Joseph Smith reported that when the angel Moroni appeared to him in 1823, he quoted several biblical passages, “though with a little variation from the way [they read] in our Bibles.” One of those passages is the final verse in the Old Testament, Malachi 4:6. Here’s Moroni’s version of that verse:
He [Elijah] shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
Joseph Smith—History 1:39; Doctrine and Covenants 2:2
As we’ve seen, the covenant God made with Abraham consisted almost entirely of promises and was meant to be inherited. God promised blessings not only to Abraham but also to his descendants. So it’s been instructive to consider how those promises were passed down to Abraham’s son Isaac and to his grandson Jacob. God personally offered those promises to Isaac, attributing them to Abraham’s faithfulness. Jacob received the same promises in stages, twice from his father, Isaac, and eventually from God Himself. In both cases, God introduced Himself in relationship with their fathers. “I am the God of Abraham thy father,” He said to Isaac (Genesis 26:24). “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac,” He said to Jacob (Genesis 28:13).
The Book of Mormon describes this same pattern of covenant inheritance. For example, the Title Page identifies the following as purposes of the book:
- “To show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers”
- “That they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever”
Like Isaac and Jacob, readers of the Book of Mormon may come to know God by remembering how He has blessed prior generations and by relying on the intergenerational covenants He made with them.
This process is not limited to blood descendants of Abraham. During Jesus Christ’s ministry on the American continent, He explained that the Book of Mormon would be delivered to “the Gentiles” so that “the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel.” How does the Book of Mormon help to fulfill that covenant? By teaching the Gentiles “the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:4, 6).
President Russell M. Nelson explained:
The gospel net to gather scattered Israel is expansive. There is room for each person who will fully embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each convert becomes one of God’s covenant children, whether by birth or by adoption. Each becomes a full heir to all that God has promised the faithful children of Israel!
“Let God Prevail,” October 2020 general conference
God’s covenant with Abraham is not just a historical event. It’s a living reality which future generations—including our own—are invited to claim, just as Isaac and Jacob did.
Today, I will ponder the promises God made to prior generations. I will remember that those promises are still active and are available to all who are willing to turn their hearts and receive them.
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