Lesson 13 Genesis 12; Abraham 12

Lesson 13 Genesis 12; Abraham 12Preparation for a CovenantQuestion of the DayWhy did the Lord make a covenant with Abraham?

Abraham 3:23Answer #1:thou wast chosen before thou wast bornIs that it?

Answer #2: He had the desireWrite down 5 things you desire most in your lives.What were Abrahams desires? Abraham 1:2Blessings of the FathersRight to be ordained to administer the samePossess great knowledgeBe a greater follower of righteousnessBe a father of many nationsBe a prince of peaceTo receive instructionsTo keep the commandmentsHow do your desires line up with Abrahams?Who else in the gospel had great desires?Why are desires important?

Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming.

-Dallin H OaksActing on Our DesiresWhat made it difficult for Abraham to obtain his desires?Abraham 1:5-7Fathers (including actual Father, Terah) turned from their righteousnessTheir hearts were set to do evilWhat makes it difficult for us to obtain our righteous desires?Do the people around us always have the same desires as we do?How Do We Overcome?Answer #3: Sacrifice

it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truths sake, not even withholding his life, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life Joseph Smith

What happened to Abraham? Abraham 1:12

and the Lord hearkened and heard (1:15)http://broadcast.lds.org/visual-resources/old-testament/2011-03-011-deliverance-of-abraham-1000k-eng.mp4

What happened? (1:15-18)A visionBands were loosedWickedness around him destroyedThe Lord will lead himSacrifice of All ThingsSacrifice is the very essence of religion; it is the keystone of happy home life, the basis of true friendship, the foundation of peaceful community living, of sound relations among people and nations. . . .Without sacrifice there is no true worship of God. I become increasingly convinced of that every day. The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life, and we do not worship unless we givegive of our substance, give of our time, give of our strength, give of our talent, give of our faith, give of our testimonies (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 565). President Gordon B. HinckleyAbraham 1

9Answer #4: The PriesthoodGenesis 14:18-20Sounds like we need a backstory on this Mechizedek fellowAbraham was ordained with the Priesthood.Which of our covenants require the Priesthood?

Back to Our QuestionWhy did the Lord make a covenant with Abraham?ForeordinationDesireSacrificePriesthoodNotebook IdeasHow can you use the example of Abraham to obtain your own righteous desires?Why is it important that the priesthood play a role in every ordinance?What kinds of sacrifices can you make to show the Lord your faith in Him?