Lesson 9: Genesis 24-27

February 21-27 
Genesis 24-27
The Covenant is renewed 

Materials: paper, pencils, video (optional)
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" verse 2(Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: What do you think is the most important decision you will ever make? The most important choice you will make in your entire life is marrying the right person, in the right place, at the right time. Does that surprise you? Why do you think marriage is so important?

Lesson:

Marriage is essential in God's Plan for his children. Only through an eternal marriage, can we gain all the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us. 

Tell the story of Rebekah and Isaac or watch this video from youtube.

As Abraham's son, Isaac, grew into a man, Abraham knew he would need a wife. The Lord had promised great blessings to come to Isaac's posterity. But, there was a problem, Abraham and his family lived in the valley of Canaan. The Canaanites did not believe in the God like Abraham did; they weren't members of the church. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite. Why would it be important to marry someone who has the same beliefs as you?

Abraham decided to send one of his servants into his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. The servant took some men and 10 camels and went to the valley of Nehor to find Isaac a wife. The servant was a little nervous; he did not want to disappoint his master. He stopped at a well outside the city and decided to offer a prayer. The servant prayed for the good will of Abraham and he asked the Lord for help in identifying the correct woman to be a wife for Isaac. He asked the Lord to make her known by offering him a drink of water from the well and then offering a drink to his 10 camels. 

Before the servant was through praying, a woman came down to the well and filled her jug--no easy task. The servant asked her for a drink and she gave him one. She then offered to draw more water up from the well for his camels. The servant knew this was the woman the Lord wanted for Isaac, so he asked if he could stay at her house and meet her family. 

The servant met Rebekah's family, and told them about Abraham, and Isaac's need for a wife. The brothers believed the servants words about the Lord indicating Rebekah was the right woman. Rebekah also heard of the servant's prayer and the next morning she told them "I will go."  Back in Canaan, Isaac accepted the servants story also. Rebekah and Isaac were married, "and he loved her." Isaac and Rebekah had a beautiful loving marriage.

Obviously, this isn't the way we go out finding spouses in 2022. But what can we learn from the story? The story of Isaac and Rebekah reminds us how important marriage is and how important it is to receive promptings and personal revelation from the Holy Ghost. 

Have a family member read the following quote from President Hinckley: “There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 2).

Activity:

Pass out a piece of paper and pencil to each family member. Tell them to describe their ideal future husband or wife. (If they are already married, have them right down good qualities about their spouse). Take turns having everyone read an item or two from their list. 

There's an old saying that goes, "if you want to have a good friend, then be a good friend." The same could be true in finding someone to marry. If you want to find a good person to marry, then be a good person to marry. You might not be ready to look for a spouse right now, you might not even be old enough to date, but it's never too early to start becoming the kind of person you want to be. 

Rebekah, for example, had good qualities that the servant noticed. What do you think were some of Rebekah's good qualities? [Rebekah is described as very fair (pretty), she was also a virgin meaning she was virtuous in keeping the commandment of chastity. Rebekah also was a hard worker who did her chores by fetching water in the large pitchers from the well for her family. Rebekah was also kind to the servant, offering him and his camels drinks and a place to stay for the night. Rebekah listened to Holy Ghost, it must have taken great courage and faith to agree to marry a man she hadn't met, but she did it because she had faith in the Lord.] 

Look back at your list for your spouse. Now ask yourself if you embody some of the qualities on that list? 

Marriage is an important part of Heavenly Father's plan. Marriage isn't always easy, but it is easier if you've chosen the right person and work together to come closer to the Lord. This week, let's try to be a little bit more like Rebekah. Let's practice a little faith, kindness, and let's listen for the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives. 

Closing Song: "Families can be together forever" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 188)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Berries and cream angel food cake

Lesson 8: Genesis 18-23

 February 14-20
Genesis 18-23
"Is any thing too hard for the Lord"

Materials: "Abraham and Isaac" Video on youtube (link below)
Opening Song: "Tis' sweet to sing the matchless love" (Hymns, 177)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Attention Activity: 

Tell the following story to your family:

 Tyler had always wanted a toy drone to play with. He had seen the other kids his age play with their drones and had longed for one of his very own. His friends would let him come over from time to time to play but it wasn't the same because he could never take it home. Then, on his birthday, Tyler opened a special gift from his parents--his own drone. It was so cool. It could fly very far and high without loosing range, and it even took pictures. His drone had been worth waiting for; it was a lot nicer than he could have imagined. 

A few weeks after his birthday, his mom picked him up from school. He could tell she had been crying. She told Tyler that his aunt and uncle's home had burned down the night before. Everyone was safe but his aunt, uncle, and cousins had lost everything. They had no clothes, or toys, or house. Tyler felt very sad for his cousins. His family decided to put together boxes of things that they could give their cousins. Tyler went through his clothes and picked out several that could fit his cousin, Greg. Tyler also put some legos, stuffed animals, and action figures in the box for Greg. He thought about Greg's last visit a few days after Tyler's birthday. He and Greg had flown his drone together all day long. Greg had such a big smile on his face that day. Reluctantly, Tyler took his drone off the shelf and put it into the box to give to Greg. 

As Tyler's mom was loading the boxes into the car, she noticed Tyler's drone tucked into the box. She took it out and her eyes filled with tears. She was touched by Tyler's selfless sacrifice and love for his cousin. Before she took the boxes to her sister's house, she went to the store and bought another drone to give to Greg. She told Tyler that because he was willing to sacrifice his most prized possession, she had decided to buy Greg his own drone. Tyler gave his mother a big hug. He was excited that Greg and he would each have their own drone to play with. Tyler was so happy he made his decision to think of Greg before himself. 

Lesson:

Today we are going to talk about sacrifice. From the days of Adam and Eve, Heavenly Father commanded people to offer animal sacrifices to the Lord as a way to repent for their sins. This was because Christ had not come to earth yet. Abraham the prophet and his family faithfully offered sacrifices to the Lord. 

Last week, we learned Abraham made a covenant with Abraham. Part of the promise was Abraham would have many descendants, and that his wife Sarahi, who was very old, would have a child. She did a have a child, a son called, Isaac. 

Activity:

Watch the video below about Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac starting from the timestamp 13:21 to the end. 

Why would the Lord ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? The Lord wanted to test Abraham's obedience. He wanted to see if Abraham was willing to give up the one thing he had waited so long for--a son. The Lord also wanted to show Abraham that he was a devoted and righteous servant of the Lord. Abraham's sacrifice to Isaac was also meant to teach the world about Heavenly Father's sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, we no longer offer animal sacrifices, but we are still asked to keep the Law of Sacrifice. When Jesus visited the Americas, he told the Nephites the commandment for animal scarifies was over. In 3 Nephi 9:20 it says, "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." This means we need to be humble and receive the will of God and the council of his prophets. 

When we enter the holy temple to receive the endowment, we make a covenant with God to keep the law of sacrifice "doing all we can to support the Lord’s work and repenting with a broken heart and contrite spirit" ("About the Endowment," churchofjesuschrist.org/temples).

What are you willing to sacrifice for Heavenly Father? Could we sacrifice more time by working on our church callings, attending the temple, or studying the scriptures. Could we sacrifice our worldly possessions by giving to charity? Could we show more humility and love towards our family members?

Bear your testimony of the Law of Sacrifice.

Closing Song: "He sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Mini doughnut hot buttered cheerios recipe here