Please share the blog address (http://www.sundaywithabbie.blogspot.com/) and reward incentive with others! Don't forget to leave a thoughtful comment so I will know how many treats to prepare.
The PURPOSE of this lesson is twofold. To help class members to (1) learn how to make all experiences and circumstances work together for their good and (2) strengthen their commitment to obey the Lord's standard of sexual morality.
Introduction/Background (Old Testament Institute Guide pg.93):
“The story of Joseph, the son of Jacob who was called Israel, is a vivid representation of the great truth that ‘all things work together for good to [those] who loved God.’ (See Rom. 8:28.) Joseph always seemed to do the right thing; but still, more importantly, he did it for the right reason. And how very, very significant that is! Joseph was sold by his own brothers as a slave and was purchased by Potiphar, a captain of the guard of Pharaoh. But even as an indentured servant, Joseph turned every experience and all circumstances, no matter how trying, into something good.
“This ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a victory to the Lord. Joseph, although a slave and wholly undeserving of this fate, nevertheless remained faithful to the Lord and continued to live the commandments and made something very good of his degrading circumstances. People like this cannot be defeated, because they will not give up. They have the correct, positive attitude, and Dale Carnegie’s expression seems to apply: If you feel you have a lemon, you can either complain about how sour it is, or you can make a lemonade. It is all up to you.” (Hartman Rector, Jr., “Live above the Law to Be Free,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 130.)
What Were Joseph’s Reasons for Refusing Potiphar’s Wife?
Joseph’s answer to the advances of Potiphar’s wife shows his great personal righteousness. King
Benjamin taught the Nephites that “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). If that principle were to be stated negatively, it would read, “When ye are exploiting or sinning against your fellow beings, you are only sinning against God.” Joseph understood this principle perfectly and answered Potiphar’s wife by pointing out that it would be a terrible thing to take advantage of his master in this way. He took the next logical step when he added, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). 
Study the following scriptures:
a. Genesis 37. Joseph, eleventh son of Jacob, is hated by his brothers and sold into slavery.
b. Genesis 39. Joseph prospers as a slave but is accused of immorality and sent to prison (39:1–20). The keeper of the prison gives Joseph responsibility over the other prisoners (39:21–23).
c. Genesis 34:1–12; 35:22; 38:1–30. The sin of immorality has negative consequences on Jacob’s family (34:1–12; 35:22; 38:1–30).
Jacob’s wives bore him twelve sons, who became the beginnings of the twelve tribes of Israel (the Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel; see Genesis 32:28). Jacob’s eleventh son was Joseph; as the eldest son of Jacob and Rachel, Joseph received the birthright when Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, lost it through unrighteousness (1 Chronicles 5:1–2).
• What did Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him to sin? (See Genesis 39:11–12.) How can we follow Joseph’s example when we are tempted?
• What can we learn from Joseph about turning bad experiences and circumstances into good ones? (See Genesis 39:20–23; see also Romans 8:28.)
Additional reading: Genesis 34:13–31.
3 comments:
You're Amazing! I love that you post your lessons in such an understandable way.
I am going to think of things as serving the Lord this week and have faith they will all work to good. Thanks for the reminder.
Do you mail your sweet rewards? ;) Since I will be far away teaching about prophets to a lot of sweet, small children? Love You!!!
The major point of the ability to turn everything into something good really struck me. That's a major part of happiness. With all of the trials and tribulations we face, it is with a positive attitude and turning them into something good that we don't wallow in self-pity and despair. I have seen the effects on people who don't attempt to turn experiences into good. They are miserable and try to bring others into the depths of despair with them. Another thought just occured to me that the theme for our stake conference goes very well with this lesson. This is a way we help strengthen one another by helping one another turn our experiences into good.
Not exactly the point of this lesson; but the most powerful lesson am trying to learn from Joseph is forgiveness.
Joseph Smith, too, had this Godly prophetic ability to forgive great wrongs frankly and directly.
I love this video of another Joseph, elder Wirthlin. His direction ties in perfectly with the Young Women's broadcast from last night where Elder Uchtdorf talked about the necessity of trials.
He said that between "Once Upon a Time" and "Happily Ever After" there must be something to overcome. How we respond to our circumstances defines us, not the circumstances themselves.
Post a Comment