"Cutting of the Covenant/Cutting a Deal!"

This email took a bit, however, it is fascinating how the Old Testament and Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ) work so well together with it’s teachings.  This is going to require a little research on your part. 

President and Sister Kotter in our Zone Conference spoke on the Abrahamic Covenant.

This talks about the promise that God gave Abram. Much time had gone by and Abram still had no heir (child) So he thought perhaps the Steward (Servant) who had given seed in his house would be considered as his heir.  Abram took that question to the Lord, because he had been righteous and faithful. 

 Genesis 15:

4.And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5.And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell (count) the stars, (innumerable) if thou be able to number (Lord said he would increase Israel like the stars of the heavens) them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (Abrahamic Covenant, Seed of Abraham, thou shalt be father of many nations Genesis 16:10)

6.And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

The LORD (Whenever you see the word LORD in capital letters in the scriptures it is talking about Jesus Christ).  The Lord continues to speak with Abraham and says how he took him out of Ur of Chaldees to give thee this land to inherit it.  Abraham questions whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it.  He said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

The Lord says to him in Genesis 15:9

9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

The words great darkness is referenced in the Joseph Smith History where he talks of thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. (this is referencing that Abram was having a similar experience.

JSH

17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

A smoking furnace and a burning lamp is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ.

Both Christ and Abram passed between the pieces thus making a covenant.

The two doves were not cut in half.  They represent the 2 witnesses to that covenant. Think of the two ordinances in modern day covenant making where two witnesses are used. One being baptism and the Sealing in the temple.   

Example:  If a man owned a well and a man owned sheep and wanted to use the well then they would draw up a covenant and they would cut a sheep in half and both men would walk between the pieces thus completing the covenant.  If either party broke the covenant, that individual would be cut in two just like the animal. 

Have you ever heard of Cut a Deal?  (This phrase comes from the ancient Hebrew tradition of "Cutting the Covenant")

Abram was promised from the Lord that he would receive these three things: Prosperity    - Property    --Priesthood

In Hebrew the Name Sarai means Lady or princess. God changed her Name to Sarah. Which means noblewoman. Did Sarah make a covenant with the Lord to receive a new name?

The Name Abraham in Hebrew means the Father of many Nations. His Name was also changed by God to Abraham. Did Abraham make a covenant with the Lord to receive a new name?

Genesis 17:

15: And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

16And I will bless her and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

Hebrews 10:19-20

Having therefore, brethren, boldness (authority) to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. 

 Promises given to Abraham is the same for each of us as we make and keep those same covenants. The promises are Prosperity, Property and Priesthood. 

The Veil represents the flesh of Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews: 10:

20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

When the Savior was hanging on the cross the veil of the temple was rent (torn).  A Temple is not a temple without the veil.  The cut through the veil gives access to Heavenly Father.  Ancient practices are what we use in the temples today.  Make it a point to have an experience at the veil when you attend the temple. 

The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ says on the title page: “Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever – and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ,…”

The Temple is the place where you receive an endowment of God’s power. 

Alma 18:35 - And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God. 

Remember don't go to the temple with the attitude of needing to be perfect. That's why we go to learn and grow. Also don't go to the temple to check off a box. This is the place where you receive an endowment of power.

We hope as you read that you will feel the Spirit and know that we have a Loving Heavenly Father and that He loves all of his children and wants them all to return to Him. Be inspired to go to church, wherever that may be that you choose to live the commandments more fully. This is what our great Nation needs for each of us to turn to our Father in Heaven.

Love the Hatfield's

http://bofm.page.link/app