Genesis 37–41: Lesson 34

Genesis 39

Overcoming Temptation

After Joseph became an overseer in Potiphar’s house, Potiphar’s wife tempted him to break the law of chastity. Joseph knew that succumbing to that temptation was a “sin against God” and chose to flee from the temptation (see Genesis 39:9, 12). This lesson can help students show their devotion to God by resisting the temptation to break the law of chastity.

Student preparation: Invite students to imagine they were asked to lead a discussion in their Sunday School class about different ways they can resist Satan’s temptations. Invite students to think of three ways they would share with their class.

Possible Learning Activities

Temptations we face

Consider having the class make a list on the board of temptations youth face today. To help students think more about the temptations they personally face and how they respond to them, you could invite each student to complete the following activity on a piece of paper.

Choose a temptation and write a brief, realistic scenario where a teenager could face that temptation.

Collect the scenarios and redistribute them among the class.

Read through your new scenario. On the back of the paper, write what might make it difficult to resist that temptation. Also write two things you might encourage someone to do to help them resist or overcome that temptation.

Point out to students that although they may not face the same temptation listed in the scenario, they may be able to apply similar counsel to their own situations. Help students assess their own ability to resist or overcome temptation.

Think about the temptations you personally face.

• What have you done, or could you do, to gain strength from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to resist those temptations?

You might invite students to add to what they wrote in the scenario with their own experiences. Encourage them to continue adding ideas to their scenario as they study Genesis 39. Let them know that as they seek help from the Holy Ghost, He can inspire them with ideas to resist and even overcome the temptations that they face.

Joseph’s experience with temptation

If you used pictures to summarize the events of Joseph’s life in Lesson 33: “Genesis 37–41,” consider displaying them again. Invite a student to summarize what they remember about how the Lord blessed Joseph in Potiphar’s house. If students need help, invite them to read and summarize Genesis 39:1–6.

Read Genesis 39:7–8, looking for what happened to Joseph after he became overseer in Potiphar’s house.

• What temptation did Joseph face?

Explain that Joseph faced the temptation to break the law of chastity. Help students reflect on what they understand about the law of chastity by inviting them to do the following.

In your study journal, write how you would define the law of chastity and why it is important.

When students are done writing, consider displaying the following statement. Invite students to read it on their own, looking for insights that they could add to what they wrote in their study journals.

For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices states the following about the law of chastity:

The law of chastity states that God approves of sexual activity only between a man and a woman who are married. …

Outside of marriage between a man and a woman, it is wrong to touch the private, sacred parts of another person’s body even if clothed. In your choices about what you do, look at, read, listen to, think about, post, or text, avoid anything that purposely arouses lustful emotions in others or yourself. This includes pornography in any form. (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 23, 25)

• Why do you think Heavenly Father has given us the law of chastity?

• What are some ways Satan tempts youth to break the law of chastity?

Possible answers students may give include taking or sending inappropriate pictures, viewing or listening to media that is sexually suggestive or explicit, not keeping sex or sexual feelings sacred. If students have questions about same-sex attraction, it may be helpful to explain that “feeling same-sex attraction is not a sin. If [someone has] these feelings and [does] not pursue or act on them, [they] are living Heavenly Father’s sacred law of chastity” (For Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 27).

Read Genesis 39:9–12, looking for how Joseph resisted the temptation to break the law of chastity.

Genesis 39:9 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

• What did you learn from Joseph’s example?

  Students may identify truths such as: Our devotion to God can give us strength to resist the temptation to break the law of chastity (verse 9).

  Students could mark in their scriptures what Joseph’s devotion to God enabled him to do, for example, in verse 8 (“he refused”), verse 10 (“he hearkened not”), and verse 12 (“got him out”).

  To help students answer the following question, you may want to provide them with a scenario they can use to share how someone could do the three things Joseph did. A possible scenario could involve being invited to a movie, show, or concert where immoral images and words are used. Another possible scenario could involve feeling pressure to send inappropriate texts or pictures to peers.

• What are some ways we can follow Joseph’s example when we face temptation?

Strengthening our ability to keep the law of chastity

To help students deepen their understanding of this truth, distribute the accompanying handout to students. Consider placing students in pairs and assigning each partner to focus on one of the questions on the handout.

Invite students to share what they learned with their partners.

The Savior can help us overcome temptation

You may have students who are struggling with obeying the law of chastity and need to feel hope in repenting and overcoming addiction. Testify of the loving, patient, and forgiving nature of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Consider showing the video “Temptation Fades as We Seek Christ in Every Thought” (2:57), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Invite students to look for how the Savior can give us hope.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how the Savior can give hope to those who have struggled with keeping God’s commandments.

No matter how long we have been off the path or how far away we have wandered, the moment we decide to change, God helps us return. From God’s perspective, through sincere repentance and pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, once back on the path, it will be as if we were never off. The Savior pays for our sins and frees us from the looming decrease in happiness and blessings. (“Choose You This Day,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 106)

• What would you want someone who feels hopeless because of their previous choices to understand from Elder Renlund’s statement?

• What has helped you to resist temptation that you might suggest to other people?

Making a plan to keep the law of chastity

To help students make a plan to act on what the Spirit has taught them about keeping the law of chastity, give them a few minutes to respond to the following questions in their study journals.

• What did you learn that can help you keep the law of chastity or resist other temptations?

• What did you learn about being devoted to God?

• How will you begin to apply what you have learned and felt today?

Encourage students to involve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in their efforts to resist temptation. Consider sharing your testimony of the Savior’s ability to help us overcome temptation and His loving mercy in helping us repent.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase during this lesson and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase is “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

How can I overcome my temptations?

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have the power to help you. Fill your life with things that invite that power into your life, such as prayer, scripture study, and service to others. Turn to Jesus Christ and His gospel and you will find that weaknesses can become strengths. Seek help from parents, leaders, and professional counselors as needed. (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 27)

How does the Lord’s law of chastity apply to those who are attracted to their same sex?

Feeling same-sex attraction is not a sin. If you have these feelings and do not pursue or act on them, you are living Heavenly Father’s sacred law of chastity. You are a beloved child of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. Remember that the Savior understands everything you experience. Through your covenant connection with Him, you will find strength to obey God’s commandments and receive the blessings He promises. (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 27–28)

Why did Heavenly Father give the law of chastity?

Sexual feelings are an important part of God’s plan to create happy marriages and eternal families. These feelings are not sinful—they are sacred. Because sexual feelings are so sacred and so powerful, God has given you His law of chastity to prepare you to use these feelings as He intends.

… Obeying this law will make it possible for you to progress eternally and become more like your Heavenly Father. Your confidence will grow as you live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. (For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 23, 26)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Coping with the temptations of our day

Help students see how For the Strength of Youth: A Guide to Making Choices can help them overcome temptations. You could display a copy of it and ask:

• What are some reasons you think Church leaders have created the For the Strength of Youth guidebook?

Share that Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that For the Strength of Youth can help youth “better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day” (“Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 10). Students could then search the section titled “What about …?” in For the Strength of Youth guidebook, looking for topics covered that could be a temptation for youth today. They could look up the pages that address that temptation and share a principle that youth could follow to avoid the temptation.

Creating a plan to resist temptation

To help students create a plan to come unto Christ and resist temptation, students could use the resource Adjusting to Missionary Life. They could look through Section F: Managing Sexual or Romantic Feelings under “Resources for Managing Social Demands,” looking for ideas they could add to their plan. You could also invite students to link Genesis 39:9 to this section.

Eternal perspective

Some students may know that Joseph was thrown into prison after he fled the temptation to break the law of chastity (see Genesis 39:20). To help them see how Joseph was blessed by having an eternal perspective, consider watching “Our Relationship with God” from time code 8:41 to 9:42.

Video options

“I Choose to Be Pure” (4:19). Six interfaith youth speak candidly on why they have chosen to be sexually pure. Students could watch the video looking for what impresses them about why these youth choose to keep the law of chastity.

“Why is it important to live the law of chastity?” (5:42). Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Ruth L. Renlund, answer a young woman’s question about the law of chastity.

“Trial of Your Faith” from time code 7:15 to 8:11. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares how his friend has obeyed the law of chastity while experiencing feelings of same-sex attraction.