“Abrahamic Covenant,” Liahona, Feb. 2014, 22–25
Abrahamic Covenant
Times at a Glance Part 1 of 2
From Abraham until Jesus Christ
Abraham—the great patriarch of the Old Testament—is inextricably linked to all who join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An understanding of his life and the covenant God made with him and his posterity will help you see your life and the covenants you make with God as a disciple of Jesus Christ in a more complete way (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Abrahamic Covenant,” scriptures.lds.org).
About 4,000 years ago Jehovah, the premortal name for Jesus Christ, promised Abraham that his posterity would be a blessing to all people and that because of this covenant, great things would take place in the latter days (see Abraham 2:9–11). Jesus Christ reaffirmed this covenant with many others through the centuries. In modern times He renewed the Abrahamic covenant with the Prophet Joseph Smith (see D&C 124:58; 132:30–31). By entering into this restored covenant, you are blessed with the everlasting gospel and enabled, as were they of old, to receive all the ordinances of the holy priesthood, including marriage for eternity (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Covenant,” scriptures.lds.org). Your patriarchal blessing includes an inspired declaration of the lineage through which you may claim these blessings by exercising faith, repenting, receiving priesthood ordinances, and enduring to the end in keeping your covenants.
As you study this chart, you will more clearly see your place in God’s plan of happiness.
Event
Prophecy
Dispensations
Eastern Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Abraham
Brother of Jared (Jaredites)
Dispensations
Eastern Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
Moses
Brother of Jared (Jaredites)
Gathering
Scattering
Gathering
Gathering
Scattering
Gathering
Northern Kingdom (see 1 Kings 12:2–20)
Southern Kingdom
Northern Kingdom Scattering (lost tribes of Israel)
Southern Kingdom Scattering (see 2 Kings 25:1–10)
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Abraham
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Sarah
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Isaac
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Rebekah (wife of Isaac)
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Esau
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Judith
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Bashemath
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Edomites
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Jacob
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Leah
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Zilpah
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Bilhah
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Rachel
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Reuben
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Simeon
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Levi
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Moses, Aaron
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Ezra
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Judah
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King David
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Isaiah**
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Nehemiah
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Issachar
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Zebulun
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Gad
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Asher
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Dan
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Naphtali
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Joseph
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Ephraim and Manasseh
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Lehi (Nephites and Lamanites)
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Benjamin
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Hagar
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Ishmael
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Ishmaelites
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Ishmaelites
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Some peoples of Arabia
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Keturah
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Midianites
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Midianites
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Jethro
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Abraham was born in Ur, in the land of the Chaldeans. His father worshipped false gods.
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Abraham was baptized; he received the priesthood from Melchizedek.
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Jehovah (Jesus Christ) appeared to Abraham, saving him from death as a sacrifice to false gods.
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Jehovah commanded Abraham to leave Ur, promising that through Abraham’s ministry His name would be known in the earth forever.
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Abraham, Sarah (his wife), and other family members settled in the land of Haran.
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Jehovah established His covenant with Abraham; Abraham’s descendants would be a blessing to all the families of the earth.
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Abraham and his family settled in the land of Canaan. Jehovah promised the land to his descendants when they are righteous. They then traveled to Egypt.
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Through the Urim and Thummim, Abraham saw the throne of God, the premortal world, and the creation of the earth.
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In Egypt, Abraham became a great preacher of the gospel and prospered.
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Abraham and his family returned to Canaan. Jehovah confirmed His everlasting covenant with Abraham.
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Jehovah spoke with Abraham in a vision, and Abraham expressed a desire to have children. The Lord reaffirmed His covenant.
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Prophecy Some of Abraham’s posterity would be a “stranger” in Egypt.
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Commanded of God, Sarah gave her handmaid, Hagar, to Abraham in marriage.
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An angel of God appeared to Hagar. Her posterity would also be greatly blessed as descendants of Abraham. Ishmael was born.
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Jehovah appeared to Abraham, again confirming His promises. Abraham circumcised all the males in his household as a covenantal sign.
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Prophecy Sarah would have a son named Isaac and in him the Abrahamic covenant would be established.
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Isaac was born. Jehovah told Abraham that He would bless both Ishmael and Isaac. (See prophecy 16.)
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Prophecy Hagar’s son Ishmael would be the father of “a great nation.” His descendants became 12 nations or tribes.
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Jehovah confirmed His covenant with Abraham after he showed his willingness to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.
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Commanded of God, Abraham married Keturah. Their six sons would also be greatly blessed.
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Abraham blessed and gave gifts to all His sons, then died at age 175.
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Jehovah appeared to Isaac, affirming the Abrahamic covenant with him, his wife, Rebekah, and their posterity.
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Jehovah appeared to Jacob, affirming the Abrahamic covenant with him and his posterity.
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Commanded of God, Jacob married Leah, then Rachel, then Bilhah, and then Zilpah. Twelve sons and one daughter were born.
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Jehovah commanded Jacob to return to the promised land of Canaan. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel.
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Jehovah appeared to Jacob (Israel) at Bethel, renewing the Abrahamic covenant.
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Jehovah appeared to Israel and commanded him to take his family into Egypt.
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Israel blessed his sons and grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh and their families. He promised them that God would help them return someday to the land of Canaan.
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Prophecy As part of his patriarchal blessing, Joseph was promised that he would have a fruitful posterity.
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In Egypt the descendants of Israel multiplied and became known as the children of Israel (also called house of Israel). (See prophecy 12.)
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Prophecy God would “raise up” a prophet (Moses) to deliver Israel from bondage in Egypt.
Joseph Smith Translation (JST), Genesis 50:24, 34–36 (in Bible appendix); 2 Nephi 3:10, 17
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Prophecy The family of Israel would be scattered, with a “branch” living in the Americas.
JST, Genesis 50:25 (in Bible appendix); 2 Nephi 3:3–5, 16
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Prophecy A “choice seer” (Joseph Smith) would restore knowledge of God’s covenant with Abraham.
JST, Genesis 50:25–33 (in Bible appendix); 2 Nephi 3:6–15
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Jehovah appeared to Moses, who had received the priesthood from Jethro. The children of Israel left Egypt. (See prophecy 31.)
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At Mount Sinai the children of Israel promised they would keep the Abrahamic covenant.
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Because the children of Israel broke their promise, they received a lesser law of carnal commandments.
Exodus 32–34; Galatians 3:19–24; Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–26
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Jehovah appeared to Joshua, renewing His covenant and commanding the children of Israel to enter the land of Canaan as an inheritance.
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After many years in Canaan, the children of Israel stopped keeping the covenant. They were persecuted by their enemies.
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Through the prophet Nathan, Jehovah made an everlasting covenant with King David and his posterity.
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Prophecy The people of the Northern Kingdom (referred to as Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah) would be scattered among all nations.
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Prophecy The Messiah (Jesus Christ) would suffer and atone for the sins of the world.
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Prophecy The Lord would recover a remnant of His people and set up an ensign for all nations.
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Prophecy The Lord would comfort His people, redeem Jerusalem, and show His power to all nations.
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Prophecy During a great millennial era the earth would be renewed, and all sickness and sorrow would end.
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The people of the Northern Kingdom were scattered by the Assyrians because of wickedness. (See prophecy 40.)
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Prophecy Some Jews (a remnant) would be gathered back to Jerusalem to serve the Lord.
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Jehovah established the Abrahamic covenant with Lehi and his family. They left Jerusalem and became a nation in the Americas. (See prophecies 29, 32.)
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The people of the Southern Kingdom rejected the Abrahamic covenant and were scattered by the Babylonians. (See prophecy 40.)
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Some of the children of Israel called “Jews” returned to Jerusalem, rebuilding the temple. Ezra exhorted the people to keep their covenant with God. (See prophecy 46.)
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The Hasmoneans (Maccabees) established an independent Jewish state, called Judea, in the land of Canaan.