“We Have Obtained a Land of Promise”

Alan C. Miner

Among the covenant promises that Lehi rehearsed unto Nephi's brethren was that of "a land of promise" (2 Nephi 1:5) The blessings and stipulations of those blessing concerning that promised land are found in verses 5-12.

According to Amy Hardison, ancient covenants spelled out the attending blessings and curses. Deuteronomy 28 lists seven different covenant blessings: fruitfulness, rain, protection, abundance, a holy identity, land, and ascendancy over other nations. These blessings were present when the people were faithful. Concerning the promise of land we find:

The Lord . . . shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. (Deuteronomy 28:8-9).

This covenant promise of land was but a type and shadow of the ultimate promised land, the celestial kingdom. [Amy Blake Hardison, "Being a Covenant People," in Covenants Prophecies and Hymns of the Old Testament, p. 27] [See the commentary on 1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 5:5; 1 Nephi 17:36-38; Ether 2:8]

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