The Birth and Calling of Moses Lesson 18

The Birth and Calling of Moses “Lesson 18: The Birth and Calling of Moses, ” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996), 75

It’s Circle Time! • I have a long piece of yarn with the ends tied together. • I need someone to hold it up in a circle using only their hands. • Hmm… it looks pretty difficult to make a circle with just one set of hands… We need a friend to help out. . .

• That looks a little better, but I think if we add in a few more friends we can make a better circle. • Just as each person was needed to help make the circle, each of us has a mission to fulfill in the kingdom of God. • In this lesson we will learn about the prophet Moses and the mission he was called to perform.

It’s Quiz Time! • What name did the Lord give to Jacob? • Let’s read Genesis 32: 28; 46: 2 –Israel • Where did the Lord tell Jacob to take his family? Why? • Let’s read Genesis 46: 3– 4 • What were the names of Jacob’s (Israel’s) twelve sons? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 1– 5

• • • Reuben Simeon • Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel, had twelve sons. Levi Judah • The family of each son was called a Dan tribe, and they were known as the Naphtali Twelve Tribes of Israel. Gad • The promises made by the Lord to Asher Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Issache passed down through those sons. r Their descendants would bring the • Zebulun blessings of the gospel to many • Joseph people throughout the world.

• Israel and the children of Israel were also known as Hebrews. • The Israelites were treated well by the Pharaoh, who gave them lands and gifts.

The Baby Moses • Joseph, his brothers and the pharaoh of Egypt died. Many years went by. The Israelites lived in Egypt a long time. They had many children.

• One pharaoh of Egypt did not like the Israelites. He thought there were too many of them. He was afraid they would take his land away from him. • The pharaoh made the Israelites slaves. The Egyptians made them work hard and were mean to them.

• The pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives to kill all of the baby boys they helped to be born. • But the midwives were faithful to the gospel and did not kill any of them.

• They told Pharaoh that the mothers had their babies before they (the midwives) could get there to help. • The pharaoh said all the Israelite baby boys must be killed. He sent soldiers to kill them.

• Why didn’t the new Pharaoh like the Israelites? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 7– 10 • Note: King of Egypt and Pharaoh are both names for the ruler of Egypt. • What did the new Pharaoh propose to do about the Israelites? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 11– 14

• What happened to the Israelites as the Egyptians enslaved them? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 12 • What did Pharaoh want the Hebrew midwives to do? Why? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 15– 16 • What did the midwives do? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 17– 19

• Whom did Pharaoh next order to kill the Hebrew babies? • Let’s read Exodus 1: 22 • What can we do if we are asked to do something we know is wrong?

• One Israelite mother, Jochebed, was afraid they would find her baby boy. • She hid him for three months. • Then Jochebed put her baby in a basket. She put the basket in the tall grass by the river. The baby’s sister, Miriam, stood by to watch the baby.

• The pharaoh had a daughter. She went to the river. • She saw the basket and opened it. The baby began to cry. The pharaoh ’s daughter felt sorry for the baby. She wanted to take him to her home. • She needed someone to take care of the baby. She wanted to be his mother.

• Miriam went to the pharaoh ’s daughter. Miriam said she would find an Israelite woman to take care of the baby. • She ran and got her mother. Jochebed came to take care of the baby.

• What did Moses’ mother do to save his life? • Let’s read Exodus 2: 2– 4 • Who watched over the baby Moses? • His sister, Miriam, and Heavenly Father

• What did Pharaoh’s daughter decide to do with the baby Moses when she found him? • Let’s read Exodus 2: 5– 10 • Who took care of Moses?

• They took the baby to the pharaoh’s house. The pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses. • Moses grew up in the pharaoh’s house.

• Moses grew to be a man. His people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt. He saw his people working too hard. Moses was sad for them. • One day Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite. In trying to stop the beating he killed the Egyptian.

• Moses fled Egypt to Midian. There he defended Jethro’s daughters against bullying shepherds. He married Zipporah, the oldest daughter. • Moses received the priesthood from his father-in -law and raised two sons.

• What happened when Moses tried to defend a Hebrew slave? • Let’s read Exodus 2: 11– 12 • Why did Moses leave Egypt? • Let’s read Exodus 2: 13– 15

• Moses was tending sheep near Mount Horeb (Sinai) and saw a bush that appeared to burn but was not destroyed. • Jesus Christ called Moses by name from the burning bush. • Jesus knew that the Israelites were not happy. He did not want them to be slaves.

• Jesus told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land. • Moses thought he could not lead the Israelites. Jesus said Aaron could help Moses. Aaron was Moses’ older brother.

• How did Moses find out what the Lord wanted him to do? • Let’s read Exodus 3: 2– 10; Moses 1: 1– 2, 25– 26 • What was Moses’ mission? Why was this a difficult mission? • Let’s read Exodus 3: 19– 20; 4: 10 • Why do you think the Lord sometimes asks us to do things that are difficult?

• How did Moses feel when God told him what his mission would be? • Let’s read Exodus 3: 11 • What did the Lord tell Moses that gave him strength and courage? • Let’s read Moses 1: 6 • What encouragement could you give to someone who feels overwhelmed by an assignment or trial? • Let’s read 1 Nephi 3: 7

• Moses was a prophet of God. Moses and Aaron went to the king of Egypt. They asked him to let the Israelites leave Egypt. • We’ll learn more of Moses’ story in our next four lessons.

• What important mission was performed by the Hebrew midwives? • by Miriam, Moses’ sister? • by Jochebed, Moses’ mother? • by the daughter of Pharaoh? • How did each of these people help make it possible for Moses to fulfill his mission? • How can you know what work the Lord has for you to perform?

• The following quotation is by Virginia H. Pearce, who served as First Counselor in the Young Women general presidency: “ Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of this world. They know me. They love me. They have a plan for my future. I will obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan. Sooner or later, everything will be okay” (“Faith Is the Answer, ” Ensign, May 1994, p. 92). Enrichment Activity #2

• How can you prepare yourself to fulfill your future callings?

• We can learn about our mission in life, as Moses did, by revelation from Heavenly Father. • Let’s read Moses 1: 25– 26 • Do you know what a patriarchal blessing is? • Patriarchs are ordained to give patriarchal blessings to members of the Church. Enrichment Activity #3

• These blessings may give us some understanding of our callings on earth. • They are the word of the Lord personally to us. • President Boyd K. Packer said: • “Members should seek blessings as they feel inspired to do so. There is no fixed age at which one may receive a patriarchal blessing. The bishop ensures that the member is of sufficient age and maturity to understand the meaning and significance of the blessing (November 2002 Ensign). Activity #3 Enrichment

• Each patriarchal blessing is sacred and not to be shared in detail with people outside your family. • Here is part of mine that I can share with you… Enrichment Activity #3

What are you doing to prepare for your mission in life? • I am going to list your responses on the chalkboard under the heading I Am Doing. What can you do in the future? • I am going to list your responses under the heading I Will Do. I encourage all of you to decide now to work toward goals that will prepare you to serve the Lord throughout your lives. Enrichment Activity #5

The following quotation is from President Gordon B. Hinckley: • “Every one of you was endowed by your Father in Heaven with a tremendous capacity to do good in the world. Train your minds and your hands that you may be equipped to serve well in the society of which you are a part. Cultivate the art of being kind, of being thoughtful, of being helpful. Refine within you the quality of mercy which comes as a part of the divine attributes you have inherited” (“The Light within You, ” Ensign, May 1995, p. 99). Enrichment Activity #5

• What did Moses give up to become the leader of the Hebrews? • Let’s read Hebrews 11: 24– 26 • If you had to choose only one of the following, would you rather be a disciple of Jesus Christ or rich and famous? Why?

Each of us has at least one mission to perform on earth God needs all of There are many us to help build important things His kingdom that Heavenly Do you have a Father and Jesus family member or need us to do friend who is a What types of missionary or has different missions served a may we serve? mission? Take turns writing on the board what kind of missions we can serve! Enrichment Activity #1

• “There is neither man nor woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and every body around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], p. 322). Enrichment Activity #1

Now, let’s look at the list on the board and find missions that will accomplish the things President Young mentioned. Enrichment Activity #1

• How did Moses help the daughters of the priest of Midian? • Let’s read Exodus 2: 16– 17 • The priest of Midian (also known as Reuel or Jethro) conferred the Melchizedek priesthood on Moses (see D&C 84: 6). • Moses married in the covenant when he married one of Jethro’s daughters.

Let’s do something a-maze-ing! Let’s solve this maze and read the signs out loud as we pass them. Enrichment Activity #4

• Hugh B. Brown, former counselor in the First Presidency, shared this story: • On Elder Brown’s farm grew a currant bush that had grown very large. Because it had been allowed to grow freely, it produced no blossoms and no currants. As Elder Brown cut off most of the long branches, he imagined what the currant bush might say if it could talk. Enrichment Activity #6

• “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. ” He thought, “I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush. ” As time passed, the currant bush grew blossoms and bore fruit. Enrichment Activity #6

• Years later Elder Brown was in the British Army, working toward becoming a general. He had passed all the necessary tests and felt confident he would receive the promotion. When he learned that he had been assigned to a less important position because he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was very disappointed. He wondered why God had allowed this to happen to him. He felt he had done everything he could to deserve the promotion. Enrichment Activity #6

• Then he remembered his own words years before. “I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do. ” He knelt to pray forgiveness. He realized that the Lord knew what his mission in life was to be and would bless him in fulfilling it as he continued to live righteously. (See “The Currant Bush, ” New Era, Jan. 1973, pp. 14– 15. ) Enrichment Activity #6

• Rather than spending his life as an important army officer, President Brown eventually was called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ and served in the First Presidency of the Church. • Sometimes we want things that would take our time and attention away from our life’s mission. We need to rely on the Lord’s guidance to help us choose wisely and accept what comes to us. Enrichment Activity #6

I WILL FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN • My life is a gift; my life has a plan. My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began. My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth. I will follow God’s plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth And in my home above. • Words and music: Vanja Y. Watkins, b. 1938. © 1981 IRI Enrichment Activity #7

• I bear my testimony that each of us has a mission to perform in this life. • It is important to live righteously in order to be worthy and able to serve. Heavenly Father will help and bless us as we strive to learn about and perform our mission.

• Images and clipart are from lds. org, sugardoodle. net and Microsoft Office. Hymn and lesson materials are from lds. org. The lesson and activities are from the Primary 6 Old Testament manual. The scripture story is from the September 1982 New Era, February 2002 Ensign, Old Testament Scripture Stories and text that accompanies the “Moses in the Bulrushes” & “Moses and the Burning Bush” pictures in the Gospel Art Picture Kit on lds. org. • No copyrighted materials were knowingly used in this presentation. Please do not use this presentation for commercial use.