Exodus 13:3, 21–22—The Lord provides a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire to guide the Israelites.
Exodus 14:5–31—The Israelites cross the Red Sea on dry ground.
Note: Where the Bible indicates that the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, the Joseph Smith Translation states that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.
Study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account (see “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii). Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will best help the children achieve the purpose of the lesson.
Materials needed:
A Bible for each child.
A Doctrine and Covenants.
Picture 6-12, The Crossing of the Red Sea (62100).
Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
Pass out numbered slips of paper with the scripture references for each of the ten plagues on the corresponding numbered paper. Have each child look up his or her reference and tell the class about it. You could supply the class with art materials and let them draw pictures of the plague that they read about. They could then show the picture to the class as they tell about the plague.
Have everyone in the class stand. Ask those who are the oldest children in their families to sit down. Explain that if those class members who are sitting had been in Egyptian families at the time of Moses, they would have been killed in the tenth plague. All of the children in the Israelite families who put the blood of a lamb on their door posts were safe; they were passed over by the destroying angel. Every year the Israelites observed the Feast of the Passover in remembrance of the time when the destroying angel passed over them and they were delivered from bondage.
When Jesus lived on the earth, he and his family celebrated the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41; 22:7–8). A lamb without blemish was killed for the feast. The lamb represented the Lamb of God, or Jesus Christ, who died to save us. After the Crucifixion, the disciples partook of the sacrament, which Christ instituted at the Last Supper, instead of the Feast of the Passover. You may want to draw the following illustration on the chalkboard to emphasize this point:
If you have boys in your class who will be turning 12 during the coming year, discuss the importance of them preparing themselves to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. Have them each list the duties of a deacon (found in Gospel Principles, chapter 14) on a piece of paper. Discuss the importance of keeping the commandments so as to be worthy of this responsibility. Encourage the boys to respect and honor the priesthood throughout their lives and use it to serve the Lord.
Sing or read the words to “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, p. 110), “The Priesthood Is Restored” (Children’s Songbook, p. 89), “A Young Man Prepared” (Children’s Songbook, p. 166), or “Love Is Spoken Here” (Children’s Songbook, p. 190).
Conclusion
Testimony
Share your feelings about the courage and faith Moses displayed when he used the power of the priesthood to free the Israelites. Express your gratitude that the priesthood has been restored to the earth again. You could share an experience when you have seen the power of the priesthood used to act in God’s name here on earth.
Suggested Family Sharing
Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.”
Suggested Home Reading
Suggest that the children study Exodus 14:21–31 at home as a review of this lesson.