May 9–15

Numbers 11–14; 20–24

“Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear”

One of the best ways to know what to focus on during class is to ask class members what they found meaningful as they studied the scriptures. This will reveal what is important to them and what they are ready to learn.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Sometimes all it takes to encourage class members to share insights from their study is to ask a simple question like “What did the Holy Ghost teach you as you read the scriptures this week?” Then give them time to ponder and respond.

Teach the Doctrine

Numbers 12

Speaking against the Lord’s prophet offends the Lord.

• Reading Numbers 12 can help class members understand the seriousness of speaking against the Lord’s prophet. You could invite class members to read this chapter and talk about how the Lord feels about His servants. Based on verses 1–2, what do you think it means to speak against the Lord’s prophet? What are the dangers of doing so? What can we learn from the actions of Moses and the Israelites in verses 13 and 15?

Numbers 12:3

“Moses was very meek.”

• Some people might be surprised to read that a leader as mighty as Moses, who stood before Pharaoh and performed stunning miracles with the Lord’s power, was also “very meek.” You could use Numbers 12:3 to begin a discussion about what true meekness is. You might refer to the definition in “Meek, Meekness” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). As a class, you could also look for indications of Moses’s meekness in Numbers 12.

• What other evidences of Moses’s meekness can we learn from? (see, for example, Exodus 18:13–25; Numbers 11:26–29; Hebrews 11:24–27; Moses 1:10–11). You might also read and discuss how the Savior demonstrated meekness (see Matthew 11:29; 27:11–14; Luke 22:41–42; John 13:4–5). What do the examples of Moses and the Savior—or of people we know—teach us about meekness? Why does God want us to be meek?

Numbers 13–14

With faith in the Lord, we can have hope for the future.

• As you discuss the story about the 12 Israelites scouting out the promised land and giving their report, consider asking class members how they feel this story could apply to situations they face. To help, you could invite class members to list things from Numbers 13:23–33 that could be compared to something in our lives. For example, the promised land might represent something the Lord wants us to accomplish, the clusters of grapes could be blessings, the giants could be the challenges we’ll face, and so on. Encourage class members to share what they feel the Lord might want them to learn from this story.

  

  Ten of the Israelite spies were afraid; Joshua and Caleb had faith. © Lifeway Collection/licensed from goodsalt.com

Numbers 21:4–9

If we look to Jesus Christ in faith, He can heal us spiritually.

• To help class members discuss the account in Numbers 21:4–9 and build their faith in the Savior, you could write questions like these on the board: What does the brass serpent represent? What might the snakebites represent? Why did some people refuse to look upon the brass serpent? How can we “look upon” it today? Class members could share answers they find as they read Numbers 21:4–9; 1 Nephi 17:40–41; Alma 33:18–22; and Helaman 8:13–15. What are some of the simple things the Savior invites us to do to receive His healing? Why is it sometimes hard to do such simple things? (see “Additional Resources” for some thoughts on this). Perhaps class members could share how doing these things has brought the Savior’s power into their lives.

Additional Resources

“Small and simple things.”

Elder L. Whitney Clayton told of a bishop who counseled ward members facing a variety of difficult challenges in their lives:

“His counsel to ward members very often included getting back to simple practices of faith, such as studying the Book of Mormon[,] … paying tithing, and serving in the Church with devotion. Frequently, however, their response to him was one of skepticism: ‘… What does doing any of those things have to do with the issues I’m facing?’

“… Those who are deliberate about doing the ‘small and simple things’ [Alma 37:6]—obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves and, in fact, may seem totally unrelated to them” (“Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 98).

Improving Our Teaching

Focus on what’s most important. It is not possible to cover every story or every principle. Follow the Spirit, and consider the needs of class members as you decide how to spend class time. Remember that the home, not the classroom, is the center of gospel learning.