Who Covenanted With Abraham?

[altersteve]

There seems to be two conflicting answers. In the Book of Mormon, Christ says that it was the Father who covenanted with Abraham: "And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (3 Nephi 20:25), whereas in Abraham 2:8, it says it was Jehovah (Christ).

Any thoughts on this?

[LeSellers]

There seems to be two conflicting answers. In the Book of Mormon, Christ says that it was the Father who covenanted with Abraham: "And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (3 Nephi 20:25), whereas in Abraham 2:8, it says it was Jehovah (Christ).

Any thoughts on this?

Several, but it's hard to keep them short enough and clear enough to propose here.

"Jehovah" is not exclusively the name of Jesus in pre-mortality. It is, as we might make it today, a "family name", or "the family name". References to Jehovah are non-specific; in most cases we are left to work out Who the name refers to in any given context.

Secondly, whatever Jesus does on earth is done at the express command of Father. So, while Christ may have administered the covenant to Abraham (or Moses, or take-your-pick), it is the Father who ordered it done.

Finally, at least for here, in parallel with the second point, Christ works by "Divine Investiture", i.e., He acts as if He is Father, and whatever He says is exactly what Father would say (or do, etc.). Thus, it does not matter Which of them mouthed the words, it was the Father's message/covenant.

Lehi

Edited July 26, 2011 by LeSellers

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

There seems to be two conflicting answers. In the Book of Mormon, Christ says that it was the Father who covenanted with Abraham: "And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed" (3 Nephi 20:25), whereas in Abraham 2:8, it says it was Jehovah (Christ).

Any thoughts on this?

Both. It is the Father's covenant that was extended through Christ (Jehovah) to Abraham.

And Context is important too. In that verse it is Abraham doing the talking. In the other reference it is Christ talking.

[altersteve]

Thank you. I guess I read that too quickly without looking at the context.

[volgadon]

Do take a look at Abraham 3:27.