February 28–March 6

Genesis 28–33

“Surely the Lord Is in This Place”

As you read Genesis 28–33, ponder how the stories and principles in these chapters can bless the children you teach.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to toss or roll a ball to each other. When the children catch the ball, ask them to share something they are learning from the Old Testament, either at home or in Primary.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Genesis 28:10–22

Covenants help me return to Heavenly Father.

In a dream, Jacob saw a ladder leading up to heaven. The steps on the ladder can represent covenants we make with God, because these covenants help prepare us to return to His presence.

Possible Activities

• Read Genesis 28:12–13 to the children. Explain that the steps on the ladder can represent covenants that help us return to Heavenly Father. Invite the children to pretend they are climbing a ladder as you talk about times when we promise to obey God, such as when we are baptized, take the sacrament, or go to the temple. Help the children think of ways they can prepare to make covenants when they are baptized.

• Read Genesis 28:15 to the children, emphasizing the words “I am with thee” and “I will not leave thee.” Explain that God has promised to always be with us as we try to choose the right. Help the children think of things they can do to feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Genesis 29:16–28

I should always keep my promises.

Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years so that he could marry Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob kept this agreement, but Laban did not. Consider using this story to teach the children about the importance of keeping our promises.

Possible Activities

• Read Genesis 29:18, 20 to the children, and explain that Jacob kept his promise to work seven years for Laban so he could marry Rachel, even though this was a long time to work (see also “Jacob and His Family” in Old Testament Stories). Help the children think of promises they might make to other people. Why is it important to keep our promises? Help them understand that a covenant is a sacred promise between God and each of us. Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ always keep Their promises.

• Sing together and discuss a song about honesty, such as “I Believe in Being Honest” or “Stand for the Right” (Children’s Songbook, 149, 159).

Genesis 33:1–4

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help me love my family.

Most children know what it’s like to be angry with a sibling. The story of how Jacob and Esau overcame their anger toward each other may be inspiring to them.

Illustration of Jacob and Esau embracing, by Robert T. Barrett

Possible Activities

• Help the children remember why Esau was angry at Jacob (see Genesis 27:41 or “Jacob and Esau” in Old Testament Stories). Ask the children to show you what an angry face looks like. Explain that after many years, Jacob was afraid to visit Esau. Ask the children to show you what a scared face looks like. What should we do when we are afraid? Invite the children to pretend to pray while you read what Jacob said in his prayer (see Genesis 32:11). Then read in Genesis 33:4 what happened when Esau saw Jacob. Ask the children to show you how Jacob’s and Esau’s faces might have looked when they saw each other again.

• Show the picture of Jacob and Esau found in this outline. Let the children describe what they see in the picture. Tell them that there had been bad feelings between these two brothers, but they chose to forgive each other. Help the children think of how they could show more love to someone in their family, just as Jacob and Esau showed love to each other.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Genesis 28:10–22

Covenants help me return to Heavenly Father.

You can use Jacob’s dream of a ladder ascending into heaven to teach the children that keeping our covenants prepares us to enter God’s presence.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read Genesis 28:10–15 and then draw a picture of Jacob’s dream. Ask them to share their pictures. Explain that the ladder represented a way for Jacob to return to God. What has God given to help us return to Him? (see this week’s activity page). Remind the children of their baptismal covenant. How does living this covenant bring us closer to God?

• Show a picture of a temple, and write on the board key phrases from Genesis 28:15–17, such as: “I am with thee,” “The Lord is in this place,” “The house of God,” or “The gate of heaven.” Invite the children to find these phrases. Tell the children about how the temple and temple covenants help you feel close to the Lord.

Genesis 29:16–30

I believe in being honest.

Jacob kept his promise to serve Laban for seven years, but Laban tricked him. How can you use this story to help the children understand the importance of being honest even when others are dishonest?

Possible Activities

• Read together Genesis 29:16–30, and help the children summarize the events in these verses. How did Jacob react to being tricked? What can we learn from this account?

• On the board write What happens when we are dishonest? and What happens when we are honest? Invite the children to find answers by reading “Honesty and Integrity” (in For the Strength of Youth [2011], 19).

Genesis 32:6–11; 33:1–4

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help me love my family.

Esau was mad at Jacob, and Jacob was afraid to see Esau again, even after 20 years of being apart. But Jacob prayed for help, and Esau was able to overcome his anger. How can you use this story to teach children the importance of loving our families?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children what they remember about the relationship between Jacob and Esau (see Genesis 27:41 or “Jacob and Esau” in Old Testament Stories). Explain that after being away for about 20 years, Jacob was going to meet Esau again. Read together Genesis 32:6–11. How did Jacob feel? What did he do to get help? Testify that we can ask Heavenly Father for help when our family relationships are difficult. Read together Genesis 33:1–4 to discover how the Lord answered Jacob’s prayer.

• Share a personal experience or a story from a Church magazine about how to show greater love in our families. Invite the children to share their experiences as well. What can we do when a family member is angry toward us? To learn about what the Savior has taught us to do, see Matthew 5:43–45.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to share this week’s activity page with their families to help them learn from and remember Jacob’s dream.

Improving Our Teaching

Use pictures to help children understand scripture stories. Children often learn better when they can look at pictures of scripture stories or teachings. For instance, you could show a picture from this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.