1. God covenants with Abraham.

Abraham 1:2-4 Abraham desired the blessings of the Priesthood

Abraham recognised that the blessings of the gospel and the priesthood gave happiness, peace and rest both in this life and in the life to come, and so, despite the apostasy of his father, he sought to obtain these blessings through righteous living.

In ancient times the Melchizedek Priesthood was passed from father to son. Abraham was a rightful heir of the Melchizedek Priesthood, but because his father was not worthy, Abraham sought the priesthood from other priesthood holders.

Abraham was of the lineage that had a right to the priesthood. However, since his father had fallen into apostasy, he could not ordain him.

Abraham 2:3 Abraham, get thee out of thy country

‘The Lord commanded Abraham to leave his father’s house, because his father, Terah, was preparing to offer him as a sacrifice unto his god.

Here is another instance where you will see the necessity of the Lord revealing himself and raising up a prophet, because all the children of men had gone into idolatry and had gone astray from the plan of life and salvation which the Lord had previously revealed unto them. Nevertheless they had the written word in their midst. Did the written word save them? No. Would the written word have accomplished the object of turning that great people from idolatry? No, What was necessary? It was necessary to do just what was done for our Father in heaven to come and make a personal visit to Abraham. Afterwards the Lord said, in speaking of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” Therefore, He pronounced upon him the great blessing that his posterity should become as innumerable as the stars in heaven and as countless as the sands upon the seashore.’ (John W Taylor, Conference Report, October 1897, First Day-Morning Session)

Abraham 2:6-11 The Abrahamic Covenant

The Abrahamic covenant is in fact the new and everlasting covenant of eternal marriage, and each person who enters into this covenant makes the same promises to the Lord as Abraham did, and the Lord makes the same promises to him or her as he made to Abraham.

“Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, or Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246.)

2. We are heirs to the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.

Genesis 22:15-18 The Abrahamic covenant

‘The covenant that the Lord first made to Abraham ^{[See  Gen. 17:1–10  Gen. 22:15–18  Gal. 3:28–29  Abr. 2:9–11]} and reaffirmed to Isaac ^{[See  Gen. 26:1–5, 24]} and Jacob ^{[See  Gen. 28:1–4, 10–14  Gen. 35:9–13  Gen. 48:3–4]} 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.” ^{1 Chr. 16:15 See also  Gen. 17:1–10, 19  Lev. 26:42  Acts 3:25 LDS Bible Dictionary, “Abraham, Covenant of,” p. 602.]’ (Russell M Nelson, General Conference, April 1995)}

Genesis 24:60 Rebekah

‘Rebekah was prepared and worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and to become a covenant wife of Isaac. She did not have to wait and prepare herself. Prior to her departure from her family, she was given a blessing, and the words are stirring to me, for she was promised that she would become “the mother of thousands of millions.’ (Elaine Dalton, General Conference, April 2013)

Genesis 26:1-4 Isaac

‘The Lord renewed this covenant with Isaac, the faithful son of Abraham (see  Gen. 17:19–21  Gen. 24:60  Gen. 25:11  Gen. 26:1–4) and confirmed the blessings of Abraham and Isaac upon Jacob. Jacob was renamed Israel by the Lord, and his posterity have been known as the children of Israel, the chosen people of the Lord. Their special mission is to bear the priesthood and keep alive in the world the knowledge of the true God and the true gospel.’  (William H Bennett, General Conference, October 1975)

Abraham 2:11 “This Right Shall Continue in Thee, and in Thy Seed”

‘Abraham desired the blessings of the fathers—the right to administer in the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was a rightful heir, and because of his righteousness he became a high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood (see Abraham 1:2). The Lord promised him that his posterity would also be rightful heirs of the priesthood. “Being an heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a ‘chosen person’ per se, but does signify that such are chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth. Abraham’s seed have carried out the missionary activity in all the nations since Abraham’s day. (Matt. 3:9; Abr. 2:9–11)” (Bible Dictionary, “Abraham, covenant of,” 602).

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The responsibility of the seed of Abraham, which we are, is to be missionaries to ‘bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations’ (Abraham 2:9)” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 107; or Ensign, May 1987, 85).

The same keys of the priesthood given to Abraham have been restored to the earth in the latter days. On 3 April 1836 a prophet named Elias appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple and committed to them “the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed” (D&C 110:12). With these keys of the priesthood on earth once again, a person can receive all of the blessings given to Abraham (see D&C 132:29–33).’ (Institute Pearl of Great Price Manual)

Genesis 18:19 I know him that he will command his children

“… This quality of Abraham is as essential for us today as it was 4,000 years ago. Along with our responsibility to bless all the families of the earth comes our need to perpetuate the covenant from generation to generation that it may continue to be fulfilled. The Lord expects Abraham’s seed of today to respond to the charge given of old: “And thou shalt teach [the commandments] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:7). Teaching the gospel is one of the most important responsibilities laid upon the shoulders of Abraham’s seed, for if we fail in this crucial assignment, the entire covenant is placed in jeopardy.” (S. Michael Wilcox, “The Abrahamic Covenant,” Ensign, Jan. 1998, 48)