and the Abrahamic Covenant The Kings’ Children and the Abrahamic Covenant

Once upon a time… Once there was a vast kingdom inhabited by many people. Unfortunately, there was much poverty and hardship throughout the kingdom. People did not know what to do to make things better. The king selected five of his subjects for special treatment. These fortunate individuals were educated, fed well, given a well-paying job, and given free access to all parts of the kingdom. The king merely told them that he loved them and wanted them to be able to build the kingdom and help those who were less fortunate.

Anna Anna loved learning. She worked hard to learn languages and history. Her interest in the things she studied motivated her to arise early and read late into the night. Year in, and year out, she worked to deepen her knowledge and skills. She died in her old age— happy, alone, and able to say goodbye in eight different languages. https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/education/miscellaneous?lang=eng#education-242389

Anna Anna was given many talents and blessings to help her build the kingdom. However, she only used her talents for her personal enjoyment. “In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.” (Handbook 2: “Administering the Church” 2.2) Anna might have used her knowledge of languages to gather Israel through missionary work. Instead of just studying for her own benefit, Anna could have used her talents to educate others and care for the poor and needy. Anna also died alone because she never married or had children. In order to qualify for the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, we, like Abraham, must “enter into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation)” (Bible Dictionary: “Abraham, Covenant of” 602).

Stephen Stephen became a capable administrator. He studied the principles of finance. Over the years, he accumulated a vast fortune. Day after day, he toiled to add to his reserves. When he died of tuberculosis at seventy, he could have lived off his savings for another hundred years. https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/objects?lang=eng&start=91&end=100#paper-money-941313

Stephen Stephen spent his entire life making money for himself. Like Anna, he could have used the opportunities given to him to care for the poor and needy. When Stephen died, he left all of his fortunes behind. If we live worthily and fulfill the responsibilities we have been given, we can inherit greater fortune from God than we ever could accumulate on earth: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seen for ever” (Genesis 13:15). “I will bless thee above measure” (Abraham 2:9). “Shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abraham 2:11).

Sophie Sophie quickly forgot her humble beginnings. Lost was an appreciation of her opportunities and advantages. She used the king’s help to party and seek distraction. Her death signaled the end to a life devoted to fun, entertainment, and self-gratification. Her epitaph could have read, “Here lies a woman so wrapped up in herself that she made a pretty small package.” https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/objects?lang=eng&start=51&end=60#balloons-828899

Sophie Sophie, like the others failed to fulfill her responsibilities to use her blessings to help and bless others around her. “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 22:18). In order to keep our covenants, we must use our talents to spread the blessings of the Gospel to all the nations of the earth.

Nicholas and Arrabelle Nicholas and Arrabelle never forgot what had been done for them. Their gratitude oriented their lives. They knew the advantages they had been given were not a reflection of what they deserved. They remembered the reason they were so blessed was so they could bless others. Their life was a joyful effort to help others. The gifts they were given allowed them to do things they would not even have thought of in their poverty. https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/beliefs-practices?lang=eng#gardening-217882

Nicholas and Arrabelle Nicholas and Arrabelle used the gifts and talents they were given to bless others. We also have a responsibility to use the gifts we have been given to share the Gospel and bless the lives of those around us. Ezra Taft Benson said, “The world needs the gospel, and we are charged by command of the Lord and through our Abrahamic lineage to spread it…There is no greater joy than bringing souls to Christ. Participation in this great work blesses the convert, blesses the missionary, and blesses those who support the missionary” (Ensign: “A Sacred Responsibility,” April 1986).