Genesis 18–23: Lesson 26

Genesis 19

“Look Not behind Thee”

The Lord has always been concerned about evil influences in our lives. Members of Lot’s family were influenced by the evils that surrounded them in the city of Sodom. This lesson can help students avoid evil influences in their lives so they can more fully follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about influences in their lives or temptations they face that prevent them from following Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite them to think about why they need to remove these obstacles from their lives and how they might do so.

Possible Learning Activities

Small choices with big consequences

Elder Massimo De Feo of the Seventy shared an important truth about the effect our choices can have:

The decisions we make every day may seem small, but they always have real implications and big consequences, for good or bad. (“Small Choices, Big Consequences,” Ensign, Aug. 2019, 34)

• What are some examples of small choices we make that can have big consequences?

If needed, consider sharing a few examples, such as the media we use; the type of friends we choose; or the choices we make about studying the scriptures, attending church, or praying. Other examples may be more relevant to your students. Invite the students to discuss how these choices could have big consequences, for good or bad.

Then share the following to help students prepare themselves spiritually for today’s lesson.

Think about choices you are currently making that are leading you toward Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also think about choices that may be leading you away from Them. As you study today, pay attention to spiritual impressions about how you can come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Lot pitches his tent toward Sodom

The Old Testament contains an account of a man named Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Lot and his family lived in the city of Sodom, which was known for its extreme wickedness (see Genesis 13:13; 18:20; Ezekiel 16:49–50; Jude 1:7–8). It was a seemingly small choice that led Lot and his family to dwell in Sodom.

Invite students to share what they know about the circumstances that led Lot to dwell in Sodom. The following explanation could be used as needed.

After Abraham, Lot, and their families moved from Egypt to the land of Canaan, there was a disagreement between Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen over their grazing land. To help avoid further conflict, Abraham and Lot separated their families, and each decided where they would live (see Genesis 13:8–9).

Rather than reading the following verses as a class, students could work with a partner. Partnerships could read the verses and draw a picture depicting the actions of Lot and Abraham.

Read Genesis 13:10–13, 18, looking for where each family decided to live. (In these verses, Abram refers to Abraham. The Lord later changed his name to Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 17:5.)

• What differences did you notice between each family’s decision?

• What decisions could someone make today that might be similar to Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom? What counsel might you give in these situations?

If students struggle to think of modern-day decisions that are similar to Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom, you could share a few examples, then allow students to give advice for these situations. Examples could include using unclean language, choosing media with inappropriate content, lowering standards of dress or modesty to fit in, or spending time with friends who disregard the Savior’s teachings.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Lot and his family did not remain with their tent pitched toward Sodom. Eventually, they moved to and “dwelt in Sodom” (Genesis 14:12; emphasis added).

Students could cross-reference Genesis 14:12 with Genesis 13:12 in their scriptures. If students created a drawing earlier in the lesson, you could also invite them to update their drawing to reflect Lot’s new location.

The inhabitants of Sodom and the nearby city of Gomorrah rejected the prophets the Lord sent to warn them (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 203). In His mercy, the Lord sent messengers to Sodom to warn Lot and his family to leave before the city was destroyed (see Genesis 19:12–13). Because the people rejected the prophets and persisted in wickedness they were destroyed.

Read Genesis 19:14–19, 24–26, looking for how Lot and his family responded to the instructions to leave the city quickly.

• What stands out to you in these verses? Why?

• What do these verses teach you about the Lord?

You may also want to ask students what they are learning that could help someone who feels like it is not a big deal to participate in seemingly small acts of wickedness.

To help students understand why Lot’s wife was turned into a “pillar of salt” (verse 26), it could be helpful to explain that Lot’s wife might not have merely looked back but might have returned to Sodom (see Luke 17:28–32). You could also share the following statement by President Jeffrey R. Holland.

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared possible reasons why Lot’s wife was turned into a “pillar of salt” (verse 26):

Apparently what was wrong with Lot’s wife was that she wasn’t just looking back; in her heart she wanted to go back. …

It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. (“Remember Lot’s Wife” [Brigham Young University devotional, Jan. 13, 2009], 2, speeches.byu.edu)

Consider inviting students to discuss the following question with a partner or a small group before sharing their responses with the class.

• What are some truths you learn from the account of Lot and his family that could apply to situations you face in your life?

  Using their own words, students could identify truths like the following:

  Allowing evil influences into our lives—even seemingly small ones—can lead us away from Jesus Christ.

  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should flee wickedness and not look back.

  To help students better understand and feel the importance of these truths, consider discussing questions like the following.

• What can help you recognize seemingly small influences that would lead you away from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• How can the Savior help us leave our past mistakes behind and move forward with faith?

Invite the students to share experiences they have that relate to the truths you are discussing. You could also share your own experiences.

Apply it to your life

To help the students apply the truths they have studied, display the following instructions and questions. Invite students to seek inspiration from God to recognize changes He would have them make.

Think about what actions you have felt prompted to take as a result of what you have studied today. In your study journal, write a plan for what you will do and when you will do it. If needed, the following questions could help you create a plan:

• What are some seemingly small decisions you are currently making that could eventually lead you away from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? What changes will you make?

• What will you do to leave past mistakes behind and move forward with faith in Jesus Christ?

Consider testifying of the truths you have studied today. Encourage students to act on their plans.

Additional Resources

What sins did the people of Sodom and Gomorrah commit?

The inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah engaged in many wicked practices that were grievous to the Lord. The prophet Ezekiel declared that the people were full of pride and idleness and that although they had a “fulness of bread,” they rejected “the poor and needy” (see Ezekiel 16:49–50). Sexual immorality was widely accepted and practiced among the inhabitants of Sodom and nearby cities (see Genesis 19:1–11; Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–12 [in the Bible appendix]; Jude 1:7).

Genesis 19:26. What if I am trying to flee wickedness but have a hard time leaving my sins behind?

In speaking of the last days, the Savior warned, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). As we repent of our sins, we should do all we can to leave them behind. We should also remember that Jesus Christ is patient and will help anyone who is sincerely trying to overcome a sin or addiction. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. … Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting. …

The forsaking of sins implies never returning. Forsaking requires time. (“Repent … That I May Heal You,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 41, 42)

Did Lot’s wife actually become a pillar of salt?

Most scholars agree that the most probable site of Sodom is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea, a body of water with a high salt content. If Lot’s wife returned to Sodom, she would have been caught in the destruction. Her becoming a pillar of salt could be a figurative way of expressing this outcome. Whatever it was that happened to Lot’s wife, it is clear that she perished.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Object lesson about avoiding evil influences

Before talking about the effect of Lot’s choice to pitch his tent toward Sodom (see Genesis 13:12), you could use the following object lesson:

Place two magnets on a table, and ask a student to move one of them as close as possible to the other without the magnets touching. After the magnets stick together, think about spiritual lessons students can learn from this object lesson. You could remind students of this object lesson after studying the experiences of Lot and his family.

If magnets are not available, consider showing “Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought” (2:57).

Genesis 14. Learning from Abraham’s faithfulness

Students may benefit from seeing a clear contrast between allowing some evil influence and rejecting it completely. If so, they could study an experience from the life of Abraham that occurred while Lot and his family dwelt in Sodom.

Explain that after Lot and his family began dwelling in the city of Sodom, Lot was captured in battle (see Genesis 14:11–12). When Abraham (known then as Abram) learned of Lot’s capture, he gathered and armed his servants and rescued Lot (see Genesis 14:13–16).

Invite the students to read Genesis 14:21–23, looking for what the king of Sodom offered to Abraham and how Abraham responded. Then discuss the following questions:

• How would you summarize Abraham’s response to the king?

• Why do you think Abraham reacted this way?

As students discuss the previous question, you might help them identify a truth similar to the following: As we keep our covenants with the Lord, we are better able to resist evil influences, regardless of how small, and stay true to God and free from sin.

• What might it look like to follow Abraham’s example today?

Genesis 14:18–20. Melchizedek blesses Abraham

Genesis 14:18–20 contains an interaction between Melchizedek and Abraham. Studying about this interaction can help students learn more about the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Ask students if they know why the Melchizedek Priesthood is called by that name. You could then invite them to read Doctrine and Covenants 107:2–3, looking for details.

Students could read Genesis 14:18–20 and make a list of what they learn about Melchizedek. Then explain that the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible gives us much more information about who Melchizedek was and what he did. Help students find Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:25–40 (in the Bible appendix). Invite the students to study these verses and to add these additional details to their lists.

• Based on what you learned about Melchizedek, why do you think it is appropriate to call the priesthood after his name?

Videos

Consider using one or both of the following videos at different points in the lesson:

• “Stay within the Lines” (5:10). An illustration of how resisting temptations can help us stay free from evil influences

• “New Year’s: Look Not behind Thee” (3:09). The importance of leaving past mistakes behind and looking forward with faith in Jesus Christ