blessings in MortalityBlessings in Mortality Eternal BlessingsEternal Blessings

1. 1.1. 1.

2. 2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3. 3.

3b.3b.

Scriptures on the Abrahmic Scriptures on the Abrahmic CovenantCovenant

Abraham 2:6-11Abraham 2:6-11 Doctrine and Covenants 132:29-Doctrine and Covenants 132:29-

5050 Genesis 15, 17, 22:15-18Genesis 15, 17, 22:15-18 Galations 3 Galations 3 Third Nephi 20:25-29Third Nephi 20:25-29

We are so closeWe are so close!!

We have everything to gain!We have everything to gain!

We have everything to lose!We have everything to lose!

1 Nephi 14:81 Nephi 14:8

We have to know it and live it!We have to know it and live it!

The Melchizedek PriesthoodThe Melchizedek Priesthood, , the Templethe Temple and and the Abrahamic the Abrahamic CovenantCovenant are synonymous with each other. are synonymous with each other.

The purpose is to bring “His children” back to the presence of The purpose is to bring “His children” back to the presence of God!God!

BICBIC should mean something! should mean something!

Sons and daughters of God Sons and daughters of God = = BICBIC

Sons and daughters of man Sons and daughters of man = = No covenant No covenant mademade

We should be preparing for the Temple!We should be preparing for the Temple!

Elder McConkie taught that the twoElder McConkie taught that the two most important most important things you can do in this life arethings you can do in this life are::

1. 1. Marry the right person by the right authority in Marry the right person by the right authority in the the temple.temple.2. 2. Keep the covenants you make in the temple!Keep the covenants you make in the temple!

Ritual CovenantsRitual Covenants

1. Cutting1. Cutting

2. Blood2. Blood

Alma 46:12, 21Alma 46:12, 21

We should be cutting covenants in our lives We should be cutting covenants in our lives right now!right now!

Two ElectionsTwo Elections

1. Calling and Election Made Sure1. Calling and Election Made Sure2. Election of Grace2. Election of Grace

Election of GraceElection of Grace::

You’ve earned the right to receive the gospel in You’ve earned the right to receive the gospel in mortality because of your excessive faith and mortality because of your excessive faith and obedience in the pre-mortal existenceobedience in the pre-mortal existence..

Alma 13:3, 5Alma 13:3, 5D&C 138:53-56D&C 138:53-56Abraham 3:22-23Abraham 3:22-23

Thoughts about the Abrahamic Thoughts about the Abrahamic CovenantCovenant

You are so close to achieving that which you’ve You are so close to achieving that which you’ve sought after since the beginning.sought after since the beginning.

He will help us get that which we probably don’t He will help us get that which we probably don’t deserve.deserve.

We must do everything we can in this life to save our We must do everything we can in this life to save our children.children.

A majority of gentiles will not come into the fold.A majority of gentiles will not come into the fold. All nations will be blessed with gospel opportunities.All nations will be blessed with gospel opportunities.

The final judgment will be over our entire The final judgment will be over our entire existence (Alma the younger, Saul).existence (Alma the younger, Saul).

In the pre-mortal existence most didn’t care, In the pre-mortal existence most didn’t care, therefore they haven’t earned the right to it.therefore they haven’t earned the right to it.

Patriarchal Blessings declare lineage. It is Patriarchal Blessings declare lineage. It is clear that “gathering” falls with Joseph clear that “gathering” falls with Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh.through Ephraim and Manasseh.

This Doctrine sets us apart from all other This Doctrine sets us apart from all other churcheschurches!!

The “Father” is glorified by the The “Father” is glorified by the exaltation of His children, exaltation of His children, through Celestial Marriage!through Celestial Marriage!

Therefore, the test of Therefore, the test of Godhood may very well be Godhood may very well be ““ParenthoodParenthood.”.”

Those who refuse as Those who refuse as husbands and wives to husbands and wives to have children are proving have children are proving themselves already too themselves already too small for the infinitude of small for the infinitude of God’s creative power God’s creative power (Harold B. Lee, (Harold B. Lee, Ye are the Ye are the Light of the WorldLight of the World, 267)., 267).

Gathering and the Pre-mortal Gathering and the Pre-mortal ExistenceExistence

The plan for the gathering is based on our pre-mortal existence The plan for the gathering is based on our pre-mortal existence and God’s knowledge of it. Abraham tells us that some of the and God’s knowledge of it. Abraham tells us that some of the spirits in the pre-mortal existence were noble and great ones spirits in the pre-mortal existence were noble and great ones (Abraham 3:23). (Abraham 3:23). Obviously, if some spirits were noble and Obviously, if some spirits were noble and great, other spirits were less noble in developing their spiritual great, other spirits were less noble in developing their spiritual capabilitiescapabilities. However, . However, the Father loves all His children and the Father loves all His children and desires to save them alldesires to save them all.. In his omniscience he devised a In his omniscience he devised a plan by which each of his children would come to the earth at a plan by which each of his children would come to the earth at a time and place with right amount of opportunities that would time and place with right amount of opportunities that would maximize their ability to accept the plan of salvationmaximize their ability to accept the plan of salvation. Elder . Elder Neal A. Maxwell explains this principle in these terms: “It does Neal A. Maxwell explains this principle in these terms: “It does no violence even to our frail human logic to observe that there no violence even to our frail human logic to observe that there cannot be a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, unless cannot be a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, unless there is also a plan for each individual. The salvational sum will there is also a plan for each individual. The salvational sum will reflect all its parts (reflect all its parts (Determined DiscipleshipDetermined Discipleship, 71)., 71).

For some spirits this meant they would receive an For some spirits this meant they would receive an opportunity to have the gospel in this life, while for opportunity to have the gospel in this life, while for others it meant they would wait until the spirit world for others it meant they would wait until the spirit world for that opportunity. For some it meant the extra that opportunity. For some it meant the extra responsibility of serving in the government in God’s responsibility of serving in the government in God’s kingdom and bearing the message of salvation to the kingdom and bearing the message of salvation to the world (TPJS, 365). For others it meant coming to the world (TPJS, 365). For others it meant coming to the earth at a time when and in a place where the gospel earth at a time when and in a place where the gospel was not available but coming to prepare a people with was not available but coming to prepare a people with a certain portion of the light. a certain portion of the light. Such were the missions Such were the missions of Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and Platoof Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, Socrates, and Plato according to Orson F. Whitneyaccording to Orson F. Whitney. Speaking of these . Speaking of these individuals he said, “They were servants of the Lord in individuals he said, “They were servants of the Lord in a lesser sense, and were sent to those pagan or a lesser sense, and were sent to those pagan or heathen nations to give them the measure of truth that heathen nations to give them the measure of truth that a wise Providence had allotted to them (33). a wise Providence had allotted to them (33).

““The Election of GraceThe Election of Grace””

Elder Neal A. Maxwell wroteElder Neal A. Maxwell wrote::

““It is so powerful a doctrine, however that isolated It is so powerful a doctrine, however that isolated from other doctrines, or mishandled, it can induce from other doctrines, or mishandled, it can induce false pride, stoke the fires of fatalism, impact false pride, stoke the fires of fatalism, impact adversely upon agency, cause us to focus on status adversely upon agency, cause us to focus on status rather than service, and carry us over in the false rather than service, and carry us over in the false doctrine of predestination…doctrine of predestination…

Thus foreordination is clearly no excuse for fatalism, Thus foreordination is clearly no excuse for fatalism, or arrogance, or the abuse of agency. It is not, or arrogance, or the abuse of agency. It is not, however, a doctrine that can be ignored simply however, a doctrine that can be ignored simply because it is difficult. Indeed, deep inside the hardest because it is difficult. Indeed, deep inside the hardest doctrines are some of the pearls of greatest price.”doctrines are some of the pearls of greatest price.”

President Joseph Fielding Smith President Joseph Fielding Smith explainedexplained::

““God gave His children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which God gave His children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which the individual spirits had the privilege, just as men have here, of choosing the individual spirits had the privilege, just as men have here, of choosing the good and rejecting the evil, or partaking of the evil to suffer the the good and rejecting the evil, or partaking of the evil to suffer the consequences of their sins.consequences of their sins.

Because of this, some even there were more faithful than others in keeping Because of this, some even there were more faithful than others in keeping the commandments of the Lord….the commandments of the Lord….

The spirits of men were not equalThe spirits of men were not equal. They may have had an equal start [see . They may have had an equal start [see Alma 13:5-7], and we know they were all innocent in the beginning [see Alma 13:5-7], and we know they were all innocent in the beginning [see D&C 93:38]; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled D&C 93:38]; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through eons of immortal existence, to some to outstrip others, and thus, through eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it” themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it” ((Doctrines of SalvationDoctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56] 1:58-, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56] 1:58-59).59).

President Heber J. Grant taughtPresident Heber J. Grant taught::

““We have been placed upon this earth because We have been placed upon this earth because of our faithfulness in having kept our first of our faithfulness in having kept our first estate. The labors that we performed in the estate. The labors that we performed in the sphere that we left before we came here have sphere that we left before we came here have had a certain effect upon our lives here, and to had a certain effect upon our lives here, and to a certain extent they govern and control the a certain extent they govern and control the lives that we lead here, just the same as the lives that we lead here, just the same as the labors that we do here will control and govern labors that we do here will control and govern our lives when we pass from this stage of our lives when we pass from this stage of existence” existence” (“Reward of Conscience”, (“Reward of Conscience”, Improvement Improvement EraEra, Feb. 1943, 75)., Feb. 1943, 75).

President Harold B. Lee taught:President Harold B. Lee taught:

“ “You are now born into a family to which you You are now born into a family to which you have come, into the nations through which have come, into the nations through which you have come, as a reward for the kind of you have come, as a reward for the kind of lives you lived before you came herelives you lived before you came here and at a and at a time in the world’s history, as the Apostle Paul time in the world’s history, as the Apostle Paul taught the men of Athens and as the Lord taught the men of Athens and as the Lord revealed to Moses, determined by the revealed to Moses, determined by the faithfulness of each of those who lived before faithfulness of each of those who lived before this world was created”this world was created” (C.R., Oct. 1973, 7).(C.R., Oct. 1973, 7).

President Joseph Fielding Smith President Joseph Fielding Smith taughttaught::

“ “The numbers of the children of Israel were The numbers of the children of Israel were known and the bounds of their habitation fixed, known and the bounds of their habitation fixed, in the days of old when the Lord divided to the in the days of old when the Lord divided to the nations their inheritance. We conclude, nations their inheritance. We conclude, therefore, that there must have been a division therefore, that there must have been a division of the spirits of men in the spiritual world, and of the spirits of men in the spiritual world, and those who were appointed to be the children of those who were appointed to be the children of Israel were separated and prepared for a Israel were separated and prepared for a special inheritance”special inheritance” ((Doctrines of SalvationDoctrines of Salvation, , 1:59).1:59).

Elder Melvin J. Ballard taughtElder Melvin J. Ballard taught::

“ “There was a group of tested, tried, and proven There was a group of tested, tried, and proven souls before they were born into the world, and souls before they were born into the world, and the Lord provided a lineage for them. That the Lord provided a lineage for them. That lineage is the house of Israel, the lineage of lineage is the house of Israel, the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their posterity. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their posterity. Through this lineage were to come the true and Through this lineage were to come the true and tried souls that had demonstrated their tried souls that had demonstrated their righteousness in the spirit world before they righteousness in the spirit world before they came here”came here” ((The Three Degrees of GloryThe Three Degrees of Glory [address delivered in Ogden Tabernacle, 22nd [address delivered in Ogden Tabernacle, 22nd Sept. 1922], 22).Sept. 1922], 22).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrotewrote::

““To bring to pass the salvation of the To bring to pass the salvation of the greatest possible number of his spirit greatest possible number of his spirit children the Lord, in general, sends children the Lord, in general, sends the most righteous and worthy spirits the most righteous and worthy spirits to the earth through the lineage of to the earth through the lineage of Abraham and Jacob” (Abraham and Jacob” (Mormon Mormon DoctrineDoctrine, 2, 2ndnd ed. (1966), 216). ed. (1966), 216).