Lesson 60

Exodus 33–40

Introduction

Because of the children of Israel’s sins, the Lord declared that they had lost the privilege of seeing His face and He withheld the higher priesthood and its ordinances from them. The Israelites willingly provided the materials necessary to build the tabernacle and then built it. Moses anointed and ordained Aaron and his sons. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Suggestions for Teaching

Exodus 33

Because of the children of Israel’s sins, the Lord declares that they cannot see His face

Read aloud the following scenarios concerning two young men. Ask students to listen for differences in their attitudes and beliefs.

1. A young man transgresses a commandment. He experiences guilt and shame. He believes that Heavenly Father will never forgive him of his sin.

2. A different young man transgresses the same commandment. He thinks the sin he has committed is not a big deal. He believes that because he is generally a good person, God will not punish him for his sin.

3. How would you summarize the differences between the attitudes and beliefs of these two young men?

4. What error do you notice in the belief of each young man? (The first falsely believes that God is not forgiving. The second falsely believes that God will not hold him accountable for his sins.)

5. What problems could arise from these false beliefs?

Remind students that the children of Israel sinned against God by worshipping the golden calf.

Invite students as they study Exodus 33–34 to look for truths that can help them understand how God works with us when we sin.

Ask a student to read Exodus 33:1–4 aloud. Invite the class to follow along, looking for why the children of Israel “mourned” (verse 4). You may need to explain that “evil tidings” (verse 4) means bad news.

• Why did the Israelites mourn?

• What does verse 3 teach us about the effect of sin on our relationship with the Lord? (Sin separates us from the Lord.)

Explain that Exodus 33:7 shows that Moses moved the tabernacle far away from the camp of Israel after the children of Israel lost the privilege of having the tabernacle in the camp as a consequence of their sins.

Point out that because Moses had not participated in sin with the children of Israel, he was worthy to be in the Lord’s presence. Invite a student to read Exodus 33:9–11 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for words or phrases that describe the relationship Moses had with the Lord.

Invite students to report what they found in Exodus 33:9–11.

Summarize Exodus 33:12–23 by explaining that Moses pleaded with the Lord to be with Israel as they journeyed toward the promised land. Because Moses found favor with the Lord, the Lord promised that He would be with the children of Israel.

Exodus 34

The Lord writes His law on new stone tables

Display the picture The Ten Commandments (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 14; see also lds.org/media-library).

Explain that the Lord commanded Moses to create another set of stone tables. Invite a student to read Exodus 34:1–2 aloud. Ask the class to look for what the Lord said He would write on the second set. Invite students to report what they find.

Explain that Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34:1–2 (in the Bible appendix) informs us that at this time the Lord withdrew the authority and ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood from Israel and replaced them with a law “after the law of a carnal commandment” (verse 2), which we call the law of Moses. Point out that the Lord did allow the Israelites to have the Aaronic Priesthood, which was the authority needed to perform the ordinances of the law of Moses; however, Moses continued to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood (see D&C 84:23–27; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 109).

Invite students to refer to the handout “Moses’s and Israel’s Experiences with Jehovah at Mount Sinai” (see lesson 52). (A completed version of the handout is located in the appendix of this manual.) In the space next to number 11 on the handout, invite students to write: God writes His law on new stone tables but withholds the higher priesthood and its ordinances.

Invite a student to read Exodus 34:4–7 aloud. Ask the class to look for what the Lord taught Moses about His attributes. You may need to explain that in this context the word longsuffering refers to the Lord’s patience with and mercy for His children, and the phrase “by no means clear the guilty” means the Lord is perfectly just and will hold the rebellious accountable for their actions (see verse 7, footnote e).

• What can we learn about the Lord from His teachings recorded in verses 6–7? (As students respond, write the following truths on the board: The Lord is merciful and forgiving. He is also perfectly just and will hold us accountable for our sins.)

• How does God extend both justice and mercy to His children? (Help students understand that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ [His suffering and death for us], we can repent and experience God’s mercy. However, if we choose not to repent, then we must suffer for our sins according to the law of justice. [See Alma 42:13–15; D&C 19:16–19.])

Invite students to write in their class notebooks or study journals about a time when they felt the Lord’s mercy, grace, longsuffering, or goodness in their lives. Ask if there are any students who have an experience to share with the class, but caution them to not share anything which is too personal or sacred. Invite students to ponder how the truths in Exodus 34:6–7 can help them as they seek to repent of the things they have done wrong.

Summarize Exodus 34:8–35 by explaining that after learning that the Lord is merciful and perfectly just, Moses pled on behalf of the Israelites for the Lord’s mercy and asked that they might once again be considered the Lord’s covenant people. The Lord responded to Moses’s request by declaring that Israel would be His people if they would cease from making and worshipping idols and would keep His covenant by obeying the commandments. Moses then descended Mount Sinai and taught the Lord’s words to the people.

Exodus 35–40

The Israelites obey the Lord’s command to build the tabernacle

Ask a student to leave the room for a minute or two. Invite two other students to the front of the room, and explain to them that they will each role-play giving a gift to the student who just left the room. Explain that you would like one student to offer his or her gift willingly and the other student to offer his or her gift grudgingly. Give them a few moments to think about how they could demonstrate these attitudes in an obvious way. Provide small gifts for them to give. (The gifts could be empty boxes or other small objects to symbolize gifts.) Invite the student waiting outside the room to come back in and stand at the front of the room. Ask each of the gift givers to offer his or her gift, one at a time.

Ask the receiver of the gifts the following questions:

• What was the difference between how these two gifts were offered to you?

• How did you feel when you were offered a gift grudgingly? How did you feel when a gift was offered willingly?

Thank the students for participating, and invite them to sit down. Then tell the class that we read in Exodus 35 that the children of Israel offered gifts to the Lord. Explain that as recorded in Exodus 35:1–3, Moses gathered the children of Israel together. After telling them to observe the Sabbath day, he asked the people to give of their substance in order to build the tabernacle. Invite a student to read Exodus 35:4–5 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what the Lord commanded the Israelites regarding the offerings they gave to build the tabernacle.

• What did the Lord command regarding the offerings given to build the tabernacle?

Invite students to read Exodus 35:20–22, 29 silently, looking for how the people responded to the Lord’s command. Invite students to consider marking what they find.

• What can we learn from these verses about how the Lord desires us to give offerings? (Students may use different words, but they should suggest a principle similar to the following: The Lord desires that we give our offerings to Him with a willing heart.)

• What are some offerings we can give to the Lord?

• Why do you think the Lord wants us to give these offerings willingly?

• Invite students to think of a time when they have seen someone willingly make offerings to the Lord. Ask a few students to share their observations with the class.

To help students think about how willingly they give offerings to the Lord, provide a copy of the following chart on a handout to each student, and invite students to fill it out. You could change any of the scenarios to better meet the needs of students.

Weighing My Willingness

	Willingly	Somewhat willingly	Not very willingly
1. I attend and participate in my church meetings and classes.
2. I do service for others.
3. I pay my tithing and fast offerings.
4. I participate in activities with my family.
5. I obey my parents.

© 2018 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

After students fill out the chart, ask them to think about whether they give their offerings willingly or grudgingly.

Ask students to write down a specific offering they would like to give to the Lord. Invite them to set a goal to make that offering willingly. Encourage them to put their chart in a place where it will remind them to fulfill their goal.

Summarize the rest of Exodus 35–40 by explaining that hundreds of thousands of Israelites freely made an offering and the tabernacle was completed.

Show or draw the following illustration, and explain that the tabernacle would have looked something like this when set up.

(See the video presentation in the Supplemental Teaching Idea on the tabernacle in lesson 57 for a depiction and explanation of the tabernacle.)

Explain that when the tabernacle was completed, sacred ordinances were administered to Aaron and his sons, which prepared them to officiate in the ordinances that would be performed in the tabernacle. Explain that “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34–35), meaning that His light and spiritual presence remained there day and night.

Testify to students of God’s love for them and of His desire for them to repent and to freely give of themselves so that they can enjoy His presence in their lives. Invite students to consider how they might show their love to God by giving offerings to Him willingly.

Commentary and Background Information

Exodus 34:1–2. Joseph Smith Translation clarification of Exodus 34:1–2

The Joseph Smith Translation adds an important clarification to Exodus 34:1–2 that helps us understand that the Lord said He would not write all of the same things on the second set of tables:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in their midst, lest I destroy them.

“But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me, in the top of the mount” (Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34:1–2 [in the Bible appendix]).

Supplemental Teaching Ideas

Exodus 40:12–15. “An everlasting priesthood”

Invite a student to read Exodus 40:12–15 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what the Lord told Moses to do with Aaron and his sons. Invite students to report what they find.

• Why do you think Moses was chosen to anoint Aaron and his sons and to confer the priesthood on them? (As students respond, point out that Moses held the Melchizedek Priesthood and the keys to confer a lesser priesthood on Aaron and his sons.)

Invite a student to read Hebrews 5:4 aloud. Then ask:

• According to Hebrews 5:4, who decides who can be ordained to the priesthood? (“No man take[s] this honour unto himself.” He must be “called of God.”)

• What can we learn from these verses about how a person receives the priesthood? (Students may identify a variety of doctrines and principles. After they respond, write the following doctrine on the board: Those who receive the priesthood must be called of God and ordained by those who have authority.)

To help students understand more about this doctrine, explain that the Lord instructed Moses to confer the Levitical Priesthood on the men of the tribe of Levi. The Levitical Priesthood authorized them to perform the outward ordinances of the law and the gospel, such as helping with animal sacrifices. Because Aaron was anointed to preside over this priesthood, it is commonly called the Aaronic Priesthood or the Priesthood of Aaron. This priesthood was held by direct descendants of Aaron, who presided over the ordinances performed in the tabernacle. Today, those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood hold “the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion” (D&C 13:1).

Exodus 40:17–38. The glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle

Ask students to read Exodus 40:19 silently, looking for wording that is similar to what they read in Exodus 40:16. Invite them to consider marking what they find.

• What familiar wording did you find? (The similar phrase is “as the Lord commanded Moses.”)

Invite students to look for the same wording in Exodus 40:21 and to consider marking it. Ask them to continue scanning Exodus 40:22–32 silently, looking for each time the phrase is repeated. Invite students to consider marking each instance that this phrase appears in these verses.

• From what you have found (or marked), what might we learn from what Moses and the children of Israel did with the instructions the Lord gave them?

Invite a student to read the first word of Exodus 40:34 aloud. Explain that the word then here is a clue that can help students to identify a principle.

Invite students to consider drawing lines in their scriptures from each occurrence of the phrase “as the Lord commanded Moses” to the word “then” at the beginning of verse 34. Then ask a student to read Exodus 40:34–38 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what happened because of Israel’s obedience in building the tabernacle.

• What was the result of the Israelites’ obedience? (Help students understand that the cloud and fire, which symbolized the presence of the Lord, could help the children of Israel to know that their sacrifices were accepted by the Lord and that He would guide them in their journeys. [See Bible Dictionary, “Shechinah.”])

• What principle can we learn from the Israelites’ example about how to invite the Lord to be with us? (Students may express a principle similar to the following: The Lord will be with us and guide us if we strive to keep His commandments with exactness. Invite students to consider recording this principle in their scriptures.)

To help students understand why we want the Lord to guide our lives, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018):

“My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us” (Thomas S. Monson, “Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 89).

• According to President Monson, what blessings do we receive from having the Lord guide our lives?

Ask students to think about a time when they or someone they know was guided by the Lord. Invite a few students to share their experiences with the class.

Encourage students to obey the commandments of the Lord so that they can be guided by Him and find happiness.