The Red Sea

April 4–10

Exodus 14–17

“Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord”

As you read Exodus 14–17, record the spiritual impressions you receive. These impressions can help you plan to teach the scriptures and the truths you learn to the children.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Exodus 14–17 is filled with memorable stories. Invite some of the children to share a story they know from these chapters, along with something they learned from it.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Exodus 14:5–22

The Lord delivered Moses and his people.

Parting the Red Sea was a miracle that showed Moses and the Israelites how powerful the Lord is. Knowing about His power can help the children trust Him.

Possible Activities

• Think of ways to share the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in an interesting and memorable way. For example, you or another ward member could dress up like Moses to tell the story from Exodus 14:5, 9–10, 13–16, 19–22. The children could pretend that the chairs are the Red Sea, and they could follow the person portraying Moses as he makes a path between them. Or the children could pretend to be the water and move to separate sides of the room as Moses divides them. Emphasize that the Lord gave Moses the power to part the sea so the Israelites could be delivered from captivity.

• Invite the children to color the activity page as you review with them the story from Exodus 14:5–22. Then they could work together to tell the story using the activity page.

Exodus 15:23–25; 16:14–15; 17:1–6

The Lord will provide for my needs.

The accounts of the Lord providing food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness teach us that He can provide for our needs. Ponder what you can do to involve the children in learning these stories.

Manna from God fed Israel physically; we also need daily spiritual nourishment. Fresco by Leopold Bruckner

Possible Activities

• Help the children act out the events in Exodus 15:23–25; 16:14–15; 17:1–6, pretending to be Moses or the Israelites. If possible, bring an object to help tell each story, such as a branch (to heal the water at Marah), a jar or pot (to fill with manna), and a stick and rock (for the water at Horeb). How did God take care of the Israelites? How does He take care of us each day?

• Briefly share the stories in Exodus 15:23–25; 16:14–15; 17:1–6 (see also “The Israelites in the Wilderness” in Old Testament Stories). As you share, invite the children to draw pictures of each story. What do we learn about God from these stories?

Exodus 17:8–16

I can sustain our prophet.

The story of Aaron and Hur holding up the hands of the prophet Moses can be compared to our efforts to sustain our living prophet.

Possible Activities

• Invite three children to stand at the front of the room and represent Moses, Aaron, and Hur while you tell the story from Exodus 17:8–16. What can we do today to help our prophet, just as Aaron and Hur helped the prophet Moses?

• Display a picture of the living prophet, and ask the children who he is. Help the children remember some of the things that the prophet has taught us recently. Ask the children to share some of the ways they are following the prophet. Sing together a few verses of “Follow the Prophet,” including the last verse (Children’s Songbook, 110–11).

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Exodus 14:5–22

I can learn to always follow the Spirit.

Moses knew by revelation how to lead the Israelites across the Red Sea (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3). How can this story help the children you teach learn to act on personal revelation?

Possible Activities

• Display the picture of Moses parting the Red Sea in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Ask the children to review Exodus 14:5–22 and share something they know about the story. What does Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3 add to our understanding of the story? Tell about an experience when the Holy Ghost told you something in your mind or heart, and invite the children to talk about their experiences.

• Remind the children of the story of Nephi following the Spirit when he went to get the brass plates (see 1 Nephi 4:1–6). Help the children see that Moses also had to follow the Spirit when he led his people across the Red Sea. Help the children write a new verse to “Nephi’s Courage” (Children’s Songbook, 120–21) about how the Lord provided a way for Moses when he showed courage and followed the Spirit. Sing the new verse together.

Exodus 15:23–25; 16:14–15; 17:1–6

The Lord will provide for my needs.

If we turn to Jesus Christ, He can help us during difficult times in our lives, just as He helped the children of Israel.

Possible Activities

• Divide the class into pairs or small groups, and assign each group to read one of the following passages: Exodus 15:23–25; 16:14–15; 17:1–6. Ask the children in each group to draw pictures representing what they read in these verses, and then ask other class members to guess what they have drawn. Help the children identify what these stories teach about Jesus Christ. What trials do people have today? How do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us with our trials?

• As you review these stories, ask the children why bread and water were so important to the children of Israel. What would have happened if they hadn’t had these things? Help the children understand that the bread and water of the sacrament are spiritually necessary to us (see John 4:13–14; 6:35, 48–51). You might ask the children to share their feelings about the sacrament.

Exodus 17:8–16

We are blessed as we sustain our Church leaders.

The children of Israel were victorious in the battle against Amalek only when Moses had his hands raised in the air. What can we learn about sustaining our leaders from this story?

Possible Activities

• To help the children review the story in Exodus 17:8–16, write on the board: Who helped Moses during the battle? What did they do? What was the result? Invite the children to look for answers in the verses. What does this story teach about how we can help God’s kingdom be successful? What can we do to support, sustain, and follow our Church leaders?

• Invite the children to read Exodus 17:8–16 and draw a picture of what they read. Encourage them to write on their drawing a message they learn from the story. Why is this an important message for us today?

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to choose one of the stories from your discussion today. Help them think of something they can do during the next week to apply what that story teaches.

Improving Our Teaching

Children love stories. Children are better able to understand gospel principles when they can see them in the lives of real people. As you share scripture stories, consider sharing experiences from your life that teach the same principles. You could also invite the children to share their experiences.