“Lesson 28: Genesis 18,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 28: Genesis 18”
Lesson 28
Genesis 18
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remember that studying the gospel prayerfully with a desire to learn will help you to be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost.
Begin your study with prayer.
What can you do to defend the law of chastity as opinions and trends change relating to this law?
Listen to Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and find out the Church’s position regarding opinions of the world and modern trends related to chastity.
You can read the text for this video here: Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 19, 20.
Miraculous Events
Think about miraculous events you have read about in the scriptures. What makes these events miraculous?
As you study Genesis 18, look for the miracle that was promised to Abraham and Sarah when three holy messengers visited them.
Read Genesis 18:2–5, looking for how Abraham treated these three messengers of the Lord.
The Three Messengers
According to Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 18:3 (in Genesis 18:3, footnote a), the three messengers who visited Abraham were referred to as “My brethren” instead of “My Lord,” indicating that the Lord was not one of the three men. Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 18:23 (in Genesis 18:22, footnote a) clarifies that these three messengers were “holy men … sent forth after the order of God.” In the King James Version of the Bible, the word angels, which was used in reference to these men (see Genesis 19:1), was translated from the Hebrew word malakhim, which can also mean “messengers.”
We read in Genesis 18:6–8 that Abraham and Sarah quickly prepared a meal for the messengers.
Read Genesis 18:9–15, looking for what the messengers announced would happen to Sarah.
Quiz 1
-
According to verses 9–10, the three messengers announced that Sarah would
-
adopt children.
-
become ill.
-
have a child.
-
-
Although Sarah had hoped to have children, she was past childbearing age. According to verses 11–12, when Sarah heard that she would bear a child, she
-
believed and was comforted.
-
laughed within herself.
-
felt uncertain.
-
The Lord
We can learn this truth from Genesis 18:14: Nothing is too hard for the Lord. The Lord is able to do all things.
Even though the Lord is able to do all things, He blesses us “in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will” (D&C 88:68).
1. Answer this question:
-
When have you seen evidence of this truth in your life or the life of someone you know?
Sodom and Gomorrah
We read in Genesis 18:16–22 that because the Lord saw that Abraham would be faithful in keeping his covenants, He revealed to Abraham what He was going to do to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of those cities had committed a “very grievous” sin (see verse 20).
Read Genesis 19:4–5 and Jude 1:7, looking for what this “very grievous” sin was. (You may also consider reading Genesis 18:20, footnote b in the 2013 Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible.)
Grievous Sin
The verses in Genesis 19:5 and Jude 1:7 help us understand that the “very grievous” sin mentioned in Genesis 18:20 included homosexual behavior. This behavior was widely accepted and practiced among the inhabitants of Sodom and nearby cities (see Jude 1:7). The prophet Ezekiel spoke of other sins that plagued the inhabitants of Sodom. He declared that they 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).
According to Genesis 18:20, how does the Lord view all sexual transgression?
The Law of Chastity
Based on what we have learned from Genesis 18:20, Genesis 19:5, and Jude 1:7, we can identify that all sexual sins, including homosexual behavior, are very serious.
From the beginning, and consistently throughout the scriptures, the Lord has condemned violations of the law of chastity, including homosexual behavior. These violations are also mentioned in the New Testament (see Romans 1:24–32).
Our Heavenly Father’s Plan
In order to understand why all sexual sin, including homosexual behavior, is a serious sin, we must understand the doctrine behind the purposes of marriage and family in Heavenly Father’s plan.
Read the following statement by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Look for doctrinal truths that can help us understand why homosexual behavior is a serious sin.
“We encourage all to bear in mind our Heavenly Father’s purposes in creating the earth and providing for our mortal birth and experience here as His children. ‘God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth’ (Genesis 1:27–28). ‘Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24). Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God and is central to His plan for His children and for the well-being of society. Strong families, guided by a loving mother and father, serve as the fundamental institution for nurturing children, instilling faith, and transmitting to future generations the moral strengths and values that are important to civilization and crucial to eternal salvation.
“Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review and teach Church members the doctrine contained in ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World.’
“Just as those who promote same-sex marriage are entitled to civility, the same is true for those who oppose it” (“Church Instructs Leaders on Same-Sex Marriage,” Jan. 10, 2014, mormonnewsroom.org).
Doctrinal Truths That Help Us Understand Why Homosexual Behavior Is a Serious Sin
2. Answer these questions:
-
What doctrinal truths can help us understand why homosexual behavior is a serious sin?
-
In what ways does homosexual behavior go against Heavenly Father’s plan?
Sexual Purity
The Church “distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior. People who experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual can make and keep covenants with God and fully and worthily participate in the Church. Identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or experiencing same-sex attraction is not a sin and does not prohibit one from participating in the Church, holding callings, or attending the temple” (“Same-Sex Attraction,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org).
As Church members choose to live the law of chastity and call upon God for help, He can help them have pure and virtuous thoughts and avoid lust. They can counsel with trusted family members and their bishops or branch presidents about how to remain sexually pure. Remember that any Church member who breaks the law of chastity must repent, which includes confession to a bishop or branch president. The bishop or branch president will lovingly help the person obtain forgiveness from the Lord. The Lord loves all His children and wants them to repent and to be clean from sin.
Abraham’s Concern
Read Genesis 18:22–26, looking for what Abraham asked the Lord concerning Sodom.
Now read Genesis 18:27–33, looking for the Lord’s responses to Abraham’s righteous concern for others.
What principle about the Lord can we identify from His response to Abraham?
Our Righteous Pleas for Others
We can identify this principle from Genesis 18:27–33: The Lord listens to our righteous pleas for others.
3. Answer these questions:
-
How can remembering and believing this principle assist you when you have a family member or friend who needs help?
-
When have you experienced the Lord answering your righteous prayers on behalf of others?
A Goal
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
-
Nothing is too hard for the Lord. The Lord is able to do all things.
-
All sexual sins, including homosexual behavior, are very serious.
-
The Lord listens to our righteous pleas for others.
Set a goal to pray for those people who you know need Heavenly Father’s help. As you study Genesis 19 in the next lesson, look for how the Lord answered Abraham’s pleas that the righteous be saved.
Answer Key
Quiz 1: (1) c; (2) b