Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Abraham’s life is a great example for us of how to deal with difficult family situations. The example his father set by opposing God with his dumb idols would have been difficult but Abram's example of faithfulness shines for all of us. These chapters focus on the covenant that God makes with Abraham and with his descendants including us.
According to rabbinic literature, Abram’s father Terah was a wicked (Numbers Rabbah 19:1; 19:33), idolatrous priest (Midrash HaGadol on Genesis 11:28) who manufactured idols (Eliyahu Rabbah 6, and Eliyahu Zuta 25).
There is a story of Abrah is not found in Bible canon that gives us a lot of insight in to Terah, and the relationship between father and son. This story is found in several Jewish historical sources such as Jasher 11, and is one of the most repeated stories of Abraham from the Qur’an 21:51-73. Both Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff mentioned the story, and John Taylor recounted it in both volumes 14 and 22 of the Journal of Discourses:
“It is said Abraham’s father was an idolater, and that he had a number of gods in his house. This grieved Abraham, whilst his father wanted his son to believe and worship as he himself did, but Abraham knew better than to do such a thing.
“Abraham at last thought he would teach his father a lesson by making a clean sweep of his gods. So he got a club, or some other weapon, and knocked off the heads of some, the arms and legs of others, and made a general wreck among the idols, but left the biggest untouched.”
When Abraham’s father, Terah, learned what had happened, he was full of ire. “Who did this?”, he asked his son indignantly.
Here Abraham told a tall tale: he pointed to the large deity still intact and said, “The gods had a quarrel. This giant statue smashed the others to pieces in anger.”
His father replied, “My son, why do you tell me such a thing? My gods cannot fight; they have legs, but they cannot walk; they have arms, but they cannot use them; they have
eyes and ears but they cannot see nor hear.”
“Why, Father,” said Abraham, “is it possible that you worship a god that cannot hear or see, walk or use himself at all?” (https://jod.mrm.org/14/356#359, https://jod.mrm.org/22/297#307 )
President Russel M Nelson: “As I came to understand the Word of Wisdom, I wanted my parents to live that law. So one day, when I was very young, I went to our basement and smashed on the concrete floor, every bottle of liquor.”
“I expected my father to punish me,” said President Nelson, “but he never said a word.”
“I adored my parents,” he emphasized. “They meant the world to me and taught me crucial lessons. I cannot thank them enough for the happy home life they created for me and my siblings. And yet even as a boy, I knew I was missing something.” . (https://thirdhour.org/blog/faith/lds-conference/nelson-abraham-smashed-idols/)
Evidence that Abram was in Ur.
Abraham of Ur Buys an Oxen and Travels to Palestine
Abraham Hired an Ox: One ox broken to the yoke,
An ox from Ibri-sin, son of Sin-imgurani,
From Ibni-sin
through the agency of Kishti-Nabium,
son of Eteru,
Abarama, son of Awel-Ishtar,
for one month has hired.
For one month
one shekel of silver
he will pay.
Of it 1/2 shekel of silver
from the hand of
Abarama
Kisti-Nabium
has received.
In the presence of Idin-Urash, son of Idin-Labibaal,
In the presence of Awele, son of Urri-bani,
in the presence of Beliyatum, scribe.
Month of the mission of Ishtar (i.e., Ammizadugga's 11th year).
The year of Ammizadugga, the king (built)
The wall of Ammizadugga, (i.e., Ammizadugga's 11th year).
[Source: Tablet of Kisti-Nabium, copy made for Kishti-Nabium, the agent, 1965 B.C., Ammizadugga was the tenth king of that first dynasty of Babylon, of which Hammurabi was the sixth]
UR: THE GREAT CITY OF SUMER AND HOMETOWN OF ABRAHAM, (https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub402/entry-6396.html)
What were Abraham’s “DESIRES” (Abr. 1:1-2)
Stephen Covey - "Sacrifice really means giving up something good for something better."
We can support and strengthen part-member families in our wards.
"The idea that Abraham, the great man of righteousness, seems to have told a deliberate lie in order to protect his own life has trouble many students of the Old Testament. That his life was in danger because of Sarah's beauty seems quite clear. It seems peculiar, but whereas the Egyptian pharaohs had a strong aversion to committing adultery with another man's wife, they had no qualms about murdering the man to free his spouse for remarriage.
"'To kill the husband in order to possess himself of his wife seems to have been a common royal custom in those days. A papyrus tells of a Pharaoh who, acting on the advice of one of his tombstone, that even after death he will kill Palestinian sheiks and include their wives in his harem.' (Kasher, Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation, 2: 128.)
"Another ancient custom permitted a woman to be adopted as a man's sister upon their marriage to give her greater legal and social status (see Encyclopedia Judaica, s.v. 'Sarah,' 14: 866).
Joseph Smith: “From the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things… And 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 truth’s 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.” (Lectures on Faith 6:7)
President Spencer W. Kimball: "Christ is the supreme example for every faithful holder of the priesthood. As I search the scriptures I read of many who followed this supreme example and qualified themselves for the blessings promised through the priesthood. One of these was Father Abraham, whose life is a model that will lift and elevate any father in this Church who wishes to become a true patriarch to his family.
"We learn something of Abraham’s character when we read in the scriptures that he faithfully endeavored to qualify himself for the great blessings that he could see were obtainable through the holy priesthood....
"If members of the Church could only have such integrity, such obedience, such revelation, such faith, such service as Abraham had! If parents would seek the blessings Abraham sought, they could also receive such revelation, covenants, promises, and eternal rewards as Abraham received." ("The Example of Abraham," Ensign, June 1975, 4, 6-7).
Sins of Sodom:
President Thomas S. Monson: “It has been said by one, years ago, that history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make—for decisions determine destiny.” (“Decisions Determine Destiny,” New Era, Nov. 1979, 4).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “Separating evil from our lives has become even more essential since our homes are wired to bring much of what the Lord has condemned into our own living rooms if we are not vigilant. One of the most difficult challenges in our lives is to be in the world but not of the world (see John 15:19) [see L. Tom Perry, ‘In the World,’ Ensign, May 1988, 13–15].
Gospel doctrine makes it clear that we must live in this world to achieve our eternal destination. We must be tried and tested and found worthy of a greater kingdom (see 2 Nephi 2:11; D&C 101:78). We must do as Abraham did when he pitched his tent and built ‘an altar unto the Lord’ (Genesis 13:18) and not do as Lot did when he ‘pitched his tent toward Sodom’ (Genesis 13:12)” (“In the World but Not of the World,” Ensign, Feb. 2006, 53).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “When he [or she] is married in the temple for time and for all eternity, each worthy member of the Church enters personally into the same covenant the Lord made with Abraham. This is the occasion when the promises of eternal increase are made, and it is then specified that those who keep the covenants made there shall be inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 508).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6–11; D. & C. 132:29–50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3.)
“All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant. This covenant was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 24:60; 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4). Those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the House of Israel who enters the order of celestial marriage; through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (D. & C. 132; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 3; 4.)” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 13.)
“The ancient method of making a covenant as to cut an animal in half and the contracting parties to pass through the portions of the slain animal. Thereby the parties were taught to be united by the hand of a common blood.” (Hertz, The Pentateuch and the Haftorahs, p. 54)
Teaching Thoughts:
According to rabbinic literature, Abram’s father Terah was a wicked (Numbers Rabbah 19:1; 19:33), idolatrous priest (Midrash HaGadol on Genesis 11:28) who manufactured idols (Eliyahu Rabbah 6, and Eliyahu Zuta 25).
There is a story of Abrah is not found in Bible canon that gives us a lot of insight in to Terah, and the relationship between father and son. This story is found in several Jewish historical sources such as Jasher 11, and is one of the most repeated stories of Abraham from the Qur’an 21:51-73. Both Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff mentioned the story, and John Taylor recounted it in both volumes 14 and 22 of the Journal of Discourses:
“It is said Abraham’s father was an idolater, and that he had a number of gods in his house. This grieved Abraham, whilst his father wanted his son to believe and worship as he himself did, but Abraham knew better than to do such a thing.
“Abraham at last thought he would teach his father a lesson by making a clean sweep of his gods. So he got a club, or some other weapon, and knocked off the heads of some, the arms and legs of others, and made a general wreck among the idols, but left the biggest untouched.”
When Abraham’s father, Terah, learned what had happened, he was full of ire. “Who did this?”, he asked his son indignantly.
Here Abraham told a tall tale: he pointed to the large deity still intact and said, “The gods had a quarrel. This giant statue smashed the others to pieces in anger.”
His father replied, “My son, why do you tell me such a thing? My gods cannot fight; they have legs, but they cannot walk; they have arms, but they cannot use them; they have
eyes and ears but they cannot see nor hear.”
“Why, Father,” said Abraham, “is it possible that you worship a god that cannot hear or see, walk or use himself at all?” (https://jod.mrm.org/14/356#359, https://jod.mrm.org/22/297#307 )
President Russel M Nelson: “As I came to understand the Word of Wisdom, I wanted my parents to live that law. So one day, when I was very young, I went to our basement and smashed on the concrete floor, every bottle of liquor.”
“I expected my father to punish me,” said President Nelson, “but he never said a word.”
“I adored my parents,” he emphasized. “They meant the world to me and taught me crucial lessons. I cannot thank them enough for the happy home life they created for me and my siblings. And yet even as a boy, I knew I was missing something.” . (https://thirdhour.org/blog/faith/lds-conference/nelson-abraham-smashed-idols/)
Evidence that Abram was in Ur.
Abraham of Ur Buys an Oxen and Travels to Palestine
Abraham Hired an Ox: One ox broken to the yoke,
An ox from Ibri-sin, son of Sin-imgurani,
From Ibni-sin
through the agency of Kishti-Nabium,
son of Eteru,
Abarama, son of Awel-Ishtar,
for one month has hired.
For one month
one shekel of silver
he will pay.
Of it 1/2 shekel of silver
from the hand of
Abarama
Kisti-Nabium
has received.
In the presence of Idin-Urash, son of Idin-Labibaal,
In the presence of Awele, son of Urri-bani,
in the presence of Beliyatum, scribe.
Month of the mission of Ishtar (i.e., Ammizadugga's 11th year).
The year of Ammizadugga, the king (built)
The wall of Ammizadugga, (i.e., Ammizadugga's 11th year).
[Source: Tablet of Kisti-Nabium, copy made for Kishti-Nabium, the agent, 1965 B.C., Ammizadugga was the tenth king of that first dynasty of Babylon, of which Hammurabi was the sixth]
UR: THE GREAT CITY OF SUMER AND HOMETOWN OF ABRAHAM, (https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub402/entry-6396.html)
What were Abraham’s “DESIRES” (Abr. 1:1-2)
- Happiness, Peace, Rest
- Sought for the “blessings of the fathers”
- To be one who possessed “Great knowledge”
- To be a “greater follower of righteousness”
- To possess a “greater knowledge”
- To be a “father of many nations”
- A “Prince of Peace”
- Desiring to “receive instructions” & “keep the commandments”
- Priesthood authority
Stephen Covey - "Sacrifice really means giving up something good for something better."
We can support and strengthen part-member families in our wards.
- Accept and respect their family as it is.
- Be sensitive to their family situation.
- Be kind.
- Include them socially.
- Focus on the positives.
- Respect how the nonmember spouse feels about church.
- Value the less-active or nonmember spouse.
- Support the family’s spiritual growth.
- Make a difference as a faithful ministering sister or brother, teacher, and leader.
- Ask how you can support their family.
- Live the gospel.
- Be consistent. (https://www.ldsliving.com/12-ways-to-support-part-member-families-in-your-ward-or-branch/s/79781)
"The idea that Abraham, the great man of righteousness, seems to have told a deliberate lie in order to protect his own life has trouble many students of the Old Testament. That his life was in danger because of Sarah's beauty seems quite clear. It seems peculiar, but whereas the Egyptian pharaohs had a strong aversion to committing adultery with another man's wife, they had no qualms about murdering the man to free his spouse for remarriage.
"'To kill the husband in order to possess himself of his wife seems to have been a common royal custom in those days. A papyrus tells of a Pharaoh who, acting on the advice of one of his tombstone, that even after death he will kill Palestinian sheiks and include their wives in his harem.' (Kasher, Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation, 2: 128.)
"Another ancient custom permitted a woman to be adopted as a man's sister upon their marriage to give her greater legal and social status (see Encyclopedia Judaica, s.v. 'Sarah,' 14: 866).
Joseph Smith: “From the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things… And 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 truth’s 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.” (Lectures on Faith 6:7)
President Spencer W. Kimball: "Christ is the supreme example for every faithful holder of the priesthood. As I search the scriptures I read of many who followed this supreme example and qualified themselves for the blessings promised through the priesthood. One of these was Father Abraham, whose life is a model that will lift and elevate any father in this Church who wishes to become a true patriarch to his family.
"We learn something of Abraham’s character when we read in the scriptures that he faithfully endeavored to qualify himself for the great blessings that he could see were obtainable through the holy priesthood....
"If members of the Church could only have such integrity, such obedience, such revelation, such faith, such service as Abraham had! If parents would seek the blessings Abraham sought, they could also receive such revelation, covenants, promises, and eternal rewards as Abraham received." ("The Example of Abraham," Ensign, June 1975, 4, 6-7).
Sins of Sodom:
- Pride, abundance of idleness, committed abomination (Ezek 16:49-50)
- Committed sin brazenly (Isaiah 3:9)
- Broke law of chastity (Jude 1:7)
President Thomas S. Monson: “It has been said by one, years ago, that history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make—for decisions determine destiny.” (“Decisions Determine Destiny,” New Era, Nov. 1979, 4).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “Separating evil from our lives has become even more essential since our homes are wired to bring much of what the Lord has condemned into our own living rooms if we are not vigilant. One of the most difficult challenges in our lives is to be in the world but not of the world (see John 15:19) [see L. Tom Perry, ‘In the World,’ Ensign, May 1988, 13–15].
Gospel doctrine makes it clear that we must live in this world to achieve our eternal destination. We must be tried and tested and found worthy of a greater kingdom (see 2 Nephi 2:11; D&C 101:78). We must do as Abraham did when he pitched his tent and built ‘an altar unto the Lord’ (Genesis 13:18) and not do as Lot did when he ‘pitched his tent toward Sodom’ (Genesis 13:12)” (“In the World but Not of the World,” Ensign, Feb. 2006, 53).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “When he [or she] is married in the temple for time and for all eternity, each worthy member of the Church enters personally into the same covenant the Lord made with Abraham. This is the occasion when the promises of eternal increase are made, and it is then specified that those who keep the covenants made there shall be inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 508).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation); then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase; finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. (Abra. 2:6–11; D. & C. 132:29–50.) Included in the divine promises to Abraham was the assurance that Christ would come through his lineage, and the assurance that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain choice, promised lands as an eternal inheritance. (Abra. 2; Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3.)
“All of these promises lumped together are called the Abrahamic covenant. This covenant was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 24:60; 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4). Those portions of it which pertain to personal exaltation and eternal increase are renewed with each member of the House of Israel who enters the order of celestial marriage; through that order the participating parties become inheritors of all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (D. & C. 132; Rom. 9:4; Gal. 3; 4.)” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 13.)
“The ancient method of making a covenant as to cut an animal in half and the contracting parties to pass through the portions of the slain animal. Thereby the parties were taught to be united by the hand of a common blood.” (Hertz, The Pentateuch and the Haftorahs, p. 54)
Teaching Thoughts:
- What blessings have you received for waiting on the Lord for ‘promised blessings.’
- What are your desires? How are your desires like Abram’s desires?
- Look for ways that you can support and strengthen part-member families around you.
- Focus on how the Abrahamic covenant relates to us.