Abraham 1:20-2

The Abrahamic Covenant and the rights of the Priesthood

He seeks the right to minister, and preside in the Priesthood

He receives a promise of presiding in the priesthood He becomes the prophet/recorder of the records

(similar to BofM) He is given a mission, ministry, and assignment to

bless all people He begins to minister and preside in the priesthood.

Abraham 1:2-4

Abraham 1:18

Abraham 1:31

Abraham 2:6, 9, 11

Abraham 2:15, 18

Rights of the Priesthood

Rights of the Priesthood The curse of Cain: barren soil, heat,

mark placed upon him and his associates and posterity

Enoch preaches the gospel to all except the Canaanites; similar curse

Similar in the Book of Mormon Pharaoh imitates the order of the

priesthood but is restricted from holding it. No evidence any of these groups are related to Blacks by blood.

A Divine “order” of things All of the ceases because of divine

revelation received by the prophet.

Moses 5:36-37, 40-41; 7:22

Moses 7:6-8, 12 2 Nephi 5:21 Abraham 1:20-

27; JST Gen. 9:18-27

Matt. 15:22-28; Acts 10, 15

Official Declaration #2

Not Knowing All the Why’s

In an Associated Press interview printed in the Provo Daily Herald on the tenth anniversary of the announcement of the revelation on priesthood, Elders Neal A. Maxwell and Dallin H. Oaks, a members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, were asked the question: “As much as any doctrine the Church has espoused, or controversy the Church has been embroiled in, this one seems to stand out. Church members seem to have less to go on to get a grasp of the issue. Can you address why this was the case, and what can be learned from it?” (cont.)

Not Knowing All the Why’s

Elder Oaks responded, “If you read the scriptures with this question in mind, ‘Why did the Lord command this or why did he command that,’ you find that in less than one in a hundred commands was any reason given. It’s not the pattern of the Lord to give reasons. We can put reasons to commandments. When we do we’re on our own. Some people put reasons to the one we are talking about here, and they turned out to be spectacularly wrong. There is a lesson in that. The lesson I’ve drawn from that, I decided a long time ago that I had faith in the command and I had no faith in the reasons that had been suggested for it. . . .” (cont.)

Not Knowing All the Why’s

The interviewer continued, “Are you referring to reasons given even by general authorities? Elder Oaks replied, “Sure. I’m referring to reasons given by general authorities and reasons elaborated upon that reason by others. The whole set of reasons seemed to me to be unnecessary risk taking. . . . Let’s don’t make the mistake that’s been made in the past, here and in other areas, trying to put reasons to revelation. The reasons turn out to be man-made to a great extent. The revelations are what we sustain as the will of the Lord and that’s where safety lies.” Provo Daily Herald, 5 June 1988, p. 21.

Blessings and Responsibilities of the Abrahamic Covenant

Divine Guidance Promised Land inheritance All the families of the earth would be blessed

through his Priesthood ministry (mission) Divine protection Great nation (posterity) Anyone who accepts the gospel covenant His

seed The rights to the priesthood to continue in his

lineage forever

Abraham 1:18 Abraham 2:3, 6, 19 Abraham 2:6, 9-11

Abraham 2:8, 11 Abraham 2:9 Abraham 2:10

Abraham 2:11