Genesis 24–33: Lesson 29

Genesis 24

The Blessing of Covenant Marriage

While the prospect of an eternal marriage may have seemed out of reach to Isaac, the Lord prepared a way for him. We can likewise rely on the Lord and trust that He can help us prepare for and someday obtain the blessings of eternal marriage. This lesson can help students understand the importance of eternal, covenant marriage in Heavenly Father’s plan.

Student preparation: Invite students to write a question they or someone they know might have about temple marriage and come to class prayerfully seeking answers to that question.

Possible Learning Activities

Temple marriage

As marriage can be difficult for some students to discuss, prayerfully ponder ways to prepare and teach this topic with sensitivity and love.

To prepare students to discuss the topic of marriage, consider displaying the picture at the beginning of the lesson, along with the following scenario.

Imagine a friend says: “Is it really that important to be married in the temple? I have a hard time seeing myself getting married there anyway; it feels out of reach for me. I just want to find someone I love.”

• What are some assumptions your friend might have about temple marriage?

• What truths might your friend not understand about God and temple marriage?

  Invite students to answer the following questions in their study journals.

• How do you personally feel about temple marriage?

• What questions or concerns do you have about temple marriage?

As you study Genesis 24, invite the Spirit to help you understand the importance of temple marriage. Seek insight on how the Lord can help you receive an eternal, temple marriage.

An important journey

To help students better understand the context of Genesis 24, invite them to view the following map. If they have access to the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible, they can find it as map 9, “The World of the Old Testament,” in the Bible Maps section. Read or summarize the following paragraph, and invite students to find the places you mention on the map. If needed, show students where Canaan (number 13) and Haran (number 8) are located.

Abraham and his family lived in Canaan among people who worshipped idols and engaged in other sinful practices. Abraham had relatives that lived in Haran, where Abraham previously lived.

Before reading the following verses, explain that the Joseph Smith Translation changes the word “thigh” to “hand” in verses 2 and 9. This means that Abraham and his servant entered into an agreement.

Read Genesis 24:1–4, 7–9, looking for instructions Abraham gave his servant regarding his son Isaac.

• What was Abraham’s servant instructed to do?

• What do you see in verse 7 that shows the Lord cared about whom Isaac married?

  Have students use the scale on the map to determine how many miles or kilometers this journey would be. Help students see that Abraham asked his servant to travel nearly 1,200 miles (1,931 kilometers) round trip to find a wife for Isaac.

• Why do you think it was worth such sacrifice that Isaac not marry one of the Canaanite daughters?

As needed, explain that when God established His covenant with Abraham and Sarah, He said that Abraham’s posterity would only keep this important covenant with Him if they married according to His law. They would need to enter into “the new and everlasting covenant of marriage” (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4). Today, we enter into this covenant when we are married in the Lord’s holy temples.

There was no one in the land of Canaan whom Isaac could marry in the covenant. The covenant could only be preserved with someone from Abraham’s family in Haran.

The Lord’s help

Display the following image, and invite students to share what they know about the account pictured. You could read or summarize the following paragraph if needed.

Abraham’s servant traveled the long distance to Haran to find a wife for Isaac. While waiting by a well, he prayed and asked God for the ability to know whom the Lord would have him find.

You could invite students to read the following verses individually, in pairs, or as a class.

For the below activity, it may be helpful to explain that the name “Jehovah” in the King James Version of the Bible is generally indicated by LORD in all capital letters. The words “Lord” or “lord”, on the other hand, may simply refer to someone holding power, authority, or influence, such as a master or ruler. (See Bible Dictionary, “Jehovah”)

Read Genesis 24:12–27, looking for how the Lord helped Abraham’s servant find a wife for Isaac. It may be helpful to mark when you see the word LORD when every letter is capitalized.

• What did you find?

Consider summarizing the rest of Genesis 24 by sharing the following paragraph.

Abraham’s servant met Rebekah’s brother and father. He explained who he was and how the Lord had helped him find Rebekah. The following day, Rebekah courageously chose to return with the servant and be sealed to Isaac in the covenant of eternal marriage (see Genesis 24:29–67).

• What do you learn about the Lord through the account of Isaac and Rebekah and their eternal marriage?

  Students may respond with a variety of truths, but be sure they understand that the Lord will help us as we strive to enter into the covenant of eternal marriage.

• How can the Lord help someone who is striving for an eternal marriage but worries they may never receive this blessing?

• Why do you think eternal marriage is so important to the Lord?

Why eternal marriage?

To help students better understand the importance of eternal marriage, invite them to draw in their study journals a simple image of a temple, such as the one below.

Underneath your temple drawing, write a question that could help you better understand the truths you’ve learned today. This could be your own question, a question from someone you know, or one of the following:

• Why is eternal marriage important?

• What blessings can I obtain by being married in the temple and then striving to honor those covenants?

• How can the Lord help me someday obtain the blessings of eternal marriage?

Invite students to take 5–8 minutes to complete the following activity individually or with partners. You could invite them to list in their study journals answers that they find. Help students understand that they might not find clear answers to their questions; however, the effort to ask questions and seek understanding is an important part of acting with faith in God.

Distribute the handout titled “Eternal Marriage” to students who would like to study it.

To help you respond to your question, search various Church resources, such as the following:

• Doctrinal mastery passages (Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4)

• The handout titled “Eternal Marriage”

• “Marriage” and related entries in the Topical Guide, Guide to the Scriptures, or Topics and Questions in the Gospel Library

• Phrases such as “covenant marriage” or “temple marriage” in the Gospel Library search

Invite students to share with the class what they learned.

Personal reflection

Reflect on the scenario from the beginning of class. In your study journal, answer the following questions:

• How would you respond to your friend’s question about why temple marriage is important?

• What did you learn today about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ that could give you hope in your efforts to invite the blessings of temple marriage?

Invite willing students to share what they wrote.

Consider sharing your testimony of the importance of covenant marriage, and encourage your students to begin now to prepare for it.

Additional Resources

What are some additional blessings of a covenant marriage?

Sister Kristen M. Oaks, wife of President Dallin H. Oaks, shared:

Marriage is a gift. Not only does marriage give us the opportunity for children, it gives us the opportunity and incentive to begin a journey of growing with one another.

We learn to sacrifice and serve as we can in few other ways. … I learn how to better love and help my husband; I have a friend to laugh with and cry with. I have an advocate, teacher, and cheerleader who in turn helps me. Marriage is a built-in opportunity to learn communication and perspective. Life becomes better as our marriage becomes connected to something greater than ourselves and closer to our Savior. We want that for you. (“Stand for Truth” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 21, 2023], Gospel Library)

Why is it concerning to delay marriage?

President Dallin H. Oaks taught:

Consider what young adult Latter-day Saints miss when their marriages are intentionally delayed for a significant period: opportunities lost and blessings postponed. This means delays in the important personal growth that occurs in the relationship between a husband and a wife, growth in such qualities as sacrifice and humility. It means decreased opportunities to work together to build the kingdom of God. Most important, it means fewer children born to grow up with the blessings of the gospel. (“Stand for Truth” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 21, 2023], Gospel Library)

What if I’m worried that I won’t have an eternal family?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained:

A prophet of God once offered me counsel that gives me peace. I was worried that the choices of others might make it impossible for our family to be together forever. He said, “You are worrying about the wrong problem. You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine.”

… With the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ working and with the Holy Spirit guiding, you can feel now and will feel in the world to come the family love your Father and His Beloved Son want so much for you to receive.

I testify that as you live worthy of the celestial kingdom, the prophetic promise that “family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine” will be yours. (“The Hope of Eternal Family Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Aug. 2016, 5)

Where can I learn more about the Church’s stance on same-sex marriage?

• Gospel Topics, “Same-Sex Marriage,” Gospel Library

• General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.16, Gospel Library

Supplemental Learning Activities

Video about temple weddings

To help students better understand what a temple wedding is like, consider showing them the video “What Is a Temple Wedding Like?” (1:22).

Preparing in your youth for covenant marriage

To help students see how they might prepare today for a covenant marriage, you could share the following experience and questions.

Brother Tad R. Callister, then Sunday School General President, recalled the following story from his youth:

When I was about 17 years of age, I was kneeling by my bed, saying my evening prayers. Unbeknown to me, my mother was standing in the doorway. When I finished, she said, “Tad, are you asking the Lord to help you find a good wife?”

Her question caught me totally off guard. That was the furthest thing from my mind. I was thinking about basketball and school. And so, I replied, “No,” to which she responded, “Well, you should, Son; it will be the most important decision you will ever make.” Those words sunk deep into my heart, and so for the next six years, I prayed that God would help me find a good wife. And, oh, how He answered that prayer. (“Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 33)

• Why do you think finding a good spouse is one of the most important decisions you will ever make?

• Why do you think it’s important for you to start preparing now to enter into a covenant marriage?

• What are things you can do now to prepare for a covenant marriage?

Christlike attributes of Rebekah

It may be helpful for students to consider how Rebekah demonstrated Christlike attributes. Invite students to read Genesis 24:16–20, 55–58, looking for traits of Rebekah that remind students of Jesus Christ. Students could then share examples from Christ’s life that demonstrate each trait and discuss why these traits would be helpful to a marriage.