The story of Joseph in Genesis teaches so many lessons.  First, it is a type, a message of the redemption paid by our Savior Jesus Christ.  Each of us is a brother begging for bread in a time of famine, while Joseph represents the Savior – freely forgiving and offeringContinue Reading

Genesis 25 tells the story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob.  The birthright itself was a tremendous blessing and responsibility.  The birthright child had the duty to care for the family in temporal affairs and assume the role of spiritual leadership and presidency.  Although I do not believe EsauContinue Reading

There is significance to the symbolism of the ark Noah built in Genesis 6.  There are three arks in the Bible. 1.  The ark of Noah – contained the prophet and the salvation of Israel.  The ark rested on a mountain – Genesis 8:4.  The breath of life was containedContinue Reading

We began class today with the question we left off with in the Moses 7 discussion.  How would you build Zion in your sphere of influence?  Many students shared that they would work on being kind and giving in difficult circumstances.  I asked them to illustrate a difficult circumstance.  MostContinue Reading

We started the class asking this question: how would you describe a perfect society?  We followed this question with, “have any of you had a perfect day or a perfect week?  Where were you?  Who were you with?  What were you doing?” Many students reflected on moments in their livesContinue Reading

We read the text of Genesis 2 and then students started asking several questions. Does Adam have a belly button? Is Eve really made out of a rib? Why did God command Adam not to partake of the fruit? This chapter has much to offer the youth in way ofContinue Reading

In class we examined the creation account from the perspective of the youth.  Young people may not be creating worlds, but they certainly can use the Lord as an example of how to accomplish wonderful things in their personal lives.  I asked the students this question, “What is the LordContinue Reading

We taught Moses 1 and used the text to identify where Moses learns his identity.  I asked the youth if they could think of a story, movie, or play where the character learns more about their identity and it changes their views on the world around them.  Many in myContinue Reading

A Scriptural Search for the Ten Tribes and Other Things We Lost Joseph Fielding McConkie (BYU, Annual Religious Education Faculty Summer Lecture, June 1987.) Nearly twenty years ago I was commissioned as a chaplain in the Army of the United States and given orders to attend a chaplains’ training schoolContinue Reading