Lesson 19: Exodus 35-40; Levitcus 1; 16; 19

 May 2-8
Exodus 35-40; Levitcus 1; 16; 19
"Holiness to thee Lord"

Materials: Temple Matching worksheet, "The Tabernacle" video, The Ancient Tabernacle picture
Opening Song: "I Love to See the Temple" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Give everyone a copy of the worksheet below. Have them match the item in the tabernacle to it's spiritual significance listed. (The answers will be given in the video we will watch later)

Lesson:

The Lord often gives His children holy place where they can go to feel close to Him and have spiritual experiences. Abraham and the patriarchs had beersheba, and we have the temple. But the Israelites were traveling in a desert for forty years. They couldn't build any buildings or keep coming back to the same spot every time they needed spiritual guidance so, the Lord instructed them make a portable holy place called the tabernacle. 

Watch the video, "The Tabernacle" from churchofjesuschrist.org. 

What was the tabernacle used for? What were the 3 parts of the tabernacle called? (The outer courtyard, the holy place, and the holy of holies) What do these 3 parts of the tabernacle represent? (the celestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms) Show the picture The Ancient Tabernacle, by Bradley Clark located in Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families 2022 (page 84). 

The tabernacle of the ancient Israelites has some differences from the temples we attend today. We no longer offer animal sacrifices as a way to repent of our sins for example. There are also a lot of similarities between the tabernacle and our modern day temples. What are some similarities you noticed?

Why do you think we need temples and tabernacles? The Lord told the Israelites, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2) On the outside of every temple is the phrase "Holiness to the Lord." What does it mean to be holy?

Sister Carol F. McConkie said, "Holiness is in the striving and the struggle to keep the commandments and to honor the covenants we have made with God. Holiness is making the choices that will keep the Holy Ghost as our guide. Holiness is setting aside our natural tendencies and becoming 'a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.'Every moment of [our lives] must be holiness to the Lord” ("The Beauty of Holiness" Ensign, May 2017).

Just like the ancient Israelites, we are tasked to become more holy. This means being righteous, reverent, and christlike. Attending the temple helps connect our hearts to heaven and keeping the commandments shows our Heavenly Father our effort to become more holy like He is. Think of one thing you can do this week to focus on your personal holiness. How can you be more holy?

Bear your testimony.

Closing Song: "More Holiness Give Me" (Hymns, 131)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Reese's Peanut Butter Ball recipe here 

Lesson 18: Exodus 24; 31-34

 April 25- May 1
Exodus 24: 31-34
"My Presence Shall Go With Thee"

Materials: printout, video, paper, crayons, pencils
Opening Song: "I will walk with Jesus" (Gospel Library App, Additional Songs for Children)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Give each family member a piece and pencil. Write down 5 things that are really important to you. Then ask them to number them 1-5 from most important to least important. Things that are important to you are priorities. Hopefully, you put your priorities in the right order. Really important priorities could have to do with our relationships with others. Heavenly Father wants our relationship with Him to be our top priority. Our testimony of the gospel should be number 1. 

Lesson:

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, they did not have good priorities. The Lord had saved them from slavery, but they were used to worshipping idols, not Heavenly Father. 

Have your family watch the video Moses on Mount Sinai from churchofjesuschrist.org

What did the Israelites do when Moses was on Mount Sinai? How did Moses react to the golden calf statue? Heavenly Father had already revealed the 10 commandments to the Israelites, including the commandments, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," and, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" (Exodus 20:3-4). The Israelites had broken those commandments by making and worshipping the golden calf. 

Look back at your list from the beginning of FHE. Did you put the Lord first? If not, add the Lord to the top of your list. 

Today, we tend to not worships little figures of gold or stone. In our church we don't pray to statues. Sometimes, however, we don't always put the Lord first in our lives. Moses asked the children of Israel after he saw the golden calf, "Whose on the Lord's side?" (Moses 32:26). How can we should the Lord we are on his side? Is there something in your life you are giving more time to than the Lord? How can you show the Lord that you put Him first like he asks?

Activity:

Before FHE, print the document below for each family member. On the ribbon write, "I'll put the Lord 1st by... Ask each family member to write down or draw a picture of one thing they can do to put the Lord first on the other half of the ribbon. Then they can color the medal. 

Read the quote from President Benson above and bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "Whose on the Lord's Side" (Hymns, 260)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Caramel Fudge recipe here

Lesson 17: Exodus 18-20

April 18-20
Exodus 18-20
"All that the Lord hath spoken we will do"

Materials: printouts, scissors, glue, Slips of paper labeled 1-10, a bowl, a 6 sided die
Opening Song: "Keep the commandments" (Children's Songbook, 146)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show the picture below and ask your family who is in the picture? What is Moses holding? What doe you know about the 10 commandments? 

Lesson:

After the Israelites were delivered from bondage, Moses talked with God on top of a mountain called Mount Sinai. The Lord gave Moses several instructions, but most importantly the Lord told Moses about a set of rules he wanted his children to obey. These are called the 10 Commandments. Commandments are rules that God has given us to keep us safe and make us better people. As we keep the commandments, we become the kind of people that can return to live with our Father in Heaven. 

Activity: Window Reveal and Talk

Before FHE, follow the instructions on how to make a 10 commandments printable window craft using this link. During FHE, have a family member take turns opening each window. Describe what each commandment means. 

When Christ was on the earth he taught, "...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mathew 22:37-39). Using the window printable, point out that the first 5 commandments have to do with showing our love for God, and the second 5 have to do with showing our love for our fellow men. Christ also taught that his disciples should obey a higher law when it comes to keeping the 10 commandments. Instead of "thou shalt not kill," he wants his disciples to not have hate in their hearts. Instead of "thou shalt not commit adultery," he said his disciples shouldn't even lust  in their thoughts. He wants his disciples to be a more celestial people. 

Activity: Roll a question

 Directions: Make 10 slips of paper, label them 1-10, and place into a bowl. Family members will take turns choosing a slip of paper that corresponds to one of the 10 commandments. Then, they will roll a 6 sided dice to determine what question they will answer about the commandment they chose. The questions are listed below

A 1-2 dice roll: How did the Savior obey this commandment?

A 3-4 dice roll: How can you obey this commandment?

A 5-6 dice roll: How does obeying this commandment strengthen our family?

Commandments are ultimately there to help us grow in celestial people. They are not restrictive, but freeing from the captivity of sin. Commandments are a blessing from Heavenly Father that enable people to show their love and devotion to the Lord and to His children.  Carol M. Stephens taught, "His laws are a manifestation of His love for us, and obedience to His laws is a expression of our love for Him" (General Conference, October 2015). 

Bear your testimony

Closing Song: "Seek the Lord early" (Children's Songbook, 108)
Closing Prayer: 
Refreshment: Churro Chocolate Lava Cakes recipe here

Lesson 16: Easter

April 11-17
Easter
"He will swallow up death in victory"

Materials: Easter Match Game Cards, Construction paper
Opening Song:"I Know that My Savior Loves Me" (Additional Songs for Children, Sacred Music App)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show the video "Jesus is Resurrected" from churchofjesuschrist.org

He Lives by Simon Dewey

Lesson:

One of the special parts about reading the scriptures is that each volume of scripture testifies of Christ in its own special way. The God of the old Testament, Jehovah, is the same Jesus Christ that performed the atonement, the same Christ that appeared to the Nephites, and the same Savior that appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. Old Testament testifies of the coming of a Messiah. Ancient prophets like Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel would write about the Savior.

Activity: Old Testament Easter Match Game

Directions: Before FHE, print and cut out the cards below. Paste the cards onto construction paper or card stock that are equal in size. Shuffle the cards and place them face down in front of the family. Have family members take turns playing the match game. When they pick a card, have them read the scripture passage. There will be an Old Testament passage that prophesies about Christ's ministry and it's match will be a New Testament passage that shows a fulfillment of that prophesy.

Bear your Testimony of the Resurrection of the Savior and how the Old Testament can teach us about the Savior.

Closing Song: "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" (Children's Songbook, 64)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Easter bunny coconut tails recipe here

Lesson 15: Exodus 14-17

April 4-10
Exodus 14-17
"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord"

Materials: bread and spreads, grab bag pictures, scriptures, prayer rock, rocks, paint, sponge brushes, permanent marker
Opening Song: "Search, ponder, and pray" (Children's Songbook, 109)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Make a bread spread platter with some different types of bread, cheese, butter, jam, or whatever you feel like and enjoy a tasty snack together. 

Lesson: 

Show the video "Daily Bread: Pattern" from churchofjesuschrist.org. 

The Israelites needed food but because they were traveling in the wilderness, they couldn't plant crops and meat was scarce. The Lord said he would provide bread that would rain from heaven. Read Exodus 16: 14-16. Collecting manna became a daily exercise for the Israelites. They had to collect it every morning because if they left it out, it would get worms in it and start to stink. Before the sabbath they would gather and bake enough bread for 2 days. 

When Christ taught the people to pray during the Sermon on the Mount, he used the phrase, "Give us this day our daily bread." What do you think he meant? Just like we have to eat food and drink water every day for physical nourishment, we also need to have daily spiritual nourishment. How can we feed our spirits?

Activity: daily bread grab bag

Before FHE  put the items listed below into a bag. Have family members take turns taking things out of the bag and answering how that brings us daily spiritual nourishment.  

Daily Bread Grab Bag: scriptures; a prayer rock or picture of  individual prayer; family prayer picture, temple picture (keeping covenants, wearing garments, family history, etc.), a heart (showing love), a picture of service, sacrament picture , listening/reading General Conference talks 

Activity: Prayer Rocks

Give each family member a rock and have them paint it with their favorite color. When the paint is dry, write "Prayer" on it with permanent marker. Tell them to stick it under their pillow as a reminder to not forget their daily prayers. 

Just like the Israelites needed to gather their daily bread to survive in the harsh wilderness, we need daily spiritual nourishment to survive in a wicked world. Daily scripture study and prayer connects us to the Savior and helps us to heed promptings from the Holy Ghost. It helps us to be better versions of ourselves and keeps us on the covenant path. Bear your testimony.

Closing Song: "Scripture Power" (Additional Songs for Children, Sacred Music App)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Cheesy pull-apart garlic bread recipe here

Lesson 14: Exodus 7-13

March 28- April 3
Exodus 7-13
"Remember this day, in which ye shame out from Egypt"

Materials: paper and crayons, construction paper, scissors, printout (see below), video clip (link below), fresh parsley, pita bread 
Opening Song: "Tis' Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love" (Hymns, 177)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Have family members draw a picture of a nightmare and a hero that could save the day. 

Lesson:

Moses had been called by the Lord to ask Pharaoh to free the Hebrews from slavery, but Pharaoh refused. The Lord was not happy with Pharaoh; he said, "For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servant, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that i may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth" (Exodus 9:14-15).

Activity: 10 Plagues Reveal

Directions: Print the picture below. Using construction paper, cut circles of the same size as those in the image. Tape the construction paper circles over the pictures circles and number them 1-10 accordingly. Have family members take turns taking off the circles in order. Describe each plague as you go using your own words or the passages below. 

1: Waters to Blood: The first thing the Lord did to get Pharoh's attention was to have Moses and Aaron (his brother) turn all of the streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds in Egypt to turn from water into blood. All the fish died in the water and it stunk. It lasted for 7 days. 

2: Frogs: Read Exodus 8:3 

3. Lice: The next plague to come to the Egyptians was lice. Lice are tiny bugs that live in your hair and cause you to itch. Exodus says that all the dust in Egypt was turned to lice that infested all the people and animals in Egypt. 

4. Flies: Even after the water was ruined and frogs and lice infested Egypt, Pharaoh still refused to free his Israelite slaves. So the Lord sent swarms of flies into the homes of the Egyptians. 

5. Sick Cattle: Read Exodus 9: 6-7

6. Boils: Moses took ashes and threw them in the air in front of Pharaoh. When the ashes drifted down large painful sores called boils appeared on the skins of all the Egyptians including Pharaoh's magicians.

7. Hail and Fire: Pharaoh still wouldn't listen, so the Lord sent a storm--a massive hail storm. Hail is ice that rains from the sky. Sometimes hail can be very large and dangerous like ice cubes the size of baseballs raining from the sky. Along with the hail storm, fire rained down upon the earth.

8. Locusts: Locusts came next to the Egyptians. They are big huge crickets. The Lord sent so many locusts they covered the entire land so you could not see the ground and the sky seemed dark because there were so many flying around. The locusts ate all of the crops that had not already been destroyed in the storm, so the Egyptians had absolutely no food to eat. The locusts filled the houses of the Egyptians. 

9. Darkness: For 3 days a thick darkness covered the land in Egypt. The darkness was so bad no one could see each other or light lanterns.

These plagues mainly effected the Egyptians; the Israelite slaves God protected. Moses came to Pharaoh before each plague and begged him to let the Lord's people go free, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused. 

10. Death of the Firstborn: Moses came to Pharaoh one last time and said, if you don't let the Israelites go, all of the firstborn children and beasts will die. But Pharaoh again didn't listen and threw Moses out. 

Activity: Watch The Prince of Egypt passover clip 

How did the Lord protect the Israelites from the plague of the firstborn? The Isrealites were told to take a lamb and use its blood to mark their doorways. The lamb would be eaten for dinner along with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The bitter herbs (show parsley) were to remind them of the bitterness of the captivity and the unleavened bread (show pita bread) was to remind them that there was not time for their bread to rise before they fled their captivity. They had to be ready to go with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staff in their hand. They did this and were safe from the plague. Pharaoh, grieving the loss of all the firstborn children finally let the Israelites go. 

Every year the Jewish people celebrate the passover. The day before Jesus was crucified, he celebrated the passover meal in what we now call the Last Supper. What did Jesus do at this meal? At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the sacrament. He told the disciples to drink wine in remembrance of his blood and to eat bread in remembrance of his body. 

The passover meal and the sacrament have a lot in common. In the passover, blood of the lamb is meant to protect from death. In the sacrament, we drink water to remember the blood that was shed by Jesus, the Lamb of God. The Israelites ate the flesh of the lamb in the passover meal just like we eat the bread to help us remember the body of Christ that died for us. Read Exodus 12:14. 

Bear your testimony of the atonement and the sacrament. 

Closing Song: "He sent his son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Matzah bread recipe here

Lesson 13: Exodus 1-6

March 21-27
Exodus 1-6
"I Have Remembered My Covenant"

Materials: mason jars or clear plastic cups, craft tissue paper (red, orange, yellow), bush cut outs, mod podge, foam brushes, battery operated tea lights, 
Opening Song: "He Sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Guess who? 

Read the following clues below. Ask you family to raise their hand when they think they know who the mystery person might be.

1. When I was a baby, the king tried to kill me by ordering that all the male infants in the land should be slaughtered, but I escaped thanks to my family. 
2. I spent time in the wilderness before my ministry.
3. I fasted for 40 days.
4. I showed power over the waters.
5. I was a deliverer of Israel. 

This was kind of a trick question. If you thought these things applied to Jesus Christ, you were right. But these statements also could be applied to a man who lived over 1000 years before Christ. They also apply to Moses. 

Lesson:

Moses and Jesus Christ's lives had a lot in common. Moses is what is called a "Christ type." Events the happened to Moses would later happen to Jesus Christ. Studying Moses's life the next few weeks should help us to remember the Savior. Moses is one of the most famous Old Testament persons. He is revered by both Christians and Jews as a great prophet. The book of Exodus tells Moses's story.

Have a family member summarize Moses's life up to the point where he asks Pharoh to let the Israelites go. Or you can watch the animated Old Testament stories using the links below. 

• "Baby Moses" (1:36)
• "Moses the Prophet" (1:26)

Moses received his calling to serve as God's prophet in a very unconventional way. The Lord spoke to Moses out of a bush burning with heavenly fire. He told Moses he had heard the cries of the Israelite slaves in Egypt and wanted Moses to ask Pharaoh to free his people. 

 

Activity:

Make the burning bush mason jar lanterns with your family. Instructions can be found in the link below. 

Burning Bush lantern instructions

Like we talked about earlier, Moses's and Jesus's lives had lot in common. Moses acted as the Israelites deliverer out of the bonds of slavery in Egypt. Jesus Christ is likewise our deliverer. We might not be physically in slavery like the Hebrews were, but our sins can hold us in bondage. One of the names for Jesus that we use is redeemer; redeemer means to "buy back." Christ is our redeemer because he bought us back with his own blood. Christ delivers us from spiritual slavery and bondage. 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, "The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure. “For behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam”("Redemption," General Conference April 2013). 

Bear your testimony.

Closing Song: "I stand all amazed" (Hymns, 193)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Shamrock Shake lasagna layer dessert

Lesson 12: Gen. 42-50

 March 14-20
Genesis 42-50
"God meant it unto good"

Materials: sack, books that are labeled (see below), video
Opening Song: "Help me fear Father" (Children's Songbook, 99)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: using items from around your home, make a simple obstacle course. Have each family go through the obstacle course backwards. What would have made that easier? When we only focus on what is behind us, it makes it harder to see obstacles ahead. Living in the past only hurts us. When we forgive and learn from the past, we can look ahead to the future. What does it mean to forgive? 

Lesson:

Have your family watch the video "Joseph and the Famine" from the church website. How did Joseph react to seeing his brother's again after 14 years? Did he forgive them?

Activity: 

"Fill a bag or sack with five heavy objects (such as books or rocks) that have each been labeled with one of the following words: revenge, hurt, hate, resentment [bitterness about being treated unfairly], and anger.  Have each family member take a turn trying to carry this heavy load. Explain that carrying those feelings in our hearts is an even greater burden than carrying the heavy bag. When we really forgive, we forget all of these feelings and are free from the burden of carrying them" (Family Home Evening Resource Book, pg. 186). 

Joseph forgave his brothers but it wasn't immediate. Sometimes it takes time and the Lord's help to soften our hearts enough to forgive people who have wronged us. When we feel hurt or wronged, we can take comfort in the fact that our Lord and Savior knows exactly how we feel. He was betrayed by one of his closest friends and then crucified by his own people. He also is the ultimate example of forgiveness, pleading on the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." We can always pray to the Father for help to find peace and forgiveness with others in our lives. 

Closing Song: "Lord, I would follow thee" (Hymns, 220)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: whipped hot chocolate recipe here

Lesson 11: Gen. 37-41

March 7-13
Genesis 37-41
"The Lord was with Joseph"

Materials: trials cards (printed and cut out), "You know better than I" video (link below), "After the storm" video (link below)
Opening Song: "I need thee every hour" (Hymns, 98)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show the video from Joseph King of Dreams "You know better than I" (3:50) 

Lesson:

What are some of the bad things that happened to Joseph? [Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers; he worked as a slave in Potiphar's house; he was harassed by Potiphar's wife and cast into prison for a crime he didn't commit.) Joseph had run into some pretty bad luck. Regardless of all his misfortune, he kept making good choices, sticking to his values, and always trying to make the best of his bad situation. 

Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers, by Ted Henninger

Read Gen. 39:21. Even though Joseph had everything taken from him physically, the Lord never left him. The Lord has promised us in the scriptures that he will be with us during the hard times in our lives. 

Activity: TRIALS scriptures card

Directions: Print and cut out the cards below. Lay the cards scripture side down and have your family members take turns reading each scripture. 

Christ has promised to help us in times of trials. He asks us to put our burdens on him and sends the Holy Ghost to comfort us. Sometimes our trials can feel too big for us to handle. Part of mortality is learning to endure through seemingly unfathomable pain and suffering. 

Watch the video "After the storm" from this weeks lesson in the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families. (5:12) What stuck out to you in the video? Have you ever felt the love of the Lord when you were having a hard time? What gives you hope when you are struggling?

Bear your testimony of how the Lord has helped you during a difficult time. 

Closing Song: "A Child's Prayer" (Children's Songbook, 12)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Apricot Oat Bars recipe here

Lesson 10: Gen. 28-33

February 28 - March 6
Genesis 28-33
"Surely the Lord is in this place"

Materials: video (link below); Emoji page printed, cut out, with emojis taped to popsicle sticks.
Opening Song: "Love One Another" (Hymns, 308)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Show video about "Jacob and Esau" from churchofjesuschrist.org (2:05)

Lesson:

Esau and Jacob Embracing, by Robert T. Barrett

Activity: Emoji Story

Print and cut out the emojis on the page below and paste to popsicle sticks. Distribute the emojis to your family members and have them hold up the corresponding emojis as you read the lesson. 

When Esau lost his birthright to Jacob👱, he was very angry😡. In Genesis 27 it says, "And Esau hated😡 Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then😡 I will slay my brother Jacob🔪" (v.41).  After talking with his his mother, Rebekah, and his father, Isaac, Jacob 😬 decides to flee from Esau and leave his home🏃. He also wants to find a wife👰 for himself while he is away. 

Jacob👱 journeys until he comes to the house of a man called Laban and he falls in love 😍with Laban's daughter Rachel👩. Laban agrees he can marry Rachel if he works for him for 7 years👷. Jacob 👱agrees and works hard for 7 years👷. On the day of the wedding👰 Laban tricks Jacob 😈and marries his other daughter, Leah 👰to Jacob instead. Still in love😍 with Rachel, Jacob agrees to work 👷another 7 years to marry her. Jacob does and eventually, Jacob 👱 and Rachel are married👰. Jacob ends up having the large family 👪 that the Lord had always promised. Jacob👱 had 4 wives, including Leah and Rachel👩, and he had 12 sons👦. 

Jacob felt it was time to return to his family in Canaan🏃, but he was nervous😬. The last time Jacob had been in Canaan, Esau had been plotting to kill him🔪. Jacob heard on his journey that Esau was going to come meet him with 400 men😱. Jacob decided to pray for help🙏. "Deliver me, I pray thee😔, form the hand of my bother, from the hand of Esau for I fear him😬, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother👰 with the children👦" (Gen. 32:11). Jacob felt inspired to prepare a gift 🎁 for peace ☮ for Esau of sheep and goats🐑🐐. The Lord then appeared to Jacob and blessed him😔. He told him he would be a great leader and he changed Jacob's👱 name to Israel🧔. 

--How do you think Esau will react when he sees Jacob again for the first time over 14 years?

Take turns reading Gen. 33:1-12.

1 And Jacob 🧔lifted up his eyes👀, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men😱. And he divided the children👦 unto Leah, and unto Rachel👩, and unto the two handmaids.

2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel👩 and Joseph hindermost.

3 And he passed over before them, and ^abowed himself🙇 to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him🏃, and embraced him🤗, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept😂.

5 And he lifted up his eyes👀, and saw the women and the children👦; and said, Who are those with thee? 😮And he said, The children 👦which God hath graciously given thy servant🧔.

6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children👦, and they bowed themselves🙇.

7 And Leah also with her children👦 came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel👩, and they bowed themselves🙇.

8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove🐐🐑 which I met? And he 🧔said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself😁.

10 And Jacob👱 said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee🐑🐐; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it🎁.

12 And he said, Let us take our journey🏃, and let us go, and I will go before thee😁.

How did Esau react to seeing his brother again? Esau embraced Jacob and accepted him back into his life and his family. The two brothers were reconciled, meaning they "made up." Have you ever had a fight with a family member? 

Elder Holland said, "Surely each of us could cite an endless array of old scars and sorrows and painful memories that this very moment still corrode the peace in someone’s heart or family or neighborhood. Whether we have caused that pain or been the recipient of the pain, those wounds need to be healed so that life can be as rewarding as God intended it to be. Like the food in your refrigerator that your grandchildren carefully check in your behalf, those old grievances have long since exceeded their expiration date" ("The Ministry of Reconciliation" General Conference, Oct. 2018).

The Lord wants us to love and care for our family members, but sometimes the people we love the most hurt us the deepest. Sometimes it is hard to forgive. What helps you forgive someone when they've hurt you? 

Elder Holland continued, "My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify that forgiving and forsaking offenses, old or new, is central to the grandeur of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I testify that ultimately such spiritual repair can come only from our divine Redeemer, He who rushes to our aid 'with healing in his wings'" ("The Ministry of Reconciliation" General Conference, Oct. 2018).

Bear your testimony of how forgiveness has brought you peace and healing. 

Closing Song: "Love at Home" (Hymns, 294)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

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