Old Testament: Genesis–Ruth

Similitude

Doctrinal mastery questions: Understand the doctrines taught in the scripture mastery verses.

• Moses 1:39

• Moses 7:18

• Abraham 3:22–23

• Genesis 1:26–27

• Joshua 24:15

• Proverbs 3:5–6

• Isaiah 1:18

• Isaiah 5:20

• Isaiah 29:13–14

• Isaiah 53:3–5

• Jeremiah 1:4–5

• Ezekiel 37:15–17

• Daniel 2:44

• Amos 3:7

Context questions: Understand some of the key accounts, individuals, time periods, and symbolism.

• The most important message of the Old Testament and what most of the symbols, laws, images, prophecies, and events of the Old Testament refer to or represent (see Moses 5:7–8; Mosiah 3:13–15)

• Symbolism of the blood on the doorposts (see Exodus 12:21–23), the brass serpent (see Numbers 21:8–9; Alma 33:19–22), and Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac (see Genesis 22:10–12; John 3:16)

• What Moses knew that helped him overcome Satan (see Moses 1:4–7, 13)

• Commandments given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (see Moses 2:26–30; 3:16–17)

• Noah and the Flood: how the Flood might be considered a blessing to spirits not yet born and to the wicked living at the time of the Flood (see Moses 8:22–30; 2 Nephi 26:24; Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students [2015], 38)

• Jacob and Esau: the choices Esau made that showed he despised his birthright (see Genesis 25:29–34; 26:34–35; Old Testament Study Guide, 65–66)

• Joseph sold into Egypt: lessons learned about trials (see Genesis 45:7–8; 50:20–21)

• Moses’s calling to deliver Israel: what God told Moses to help him overcome his doubt (see Exodus 3:12, 17)

• Key lessons learned from Israel in the wilderness: what the Lord gave Israel daily to remember Him (see Exodus 16:4–5), blessings of the tabernacle (see Exodus 25:8, 22; 29:43–46), how sacrifices described in the book of Leviticus pointed Israel to Jesus Christ (see Leviticus 1:3–9; 4:20–31; 16:21–22), and Caleb and Joshua’s response to the “evil report” (see Numbers 14:7–9)

• Lessons learned from entering the promised land and overtaking Jericho (see Joshua 6)

• The general timeline of key prophets: Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses (see “Bible Chronology” in the Bible appendix; see also LDS.org)

• Major individuals in the first part of the Old Testament: Adam, Eve, Moses, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Rachel, Esau, Joseph, Aaron, Caleb, Joshua, Balaam, Samson, Gideon, and Ruth

Doctrines and principles: Understand major doctrines and principles taught in the Old Testament.

• The role of Jesus Christ in the Creation (see Moses 1:32–33)

• Principles related to the Fall: what was done in the premortal life to overcome the Fall (see Moses 4:2), conditions after the Fall (see Moses 3:17; 4:11; 5:2; 6:48; 2 Nephi 2:22–23), and what Adam and Eve learned about the Fall after it occurred (see Moses 5:9–11)

• The doctrines of being born again (see Moses 6:59) and the Abrahamic covenant (see Abraham 1:19; 2:6–11; Genesis 17:1–7)

• Lessons learned about families and marriage from the Old Testament: reasons why marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God (see Moses 3:18–25), blessings reserved for individuals who remain faithful to their temple covenants (see Genesis 28:1–22; Old Testament Study Guide, 67–69), the relationship between husband and wife (see Moses 3:18–25; Genesis 2:24), commandments God has given those who are married (see Moses 2:26–28), and commandments God has given parents (see Moses 6:1, 5–6, 23)

Key terms: Understand the meaning of key terms.

• Choice seer (see Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:26–27 [in the Bible appendix]; 2 Nephi 3:6–7)