Old Testament Lesson 12 for Sunday March 28th

“Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction”

Genesis 40–45

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The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

How does the world teach us to treat someone who has wronged us?  What does the Lord tell us to do?

How did Joseph’s trials in Egypt become a blessing to him, his family and all of Egypt?  What experiences have you had in which events that first appeared negative became a blessing?  

Reading:

Genesis 40(text/audio) and 41(text/audio): In prison, Joseph correctly interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants. He then interprets Pharaoh’s dreams about cattle and corn. Joseph is made ruler over all Egypt under Pharaoh and prepares the people for the

coming famine.

Genesis 42(text/audio), 43(text/audio), 44(text/audio) and 45(text/audio): Jacob twice sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and forgives them, and they rejoice together.

Things to think about:

How have you been blessed when you dealt kindly with others that have mistreated you?  How can we become more forgiving?

Related readings and material:

“Joseph’s Brothers” or “Reconciliation,” parts 3 and 4 of the Joseph and His Brothers videocassette (53152)

W. Jeffrey Marsh, “‘Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been’,” Ensign, Apr 2000, 18

Old Testament Lesson 11 for Sunday March 21st

“How Can I Do This Great Wickedness?”

Genesis 34; 37–39

To download audio podcast of this weeks lesson click on the title of this post.


The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

What did Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him to sin?

 How can we follow Joseph’s example when we are tempted?

3.      
What can we learn from Joseph about turning a bad experience or circumstance into good ones?

Reading:

Genesis 34  (Text; Audio) and  Genesis 38 (Text; Audio)  - The sin of immorality has negative consequences on Jacob’s family—Dinah, his daughter, Reuben, his eldest son and Judah, another of his sons.

2.      Genesis 37 (Text; Audio) - Joseph, eleventh son of Jacob, is hated by his brothers and sold into slavery.

3.      Genesis 39 (Text; Audio) - Joseph prospers as a slave but is accused of immorality and sent to prison. The keeper of the prison gives Joseph responsibility over the other prisoners.

Things to think about:

Do we interact with the world in a way that we could follow Joseph’s example and turn a bad experience or circumstance into good one?  Is there something that we need to change in our own attitudes to help use do this.  Wouldn’t we be happier if would could do this?

Related readings and material:

The Dreamer” or “Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream,” parts 1 and 2 of the Joseph and His Brothers videocassette (53152).

2.       The pictures Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers (62525; Gospel Art Picture Kit 109) and Joseph Resists Potiphar’s Wife (62548; Gospel Art Picture Kit 110).

3.      
L. Tom Perry, “Becoming Men in Whom the Spirit of God Is,” Ensign, May 2002, 39

4.     
  Neal A. Maxwell, “The Stern but Sweet Commandment,” Tambuli, Apr 1981, 38

5.      
Vaughn J. Featherstone, “The King’s Son,” New Era, Nov 1975, 35

Old Testament Lesson 10 for Sunday March 14th

Birthright Blessings; Marriage in the Covenant
Genesis 24-29


To download audio podcast of this weeks lesson click on the title of this post.


The important questions to be able to answer after you finish reading the scriptures for this lesson are:

1.      What was Esau’s error?

2.      How might some of us make errors similar to Esau’s?

3.      What did we learn about Jacob through his efforts to marry in the covenant?

Reading:

1.      Genesis 24 (Text; Audio)

Abraham emphasizes the importance of marriage in the covenant

(eternal marriage) through the selection of a worthy wife for Isaac.

2.      Genesis 25  (Text; Audio)

Rebekah receives a revelation concerning her unborn

twin sons. When these sons are grown, Esau sells his birthright

to Jacob.

3.      Genesis 26 (Text; Audio)

Isaac and his descendants are promised the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. Esau marries out of the covenant and brings sadness to his parents

4.      Genesis 27 (Text; Audio)

Isaac blesses Jacob to rule over peoples and nations

5.      Genesis 28 (Text; Audio)

Isaac pronounces on Jacob the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant and sends him away to find a worthy wife

6.      Genesis 29 (Text; Audio)

Jacob marries Leah and Rachel in the covenant.

Things to think about:

1. What are things that our children and youth can do now to prepare to be married in the temple?

2. What are the things that a couple can do after they are married in the temple to make their marriage truly eternal?

Related reading:

Temples—The Gates to Heaven - Ensign, Mar. 1971

Jacob: Keeper of Covenants – Ensign, March 1998

Nurturing Marriage - Ensign 1 May 2006

 Jacob and Esau - Ensign, Jan 2002, 42