Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit will teach you as you wisely exercise your agency and make an effort to learn.
Begin your study with prayer.
As we make choices, we don’t always think about the consequences of those choices. Elder Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy shared an experience where he and his friends suffered some very unpleasant consequences as a result of their decisions. How can we liken his experience to the consequences of sin? You can see text for this video here: “Overcoming the Stench of Sin,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 88–89.
Imagine that a friend confided in you that he or she has often been tempted with a particular sin. He or she has tried many times to stop but has not been successful.
What might you say to help this friend?
As you study Genesis 19, look for truths that could help someone who struggles with resisting temptations to sin.
You may remember that we read in Genesis 18 of three holy messengers who visited Abraham while on their way to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
When these three messengers arrived in Sodom, they met Lot, Abraham’s nephew. For reasons that are not clear, Lot had moved his family from living near Sodom (see Genesis 13:12) to living in Sodom (see Genesis 14:12). In the last lesson, you learned about the great wickedness that existed in Sodom and the Lord’s decision to destroy the city (see Genesis 18).
We read in Genesis 19:2–3 that Lot invited the three messengers to stay at his home for the night so they would not have to remain in the streets of Sodom.
Read Genesis 19:4–7, looking for what the men of Sodom did that evening.
The phrase “that we may know them” means that the men of Sodom wanted to participate in sexual activities with Lot’s visitors (see Genesis 19:5, footnote a; see also Genesis 4:1).
Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:9–15 (in the Bible appendix) clarifies the events recorded in Genesis 19:8–10. From these verses we learn that the men of Sodom became angry with Lot when he denied their request. The men of Sodom then threatened to take by force for immoral purposes not only Lot’s visitors (the three holy messengers) but also his daughters. When Lot tried to reason with the men of Sodom, they attempted to force their way into his house. The holy messengers miraculously protected Lot and his family by “[smiting] the men [of Sodom] with blindness” (Genesis 19:11).
Read Genesis 19:12–13, looking for what the holy messengers instructed Lot to do with his family.
Read Genesis 19:14–17, 24–26, looking for how Lot and his family responded to the holy messengers’ instructions.
Quiz 1
What evidence do you see in Genesis 19:14–17 that Lot and his family were reluctant to leave Sodom? Select all that apply.
Lot remained in Sodom after being asked to leave quickly.
Lot and his family refused to rise from their beds the next morning.
The angels had to take Lot and his family by the hand and bring them out of the city.
Lot and his family visited many of their friends in the city to tell them goodbye.
What additional instructions did the messengers give, as recorded in Genesis 19:17, to help Lot and his family avoid destruction? Select all that apply.
“Leave your possessions.”
“Do not bring any friends.”
“Do not look behind you.”
“Escape to the mountain.”
According to Genesis 19:24–26, what happened as Lot was leaving Sodom with his wife and daughters?
They all “looked back” and were turned into “a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s wife and daughter “looked back” and were turned into “a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s daughters “looked back” and were turned into “a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s wife “looked back” and was turned into “a pillar of salt.”
Lot’s Wife and the Problem with Looking Back
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suggested that there may have been more to the actions of Lot’s wife than just looking back:
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Jeffrey R. Holland
“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” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘Remember Lot’s Wife’: Faith Is for the Future” [Brigham Young University devotional, Jan. 13, 2009], 2, speeches.byu.edu).
According to Elder Holland, what might have caused Lot’s wife to be turned into a pillar of salt?
Principles to Learn from the Experience of Lot’s Wife
From the experience of Lot’s wife recorded in Genesis 19:26, we can learn this principle: To forsake sin and evil influences, we must leave them entirely and not look back.
1. Using what you have learned from the example of Lot’s wife, write a letter to the friend in the earlier scenario who struggles with a particular sin. What can he or she do to leave the sin entirely behind? (If you are writing about someone you know, do not identify that individual by name.)
The actions of Lot’s daughters provide another example of how the wickedness in Sodom had negatively influenced members of Lot’s family. Although Lot was not a wicked man, his decision to bring his family to live among evil influences resulted in serious consequences.
Think about how life might have been different for Lot and his family if he had not chosen to associate with the people of Sodom and the other wicked cities in the plains.
What principles can we identify from Lot’s decision to place himself and his family close to unrighteous influences?
The principles you identified may have included the following:
If we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we will regret.
Our choices affect not only ourselves but others as well.
2. List one example of unrighteous influences that some young people choose to associate with in our day.
What are some possible consequences of associating with this unrighteous influence? How might associating with this unrighteous influence affect others negatively?
An Example of the Consequences of a Righteous Choice
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a story about a young man who found himself surrounded by unrighteous influences.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a story about a young man who found himself surrounded by unrighteous influences.
What did this young man do? How did his decision affect the rest of his life?
“Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. …
“Soon after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and two friends made their way to the advertised address.
“Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends … began mingling with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, ‘John, this is easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone by leaving.’ This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.
“When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities. …
“… As for John, the consequences in his life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the party on that important evening in Japan. …
“… There will be times when you, like John, will have to demonstrate your righteous courage in plain view of your peers, the consequence of which may be ridicule and embarrassment. … Be courageous! Be strong!” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Be Valiant in Courage, Strength, and Activity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 51–52).
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
To forsake sin and evil influences, we must leave them entirely and not look back.
If we choose to associate with unrighteous influences, then we may experience consequences we will regret.
Our choices affect not only ourselves but others as well.
Are there any sins or evil influences in your life? Commit to leave these influences or sins entirely behind so that you can enjoy the peace and companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Memorize the text of Moses 1:39. Below is the first letter of each word in the passage. Can you recite the passage using only these letters? After you can recite the passage using only these letters, try reciting the passage without looking at the letters at all.
