Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2: Lesson 24

Abraham 2:9–11

Our Responsibilities in the Abrahamic Covenant

The Lord made a covenant with Abraham and his posterity. As the seed of Abraham, we have a covenant responsibility to bring the blessings of the Savior’s gospel to all the families of the earth. This lesson will help students act on the responsibilities the Lord has given them as the seed of Abraham.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about the following questions and to discuss them with a family member: Why does the gospel of Jesus Christ matter to you? Why do you think all people need it?”

Possible Learning Activities

The seed of Abraham

You could begin class by giving students 30 seconds to list as many words as they can that describe themselves. Next, ask students to circle three words that best describe them. A few students could share with the class.

• In what ways do these identifiers influence your behavior?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about our identity:

You may enjoy music, athletics, or be mechanically inclined, and someday you may work in a trade or a profession or in the arts. As important as such activities and occupations can be, they do not define who we are. First and foremost, we are spiritual beings. We are sons [and daughters] of God and the seed of Abraham. (“Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 47)

• What stands out to you from what Elder Bednar taught about our foremost identities?

If students studied Lesson 23: “Genesis 12; 17,” invite them to summarize with a classmate what they remember about the Abrahamic covenant. Help students see that as the seed, or posterity, of Abraham, not only are we promised significant blessings, but we also covenant to fulfill significant responsibilities. Invite them to complete the following self-assessment.

Select which of the following statements are true of you:

• I understand my responsibilities as the seed of Abraham.

• I am seeking to fulfill my responsibilities as the seed of Abraham.

• I have found great joy in fulfilling my responsibilities as the seed of Abraham.

• I do not understand what my responsibilities are as the seed of Abraham.

• I have questions about what my responsibilities are as the seed of Abraham.

Invite students to record any questions they may have or impressions they felt as they considered these statements. Invite them to seek revelation from their Father in Heaven through the Holy Ghost to know how they can better fulfill their responsibilities as the seed of Abraham.

Abraham 2:9–11 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Abraham 2:8–11, looking for our responsibilities as the seed of Abraham.

• What does the Savior expect of us?

  You might invite students to ask any questions about the verses. As you discuss the responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant, help students identify a truth similar to: As the seed of Abraham, the Savior has given us a responsibility to bless all the families of the earth with the blessings of His gospel.

  Students may benefit from knowing they can fulfill their covenant responsibility by helping gather Israel.

• What are some ways we can bless all the families of the earth with the Savior’s gospel?

Read 1 Nephi 15:18, looking for when the Abrahamic covenant will be fulfilled.

President Russell M. Nelson testified:

Ours is the responsibility to help fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. Ours is the seed foreordained and prepared to bless all people of the world. That is why priesthood duty includes missionary work. After some 4,000 years of anticipation and preparation, this is the appointed day when the gospel is to be taken to the kindreds of the earth. This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel. And we get to participate! Isn’t that exciting? (“Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 88)

Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel. (“Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92–93)

• How do you feel about the gospel of Jesus Christ?

• Why do you think all people need it?

• What experiences have you (or people you know) had gathering Israel?

Fulfilling our responsibilities

This portion of the lesson gives students time in class to do something to fulfill their responsibilities in the Abrahamic covenant. You could create learning stations based on the following handout. Students could choose one activity to focus on, or they could rotate through different activities. You might assign student leaders for each station to help their peers complete the exercises. Invite students to seek inspiration when selecting what to focus on.

After enough time, allow students to share the activity they chose and what they felt inspired to do.

As students respond to some or all of the following questions, think of ways to help students seek, recognize, and act on personal revelation. One way for you to do this is to ask yourself, “What else can I invite them to do?” Asking yourself this kind of question can invite inspiration from the Holy Ghost on how to help students act on the personal revelation they receive.

For additional training on follow-up questions that invite personal revelation, see “Help learners seek, recognize, and act on personal revelation” in Teacher Development Skills.

Students may benefit from time to reflect on and answer the following questions in their study journals.

• What did you do or what plans did you make to bless others with the Savior’s gospel?

• What have you felt prompted to do in the days and weeks ahead to:

  • Help others make or keep covenants?

  • Share the Savior’s gospel?

  • Help people on the other side of the veil?

Consider testifying of our important responsibility, as the seed of Abraham, to share the blessings of the Savior’s gospel with all people.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase during this lesson and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase for Abraham 2:9–11 is “The Lord promised Abraham that his seed would ‘bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations.’” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

What are my primary identities?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Now, let us turn the question to you. Who are you?

First and foremost, you are a child of God.

Second, as a member of the Church, you are a child of the covenant. And third, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library)

What is my responsibility as the seed of Abraham?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Truly, great responsibility rests upon the seed of Abraham in these latter days. …

… We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. We are here upon the earth at this time to magnify the priesthood and to preach the gospel. That is who we are, and that is why we are here. (“Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 47)

President Russell M. Nelson declared:

We want you to know that the gathering of Israel ultimately means offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil who have neither made crucial covenants with God nor received their essential ordinances.

Every child of our Heavenly Father deserves the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus Christ, to accept and receive His gospel with all of its blessings—yes, all the blessings that God promised to the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who, as you know, is also known as Israel. (“Hope of Israel,” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, Gospel Library)

President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President, taught:

Our covenantal blessing is to partner with Jesus Christ in providing relief, both temporal and spiritual, to all of God’s children. We are a conduit through which He provides relief.

And so, like the friends of the man with palsy, we “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” [Doctrine and Covenants 81:5]. We “bear … one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” [Galatians 6:2]. As we do, we come to know Him, become like Him, and find His relief. (“Jesus Christ Is Relief,” Liahona, May 2023, 83)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Additional ways to fulfill our responsibilities

You could include these options as additional learning stations for the activity in the lesson.

Share the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is God’s instrument to gather Israel. Think of someone you could share the Book of Mormon with. You might invite them to download the Book of Mormon app. Write or share your testimony of the Savior and the Book of Mormon and select a passage you could share. Plan when you will share the Book of Mormon with this person or send them a message now.

Join the youth battalion of the Lord. Select one or more of the following invitations from President Russell M. Nelson. He gave these invitations to help youth prepare to participate in the gathering of Israel:

• Hold a seven-day fast from social media.

• Make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord for three weeks.

• Do a thorough life assessment to ensure you are on the covenant path.

• Pray daily that all of God’s children might receive the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Stand out and be different. Study and share the For the Strength of Youth booklet. (Adapted from Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library)

You can find more details to share with students about each invitation in President Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson’s youth devotional “Hope of Israel.”

Videos

You could use the following videos to help students see ways they can help all the families of the earth be blessed with the Savior’s gospel.

The video “Inviting Others to ‘Come and Stay’” (1:39) shows ways students can help others feel welcome at church.

The videos “Inviting All to Come unto Christ: Sharing the Gospel” (4:30) and “Inviting Others to ‘Come and See’” (1:17) show ways students can invite others to participate in Church activities.

The video “All the Families of the Earth” (2:55) can help students feel motivated to participate in temple and family history work.