followed
in the footsteps of this ancient Patriarch and embraced the same
Gospel that he taught, and they should have a claim on the promises
that were made to him.

Now, did the Patriarch Abraham receive anything new from God, or was
there enough already given? Perhaps many may cry, “Enough to save
Noah, Enoch, Abel, and all persons who would walk before the Lord
according to ancient revelation, without anything new.” But there was
not enough adapted to the circumstances by which Abraham was
surrounded. Why? Because the Lord designed to call Abraham out from
his father's house, from his friends and country, and to lead him into
a strange land. Abraham might have searched all former records and
revelations, but here was a duty he never could have learned
therefrom—“Depart from thy father's house!” It could not be found
writtenin former revelations, hence the circumstances required new
revelation, and God gave it by commanding this great man—the father of
the faithful—to leave the land of Chaldea and to go forth into a
country where he never had been. Abraham was obedient, he went forth
and traveled to the country that we call Palestine—a small territory
east of the Mediterranean Sea. And having arrived in that land, he
might have searched all former revelations in vain to have
learned what his duty was then, for there were certain duties required
of him then in regard to which the revelation given to him in his
native land did not enlighten him. One of these duties was to go forth
upon a certain eminence or mountain in Canaan. He did as he was
taught. It was a peculiar commandment. I have