Abraham, the biblical patriarch and father of the covenant, is named throughout the Nephite record though his own life is not narrated. Later writers cite his acts and the promises God made to him. Jacob points to Abraham’s obedience in offering up his son Isaac, “which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son” (Jacob 4:5).
The Nephites and Lamanites regarded themselves as heirs of Abraham. Isaiah’s words quoted by Jacob call them to “look unto Abraham, your father,” whom God “called alone, and blessed” (2 Nephi 8:2), and Christ tells the Nephites they are “the children of the covenant” the Father made with Abraham (3 Nephi 20:25-27). The terms of that covenant, “In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed,” are repeated as a standing promise (1 Nephi 22:9; 3 Nephi 20:25-27). Nephi the son of Helaman recalls that Abraham was among the prophets who testified of Christ, and that “Abraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice” (Helaman 8:16-17).
Alma states that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, “one-tenth part of all he possessed” (Alma 13:15). Alma also names Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob, among those given a place to sit down in the kingdom of God (Alma 5:24; 7:25).