Melchizedek Blesses Abram, by Walter Rane
Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2: Lesson 22
Abraham 1
“Desiring … to Be a … Follower of Righteousness”
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
Abraham grew up surrounded by wickedness and idolatry. Despite these circumstances, Abraham desired to follow Jesus Christ, who was known in the premortal life and to Abraham as Jehovah. As Abraham sought after his righteous desires, the Lord blessed him to obtain them. This lesson can help you feel hope that Heavenly Father can help you obtain blessings He wants you to receive.
Study the Scriptures
An Angel Saves Abraham, by Del Parson
The book of Abraham provides context … by showing that Abraham was a seeker of “great knowledge” and a “follower of righteousness” who chose the right path in spite of great hardship. He rejected the wickedness of his father’s household and spurned the idols of the surrounding culture, despite the threat of death. (Gospel Topics Essays, “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham”)
Learn more about the book of Abraham.
“The Book of Abraham | Now You Know” from time code 0:00 to 2:43.
The Church History Topic “Book of Abraham Translation.”
The Gospel Topics essay “Abraham, Book of.”
Read Abraham 1:1–7. Use one color or style to mark the blessings Abraham desired. Use a different color or style to mark the obstacles he faced.
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Why might these blessings be something you also desire? How might Abraham’s desire to follow Jesus Christ have helped him in the difficult circumstances he faced?
Jehovah helped Abraham overcome his obstacles
Read Abraham 1:15–20, looking for how Jehovah helped Abraham overcome the obstacles he faced. Or you could watch “Deliverance of Abraham” (1:38).
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What do you think Abraham learned about Jehovah from this experience? How might Heavenly Father help us overcome obstacles to receiving righteous blessings we desire?
Later in Abraham’s life, the Lord visited him and promised that He would fulfill all of Abraham’s righteous desires (see Abraham 2:9–11).
Read Abraham 2:12–13, looking for what Abraham learned.
President Jeffrey R. Holland testified of the following:
Why should we not hope that righteous desires and Christlike yearnings can still be marvelously, miraculously answered by the God of all hope? We all need to believe that what we desire in righteousness can someday, someway, somehow yet be ours. (“A Perfect Brightness of Hope,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 83)
Record in your notebook what Abraham’s experience and President Holland’s words teach you about the Lord.
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
What if my righteous desires don’t seem to be happening?
Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us for the righteous desires of our hearts. But not every hope is fulfilled in this life. Have you ever felt this way? If you have, that’s OK. There are many examples in the scriptures when people’s lives or circumstances may not have happened like they wanted.
Reread Abraham 1:11, looking for what happened to three young virgins that lived during Abraham’s time. Why do you think some people’s righteous desires are granted while others do not appear to be? How can we maintain our faith in Jesus Christ even when our righteous desires seem unfulfilled?
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
As the Lord’s servant, I promise you that as you are faithful to Jesus Christ and your covenants, you will receive compensating blessings in this life and your righteous desires in the eternal time line of the Lord. There can be happiness in the journey of mortality even when all of our righteous hopes are not realized. (“The Personal Journey of a Child of God,” Liahona, May 2021, 47)
Write a message to your future self for the next time you feel like your desires are not being met the way you want. Include scriptures and truths about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that give you confidence that They will take care of you.
Option B
How can I develop righteous desires?
Some people might believe that God’s desire to help us means that He is willing to grant anything we ask. This is not the case. Sometimes our best plans may not be what is best for us.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained an important part of obtaining blessings from God:
We come to know the Savior as we do our best to go where He wants us to go, as we strive to say what He wants us to say, and as we become what He wants us to become. As we submissively acknowledge our total dependence upon Him, He enlarges our capacity to serve ever more effectively. Gradually, our desires align more completely with His desires, and His purposes become our purposes, such that we would “not ask that which is contrary to [His] will.” (“If Ye Had Known Me,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 104)
Read at least one of the following accounts of people seeking to align their will with God’s will. You may want to tag the passage you read with a phrase like “align with God’s will.”
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Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane—Luke 22:41–42
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Nephi while living in the land Bountiful—1 Nephi 17:7–10
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Abinadi’s words to the wicked King Noah—Mosiah 13:7–9
What did you learn about aligning your righteous desires with the Lord’s will?
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you feel hope that Heavenly Father can help you obtain blessings He wants you to receive.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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The message you created for your future self.
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The account you read from the scriptures of someone aligning with God’s will. Include how it helps you want to align with Heavenly Father’s will for you.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?