June 5–11

Genesis 42–50

“Forgive … the Trespass of Thy Brethren”

Before you read the teaching ideas here, read Genesis 42–50 and record your impressions. Come, Follow Me for individuals and families can help you understand these chapters.

Record Your Impressions

Improving Our Teaching

Use music. Primary songs and hymns can help children—even older ones—understand and internalize gospel truths in a memorable way. Singing songs can also keep children actively engaged in a learning experience. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 22.)

Invite Sharing

During the week, invite one of the children and a parent to prepare to share something they learned about Joseph of Egypt in their family scripture study this week.

Teach the Doctrine

Younger Children

Genesis 44:14–34; 45:1–15; 46:28–30

I will show love to my family.

Joseph’s family had problems, but this account shows that they learned to love each other. For young children, you may want to emphasize the parts in which Joseph showed love to his family.

Possible Activities

• Use the picture of Joseph and his brothers in this week’s study outline in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families to tell the story of Genesis 45:1–15.

• Tell the children that Joseph missed his father very much because he hadn’t seen him for many years. Read parts of Genesis 46:28–30. How can we show our parents that we love them?

• Invite the children to show their love for family members by making cards or drawing pictures for their families.

Genesis 48:9

Priesthood blessings help me.

Jacob blessed his sons and grandsons. Today we can receive priesthood blessings that give comfort, healing, guidance, and spiritual strength.

Possible Activities

• Show the picture Jacob Blessing His Sons (Gospel Art Book, no. 12; LDS.org), and tell the children that Jacob gave his children and grandchildren a blessing.

• Have the children ever received a blessing from a father, a grandfather, or another priesthood holder? Ask them to share their experiences.

  

• Use this week’s activity page to play a matching game. Put the pictures face down, and let the children take turns flipping two pictures over. When they find a match, teach them about the priesthood blessing shown in the picture.

• Invite a priesthood holder to share what the priesthood is and tell an experience in which he gave a priesthood blessing to a child.

Genesis 50:17

I can say, “I’m sorry.”

When Joseph’s brothers were younger, they were unkind to him. They later asked him to forgive them. How can you help the children learn to apologize when they do something wrong?

Possible Activities

• Tell the children the story of Joseph’s brothers asking for forgiveness (see “Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt” in Old Testament Stories, 58–59).

• Share a few simple scenarios to help the children learn when to say, “I’m sorry.” For instance, a boy became angry and stepped on his friend’s toe. What could he say to help his friend feel better?

• Sing together the first verse of “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99).

Teach the Doctrine

Older Children

Genesis 42–44; 45:1–15

Heavenly Father wants me to forgive.

Joseph’s brothers had been jealous of him, wanted to kill him, and sold him as a slave. Yet Joseph forgave his brothers, and his example can help the children become more forgiving.

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to share what they learned last week about how Joseph’s brothers treated him. How would they feel if someone did the same things to them? How would they feel if that person asked for forgiveness?

• Help the children act out the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis 42–44 (you may want to bring props like a sack, coins, and a cup).

• Read Genesis 45:1–9 and find things Joseph did to let his brothers know he forgave them. Why did Joseph forgive his brothers?

• Ask the children to share times they have shown forgiveness when others have done hurtful things to them. How did they feel when they forgave someone?

Genesis 37; 45:5–7

Prophets’ experiences can remind me of Jesus Christ.

Joseph’s life was similar to Jesus Christ’s life in many ways. How can you use Joseph’s story to help the children come closer to Christ?

Possible Activities

• Make a two-column chart with the headings “Joseph” and “Jesus Christ.” Help the children search the following scriptures and write on the chart the things that Joseph and Jesus have in common: Genesis 37:3; 37:26–28; 45:5–7; Matthew 3:17; 26:14–16; Luke 23:34.

• Ask the children what it means to rescue someone. How did Joseph rescue his brothers? (see Genesis 42:1–3; 45:4–7). Show a picture of the Savior. How did Jesus rescue us? (see Helaman 5:9).

• Invite the children to think of a friend who doesn’t come to church. Discuss what you can do to help rescue him or her.

Genesis 48:8–22; 49

Priesthood blessings help me.

Before he died, Jacob gathered his family together and blessed them. Use this story to teach the children about blessings they can receive through the priesthood.

Possible Activities

• Show the picture Jacob Blessing His Sons (Gospel Art Book, no. 12; LDS.org). Come, Follow Me for individuals and families gives some explanations of some of the words and phrases in Jacob’s blessings; consider sharing them with the children.

• Explain what the priesthood is. Share a time when you were blessed by the counsel you received in a priesthood blessing.

• Help the children make a list of blessings they can receive through the priesthood (such as blessings of healing, blessings of comfort, father’s blessings, and patriarchal blessings).

• Each child could choose a card from this week’s activity page and find the class member who has the matching card. They could share an experience when they or someone they know received the type of blessing on their cards.

Encourage Learning at Home

Give each child a copy of the activity page and encourage them to share the activity with their families. Invite them to ask their family members to share when they have been blessed by the priesthood.

Sharing Time

Singing Time (25 minutes)

Use the Children’s Songbook to select songs that reinforce the doctrine the children are learning this month. For example:

• “Choose the Right Way,” Children’s Songbook, 160–61

• “Families Can Be Together Forever,” Children’s Songbook, 188

Let the children help you think of ways to remember the words to the songs.

Sharing by Children (10 minutes)

Create opportunities for children to share how they are learning and living the gospel.

Younger Children

• Ask each class to draw pictures on a poster of how we can show love to our families.

• Find pictures of various types of priesthood blessings (for examples, see Gospel Art Book, nos. 103–8). Place them face down on the board, and let the children take turns revealing pictures. Explain what type of priesthood blessing each picture illustrates.

Older Children

• Could children share experiences about being rescued from danger? How did they feel toward the person who rescued them? How is Jesus Christ like a rescuer?

• Invite a few children to share experiences when they have received a priesthood blessing.