Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 1:23-25
"The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden;
When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it; and thus, from Ham, sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land.
Now the first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the manner of the government of Ham, which was patriarchal."
So much history explained in the book of Abraham. The Bible mentions the sons of Ham as Cush, Mizraim, Phut and Canaan. It excludes mention that Ham's wife was Egyptus and she was of Canaanite. This is how the blood of the Canaanites (with darkened skin) was preserved after the flood. Ham and Egyptus had a daughter named Egyptus. This daughter discovered the land still under water after the flood and it was named Egypt. Her first son was called Pharaoh. He was a righteous man but did not hold the priesthood. The right of priesthood was limited to a few.
"At times in the past, the power and authority to act in the name of the Lord was bestowed upon only a few worthy males and withheld from all others. In the days of Moses’s leadership of the children of Israel, for example, only the tribe of Levi had the privilege to hold the priesthood (see Numbers 8:5–26). Our day is the “long-promised day … when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood.”
(Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, "Abraham 1:4-31: Facsimile 1")
Understanding how limited the priesthood was I can understand why Abraham was so desirous to have this blessing. His fathers had turned from their righteousness. I would think the priesthood was in jeopardy of being lost to their line.
"And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.
It was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father, through the fathers unto me.
I sought for mine appointment unto the Priesthood according to the appointment of God unto the fathers concerning the seed."
(Abraham 1:2-4)
