1 NOW the Lord God caused the famine to wax sore [ It was pretty bad. ] in the land of Ur, insomuch that Haran, my brother, died; but Terah, my father, yet lived [ Suffered a lot but made it through see Abr 1: 30. Terah according to legend was extremely talented and successful, he occupied an high position of power in Nimrods court. ] in the land of Ur, of the Chaldees.

2 And it came to pass that I, Abraham, took Sarai to wife, [ Who would have been his niece. Her name will change later to Sarah as she enters into a covenant with the Lord. (See Gen 17:15). All the sources attest that she was a close relative-perhaps a half-sister (the daughter of his father through another wife) (Gen. 20:12), or perhaps a niece or a cousin.(According to Islamic scholars al-Tabari (Brinner, History of al-Tabari, 61) and al-Thalabi (Brinner, Lives of the Prophets, 135), Sarai was the daughter of Abraham's paternal uncle, Haran the Elder.) The close kinship with Abraham and the quality of her character suggest the possibility of mutual sympathy and support long before their marriage. Had she been in the crowd that day when Abraham had been miraculously rescued? Had her prayers and faith helped sustain him during his trials and tribulations? Had her strength already been part of his success? Had she long prayed for this eternal union? Such questions remain as yet unanswered. ] and Nahor, my brother, took Milcah [ Another niece to Abraham. ] to wife, who was the daughter of Haran. [ Because they were the daughters of his brother Haran who died in verse 1. In addition; there were probably different wives. ]

3  Now the Lord had said unto me: Abraham, [ Notice what is not said here that is said in (Gen. 11:30 ) that is that Sarai was barren. To me a testament to the love that Abraham had for Sarai, he would not bring it up. ] get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee. [ So they leave. Ancient midrash recounts that upon hearing the command, "without hesitation Abraham made answer: 'Lo, I stand before Thee; whithersoever Thou desirest, I go." (Encyclopedia Of Biblical Interpretation 2:112) He was left to leave the known for the unknown, something that was not easy to do. Yet he relied, to borrow Nephi's phrase, "wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Ne. 31:19). ]

4 Therefore I left the land of Ur, of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; [ Why would Abraham be given the inheritance of the land of Canaan, when that land was considered the least “choice” land of all of Noah’s children? Could the reason be that Abraham had a special mission: to be a type of “Shepherd “for all the descendants of Noah — essentially the whole human race who had apostatized after the time of the great flood. He came from a “royal” line: the line of Melchizedek, the “King of Righteousness” and the “King/Prince of Peace,” the most noble of all the sons of Noah. Here is the promise God gave Abraham (and by extension, Isaac and Jacob as well) (Abraham 2:8-11). ] and I took Lot, my brother’s son, [ So his nephew. ] and his wife, and Sarai my wife; and also my father followed after me, [ It appears that his father just tagged along. Maybe not really invited as Abraham was commanded to leave his fathers house, but if dad just tagged along I guess he did not say no; but he maybe would not have invited him because he did not want the traditions to follow. I am sure there was a good discussion there. ] unto the land which we denominated Haran. [ Named it after his brother who had died from the famine. ]

5 And the famine abated; and my father tarried in Haran and dwelt there, as there were many flocks in Haran; [ They did well for themselves and the famine was lifted. ] and my father turned again unto his idolatry, [ Just cannot shake his old habits; probably why Abraham did not really invite him in the first place. In the Middle East every family of sheepherders had their own god – that’s why they were always fighting. When Mohammed started Islam around 600 A.D., he tried to convince all the tribes to throw their gods away, believing that if they all believed in one God it would promote unity among the tribes. One day, while still living in Mesopotamia, Terah put Abraham in charge of his idol shop while he went to visit Nimrod. (Abraham had been living with Noah and Shem for the last 50 years, so he knew and understood the Gospel.) Terah had several idols of wood and stone scattered around his shop in many different shapes and sizes. Abraham brought the largest into the center of the shop and proceeded to smash all of the other idols in the shop with a club. Abraham then placed a plate of food in front of the largest idol and placed the club next to the big idol. Terah returned soon thereafter to find his shop full of smashed and ruined idols. He confronted Abraham, demanding to know what had happened to all of his idols of wood and stone that he had made to sell. Feigning innocence, Abraham explained that all he did was bring a plate of food into the room and the large one took a club and smashed all of the other little idols in the shop! Terah said, “What do you mean? This idol has no power to do any such thing!” And Abraham replied, “Just remember, you are the one who said that, not me!” It’s a great story. ] therefore he continued in Haran. [ Until he died at the age of 205 Gen 11:32. ]

6 But I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother’s son, prayed unto the Lord, [ Showing that they had be true and were trying to keep the commandments and follow God. At this point Abraham is around 99 years old. (See Gen 17:10-14; 23-27). ] and the Lord appeared unto me, [ The Savior visits Abraham. ] and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, [ The book of Jubilees says for fourteen years Abraham resided in Haran, (Jubilees 12:15). After having left behind his extended family in his native land of Ur according to the command of God. Once again God was asking him to uproot everything yet again and take to the road toward a new and strange land. ] and to make of thee a minister to bear my name [ How does Abraham bear the name of Christ? The Abrahamic covenant is the example covenant we all make with our Heavenly Father. Part of this covenant involves Abraham taking upon him the name of Christ. (Baptism & Temple). How was this done with Abraham? Bruce R McConkie says that Abraham was baptized and since everyone, Adam was baptized(Moses 6:52), Jesus Christ was baptized as a sign of obedience, so one could only assume that Abraham was baptized as well. Abram’s name would be changed to Abraham, (Gen 17:5) and Sarai’s name would be changed to Sarah (Gen 17:15). The letter h in English is the letter He (Hey) in Hebrew. This letter has many significant meanings - among them is the one where the letter is used instead of writing out one of the names for God. It represents the son of God or Jesus Christ. With a slight modification, it can also mean The Name, as in the Name of God. So, in a very direct and real manner, to symbolically make a point, both Abraham and Sarah took upon themselves the He or Name of Christ when they made covenants with the Lord. The changing of their names is a very powerful teaching point and symbol to remind them, as well as us, of the part of the covenant that we promise to do, to take upon us His name and always remember Him. A covenant to be obedient. This all ties into Alma 13 as well. ] in a strange land [ The land of Canaan which was named after Canaan the 4th son of Ham - this is not the same land of Canaan as recored in Moses 7:6-8 This land is basically the Holy land as it stands today. ] which I will give unto thy seed [ The land is given to his seed - So both the Jew and the Arabs which are both his seed. President Howard W Hunter Brigham Young Magazine May 1995 pg 5. ] after thee for an everlasting possession, [ Abraham's inheritance in Canaan, for himself and his seed would be an eternal inheritance. The promise that the meek shall inherit the earth, first during the millennial era and finally in the immortal state when the earth becomes a celestial sphere Doctrinal New Testament Commentary 2:71. ] when they hearken to my voice.

7 For I am the Lord thy God; I dwell in heaven; [ His home and from where he resides and oversees all his creations. ] the earth is my footstool; [ Under his control. ] I stretch my hand over the sea, and it obeys my voice; I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot; I say to the mountains—Depart hence—and behold, they are taken away by a whirlwind, in an instant, suddenly. [ There is no delay; when he commands it happens. The Lord is the God of the heavens and the earth. ]

8 My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand [ The same hand that was used to create the earth will be there to bless Abraham and his seed when needed. So Abraham does not need to worry. ] shall be over thee. [ Among the three key religions of the world, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, Abraham is the father of the faithful. He is the father of what the Koran calls the People of the Book. The people of the book are Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Book is the Old Testament and the records of the prophets, and Abraham is the beginning of that. By Abraham's day, his people had for many generations been without any such legal administrator and the blessings that flow therefrom: the gospel, the priesthood, the ordinances, the Church-in a word, Zion. "It was time," says Nibley, "for God to speak with Abraham face to face, restore the covenants, and organize the church." (Nibley, Approaching Zion, 382.) ]

[ Verse 9 -11 provide the blessing to Abraham or the Abrahamic Covenant. ]

9 And [ Blessing # 1. ]I will make of thee a great nation, [ That which we call Israel. Literal for Abraham on the earth and symbolic of exaltation in the next life. A nation does not have geographic bounds. ] and [ Blessing # 2. ] I will bless thee above measure, [ Not above everyone else because he would cease to be God if he did that. He will not bless you above blessing someone else, we can all achieve the same blessings if we choose. What does the Lord mean by that? Eternal life; sealing blessings, the Priesthood. How then is Abraham blessed beyond measure? the blessing of receiving all that the Father has are immeasurable for man - exaltation. inherit all that God has; tenants in common ] and [ Blessing # 3. ] make thy name great among all nations, [ His descendants are pretty well know through out the world today; symbolically his faithful seed will or can become Gods and then their names will become great from the worlds which they will create. ] and [ Blessing # 4. ] thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, [ Those that are both literal descendants and adopted makes no difference. Blessing # 5. Those who accept the Gospel, not just blood. Joseph Smith described it as including literal physiological changes. (The "Holy Ghost.. is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm 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 of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence." Galbraith and Smith, Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 170-71.) ] that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; [ So Abraham is given the Priesthood here as God is referring to "this ministry and this priesthood" here. Priesthood is the organization that administers the Gospel. Referring to those who accept the Gospel. Those of Abrahams righteous posterity (righteous Israel) will come the gospel and all of the associated ordinances, including the priesthood. "shall bear this ministry" to serve others especially the widows, orphans and fatherless, or their priesthood responsibility. ]

10 And [ Blessing # 6. ] I will bless them [ Thy posterity. Surely Abraham and Sarah would surely have interpreted this as an assurance that their long trial of infertility was about to end, that they were about to be blessed with the great desire of their hearts. And yet it doesn't, how much of a burden would that have been on Abraham and Sarah? After all God said to be fruitful, they are barren, they are doing everything they can and yet the result would not appear to be what God has asked them to do. It is no easy! ] through thy name; [ Those who accept the Gospel, whether they are direct descendants or not will now be called “the seed of Abraham.” The seed of Abraham has the responsibility to bear that ministry and priesthood. ] [ You are a seed of Abraham by receiving the Gospel. As many as receive the Gospel becomes the seeds of Abraham and therefore are entitled to all of the promised blessings. ] [ Blessing # 7. ] for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, [ While God is speaking to Abraham he refers here to "this gospel"(in verse 6-11 he will refer to "this Gospel", "this ministry and Priesthood"(verse 9) and "thy Priesthood"). Do all that we can to ensure that our posterity receive the blessings of the Gospel. As indicated by Paul (see Galatians 3:7-9), all who accept the gospel are adopted into the family of Abraham and are heirs to all that was promised him. President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "'For as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed.' 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" (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:246). ] and shall be accounted thy seed, [ Those who accept the Gospel, become the seed of Abraham through adoption, and everyone who accepts the Gospel can receive the authority to administer the Gospel. Who is his seed? all who receive the gospel. This is one of the roles of the Holy Ghost "the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually the seed of Abraham" Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith 149-150. So whether they are literal descendants or adopted in it does not matter all will receive the same blessings. ] and shall rise up [ Do what is required to pass the gospel to their children. ] and bless [ Praise or give thanks to. ] thee, as their father; [ Abraham wanted to have posterity not to just have a bunch of kids, but to have those who would become worthy to bear this ministry and Priesthood because he loved God so much. He desired that his posterity would be that group, or that people, that would provide and administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. Which is the reason he “sought for the blessings of the fathers and the right to administer the same...” Childless though Abraham remained, yet the converts he had already made were accounted his seed! ]

11 And I will bless them that bless thee, [ Notice in ancient times the blessing was just pronounced on the person, in our time these temple blessings are given with the clause "according to your faithfulness". ] and curse them that curse thee; [ And why, the rabbis ask, did God's pronouncement of blessings include the promise to curse those that cursed Abraham? Because when Abraham had been reviled and cursed for teaching righteousness, he had not responded in kind, but had kept silent; therefore, God would step in and curse those who cursed him. ( Kasher, 2:117. Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation ) The principle would be expressed by Moroni: "Judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also" (Morm. 8:20). ] and [ Blessing # 8. ] in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) [ Which is the authority to administer the gospel. ] and in thy seed ( that is, thy Priesthood) [ Again the authority to administer the gospel. ] ), for I give unto thee a promise that this right [ Or the right of administration of the priesthood, to administer the Gospel and the ordinances of salvation and exaltation. That which is going to carry on through him and his posterity after him. So the rights to the priesthood will be accounted to him and those who receive this priesthood will be accounted as his seed. They are adopted in to the family. So what are the "rights" of the priesthood? It is the authority to administer the RITES or RITUALS (ordinances) according to rules. So by this Right shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ] shall continue in thee, [ Notice the reference to the priesthood. So in other words all of these blessing come forth through the priesthood. Thy seed will always have someone who is honoring the priesthood and being faithful to the ordinances they have received. ] and in thy seed after thee [ That is to say, the literal seed- descendants, or the seed of the body. The power / authority of the Priesthood will be upon Abraham and his posterity and by their administration. ] (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body your personal posterity) [ Why is there a distinction made between the literal seed and thy seed ? If everyone who accepts the Gospel can receive the authority to administer the Gospel, yet the blessings come only through his literal seed, who are the literal seed of Abraham? Everyone who accepts the Gospel has the right to administer the Gospel, but the real blessing of the administration of the Gospel is from the literal seed of Abraham – who is Christ! Paul teaches the Galatians: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, “And to thy seed,” which is Christ. (Gal 3:16). In Jewish traditions there are two Messiahs—Messiah ben Judah (who is Christ) and Messiah ben Joseph. No one else, except Christ, has done more for the salvation of mankind than Joseph Smith (D&C 135:3). Messiah ben Judah is a descendant of Judah; Messiah ben Joseph is a descendant of Joseph who was sold into Egypt, and also a literal descendant of Abraham. ] [ Blessing # 9. ] shall all the families of the earth be blessed, [ Because they are the ones who will be teaching the gospel to the world they will be blessing all of the families who accept the gospel. ] even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal. [ Exaltation as gods in the highest degree of glory found in the celestial kingdom. Moses 1:39 While all be resurrected to live again, those who have eternal life are those who attain the highest degree and therefore will have or create other lives for eternity D&C 131:1-4. The prophet Joseph gave valuable insight: "We would like to be informed in what name the Gospel was then preached, whether it was in the name of Christ or some other name [see Galatians 1:8]. If in any other name, was it the Gospel? And if it was the Gospel, and that preached in the name of Christ, had it any ordinances? If not, was it the Gospel? And if it had ordinances, what were they? Our friends may say, perhaps, that there were never any ordinances except those of offering sacrifices before the coming of Christ, and that it could not be possible for the Gospel to have been administered while the law of sacrifices of blood was in force. But we will recollect that Abraham offered sacrifice, and notwithstanding this, had the Gospel preached to him. That the offering of sacrifice was only to point the mind forward to Christ we infer from these remarkable words of Jesus to the Jews [John 8:56: 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad']" (HC, 2:17). ][ So to recap what are the promised blessing in a nutshell? Posterity, Promised land and Priesthood. When are these specific P's of the Abrahamic covenant bestowed on us? It is only in the sealing ordinance of the temple. We need a partner for posterity. It is the patriarchal priesthood for posterity. No other ordinance provides all of the necessary links. ]