May 2–8

Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 16; 19

“Holiness to the Lord”

As you have meaningful experiences studying the scriptures, you will be able to teach and testify when you meet with class members on Sunday. What can you do to encourage class members to do the same?

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

The chapters in this week’s reading use symbols to teach about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. You could begin class by inviting class members to write or draw on the board something they found in Exodus 35–40 or Leviticus 1; 16; 19 that taught them about the Savior. Invite them to talk about what they learned.

Teach the Doctrine

Exodus 35–40

The Lord wants us to become holy as He is.

• As class members studied Exodus 35–40 this week, they may have pondered how elements of the ancient tabernacle turn their thoughts to Jesus Christ. If they did, encourage them to share their thoughts. The table in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families could help with this discussion. You could also talk about what these symbols connected with the tabernacle teach about becoming more holy. How does Jesus Christ help us become more holy?

• For many, the idea of becoming more holy may seem out of reach. How will you help class members understand that becoming holy is part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us? You could read together President Henry B. Eyring’s statement in “Additional Resources.” What does it mean to become holy? How do our latter-day temples and the work we do there help us become more holy? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–24; 109:6–26; 128:15–18). You could then ask class members to share how these things have helped them—or others they know—become more holy.

• The Israelites’ tabernacle in the wilderness is similar in many ways to our latter-day temples. You might invite class members to list things they learned about the tabernacle in Exodus 35–40 that remind them of what we experience in the temple. If they need help, you could point them to verses in Exodus 40 referring to a veil, altars, sacred clothing, washings, and anointings. How does the temple help us come unto Christ? What can we do to focus our time in the temple on Him?

Leviticus 1:1–9; 16

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven.

• Although the idea of animal sacrifice may seem strange to us today, there is much we can learn from this practice about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. To begin a discussion, you could display pictures of the Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 56, 57). Class members could share words that they feel relate to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Then invite class members to review Leviticus 1:1–9 or Leviticus 16, which describe animal sacrifices, and find words that they feel also relate to the Savior’s sacrifice. How can these ancient sacrifices help us better understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Class members could sing a hymn about the Savior and share their feelings about Him.

  

  The children of Israel gave offerings for the tabernacle with “a willing heart” (Exodus 35:5). Illustration by Corbert Gauthier, © Lifeway Collection/licensed from goodsalt.com

• It may be helpful for class members to compare sacrifices the Lord required in Old Testament times with the sacrifices He asks of us today. For example, they could list ways we make sacrifices for the Lord and His work, such as serving in callings, paying fast offerings, doing family history work, or ministering to each other. Then you could read together Leviticus 1:1–9 and invite class members to look for elements of the offerings described in these verses that could relate to offerings the Lord asks us to give today (see 3 Nephi 9:19–20; Doctrine and Covenants 64:34). What can we learn from Moses 5:7 about how we should view our sacrifices for the Lord’s work?

Additional Resources

God can make us holy.

President Henry B. Eyring taught:

“Greater happiness comes from greater personal holiness. … The scriptures teach us that among other things, we can be sanctified or become more holy when we exercise faith in Christ, demonstrate our obedience, repent, sacrifice for Him, receive sacred ordinances, and keep our covenants with Him. …

“The hymn ‘More Holiness Give Me’ [Hymns, no. 131] suggests a way to pray for help in becoming more holy. The author wisely suggests that the holiness we seek is a gift from a loving God, granted over time, after all we can do” (“Holiness and the Plan of Happiness,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 100–101, 103).

Improving Our Teaching

Use sacred music. The messages in hymns can reinforce the doctrine in the scriptures. For instance, singing a hymn like “More Holiness Give Me” or “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, nos. 131, 193) could reinforce some of the messages taught in Leviticus 16 and 19.