“Lesson 17: Joseph Forgives His Brothers,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),71.

“Lesson 17: Joseph Forgives His Brothers,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),71

I have a quiz on forgiveness I have a quiz on forgiveness for you…for you…

• Each of you will Each of you will get a piece of get a piece of paper and a pencil. paper and a pencil.

• Write the numbers Write the numbers 1 through 5 down 1 through 5 down the left side of the the left side of the paper.paper.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1.1. Are you forgiving when you say, “I Are you forgiving when you say, “I forgive you, but I will never forget forgive you, but I will never forget how unkind you have been to me”?how unkind you have been to me”?

2.2. Are you forgiving when you are Are you forgiving when you are happy that something bad happens happy that something bad happens to someone you do not like?to someone you do not like?

3.3. Are you forgiving when you want to Are you forgiving when you want to get even with someone who pushed get even with someone who pushed or hit you?or hit you?

Answer these questions Answer these questions “yes” or “no”“yes” or “no”

4.4. Are you forgiving when you stop Are you forgiving when you stop talking to someone who told lies talking to someone who told lies about you?about you?

5.5. Are you forgiving when you speak Are you forgiving when you speak unkindly about the person who unkindly about the person who does not choose you to be on his does not choose you to be on his or her team?or her team?

• The correct answer to all the The correct answer to all the questions is no. questions is no.

Answer these questions Answer these questions “yes” or “no”“yes” or “no”

To truly forgive we must:To truly forgive we must:

1. Overcome our 1. Overcome our angry feelings.angry feelings.

2. Not judge or 2. Not judge or criticize others.criticize others.

3. Forget about 3. Forget about what was what was done.done.

• This lesson is This lesson is about how about how Joseph Joseph forgave his forgave his brothers for brothers for being unkind being unkind to him.to him.

• Can one of you retell how Joseph’s Can one of you retell how Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt?Egypt?

•The famine was The famine was in other lands, in other lands, too. People too. People heard about heard about the food in the food in Egypt. Egypt.

Joseph’s Brothers Joseph’s Brothers in Egyptin Egypt

•They went to Egypt to They went to Egypt to buy food. Jacob sent his buy food. Jacob sent his ten oldest sons to Egypt ten oldest sons to Egypt to buy food. to buy food.

•Joseph saw his Joseph saw his brothers. They did brothers. They did not know him. He not know him. He did not tell them he did not tell them he was their brother. was their brother.

•When they bowed When they bowed down to Joseph, down to Joseph, his dreams of the his dreams of the grain and the grain and the stars came true. stars came true.

•Why did Jacob send his sons to Why did Jacob send his sons to Egypt to buy corn? Egypt to buy corn?

•Let’s read Genesis Let’s read Genesis 41:56–57; 42:1–241:56–57; 42:1–2

•Which of Jacob’s sons did not go? Which of Jacob’s sons did not go? Why?Why?

•Let’s read Genesis Let’s read Genesis 42:3–442:3–4

•What prophetic dream did What prophetic dream did Joseph’s brothers fulfill when Joseph’s brothers fulfill when they bowed down to him? they bowed down to him?

•Let’s read Genesis Let’s read Genesis 37:7–8; 42:637:7–8; 42:6

•Joseph pretended to Joseph pretended to think that his think that his brothers were spies. brothers were spies. He kept Simeon as a He kept Simeon as a hostage so that the hostage so that the others would bring others would bring Benjamin to Egypt. Benjamin to Egypt.

•Before the nine brothers Before the nine brothers left, Joseph had all of the left, Joseph had all of the money that they had paid money that they had paid for food hidden inside their for food hidden inside their sacks of corn.sacks of corn.

•Why didn’t Joseph’s brothers recognize Why didn’t Joseph’s brothers recognize him? him?

•Let’s read Genesis 42:7–8, 23Let’s read Genesis 42:7–8, 23

• It had been twenty-two years since they It had been twenty-two years since they had seen Joseph. When they sold him had seen Joseph. When they sold him into slavery in Egypt he was seventeen, into slavery in Egypt he was seventeen, and now he was a mature man. and now he was a mature man.

• They didn’t expect to ever see Joseph They didn’t expect to ever see Joseph again, nor did they expect him to be the again, nor did they expect him to be the second most powerful man in Egypt. second most powerful man in Egypt.

• Also, he spoke to them in another Also, he spoke to them in another language, communicating with them language, communicating with them through an interpreter.through an interpreter.

•How did Joseph know How did Joseph know that his brothers felt that his brothers felt guilty about what they guilty about what they had done to him? had done to him?


•The brothers didn’t know The brothers didn’t know Joseph could understand Joseph could understand what they were saying.what they were saying.

•How can we get rid of How can we get rid of feelings of guilt?feelings of guilt?

•What did Joseph tell his What did Joseph tell his brothers they needed to brothers they needed to do before he would sell do before he would sell grain to them? grain to them?

•Let’s read Let’s read Genesis 42:15–Genesis 42:15–16, 2016, 20

•When Israel’s When Israel’s family had eaten family had eaten all the food that all the food that had been brought had been brought from Egypt, the from Egypt, the nine brothers nine brothers returned to Egypt returned to Egypt with Benjamin. with Benjamin.

•Joseph invited them to Joseph invited them to dinner at his house. dinner at his house.

•Why didn’t Jacob want Why didn’t Jacob want Benjamin to go to Egypt?Benjamin to go to Egypt?

•Let’s read Genesis Let’s read Genesis 42:36, 3842:36, 38

•Why did Jacob finally agree to Why did Jacob finally agree to let Benjamin go with his let Benjamin go with his brothers? brothers?


• How did Joseph feel How did Joseph feel when he saw his when he saw his brother Benjamin? brother Benjamin?

•Let’s read Let’s read Genesis 43:29–Genesis 43:29–3030

• Why do you think Joseph felt Why do you think Joseph felt especially close to Benjamin? especially close to Benjamin?

• Joseph and Benjamin had the same Joseph and Benjamin had the same mother.mother.

•What did Joseph do to prevent his What did Joseph do to prevent his brothers from returning to Canaan? brothers from returning to Canaan?

•Let’s read Genesis 44:1–5, Let’s read Genesis 44:1–5, 11–1311–13

•Why do you think he did that?Why do you think he did that?•What did Judah do that showed he What did Judah do that showed he

had repented and become a kinder, had repented and become a kinder, more caring person? more caring person?

•Let’s read Genesis 43:8–9; Let’s read Genesis 43:8–9; 44:31–3444:31–34

•What could you do to be kinder What could you do to be kinder and more caring in your family?and more caring in your family?

• It had been It had been Judah’s idea Judah’s idea to sell Joseph to sell Joseph to the to the Ishmaelites.Ishmaelites.

•Joseph told his Joseph told his brothers who he brothers who he was. They were was. They were afraid because they afraid because they had sold him into had sold him into slavery.slavery.

•Joseph said they Joseph said they should not be should not be afraid. God sent him afraid. God sent him to Egypt to save to Egypt to save them from the them from the famine. famine.

•What benefits did Joseph realize had What benefits did Joseph realize had come because of his being sold into come because of his being sold into Egypt? Egypt?

•Let’s read Genesis 45:5–8Let’s read Genesis 45:5–8• Each time Joseph faced a difficult Each time Joseph faced a difficult

situation, he had a good attitude, situation, he had a good attitude, and he turned a bad experience into and he turned a bad experience into a positive experience. a positive experience.

•What difficult What difficult situations do situations do you face that you face that you could turn you could turn into positive into positive experiences?experiences?

• Joseph told them to Joseph told them to tell his father he was tell his father he was alive. Joseph said all alive. Joseph said all of Jacob’s family of Jacob’s family should come to should come to Egypt. He would take Egypt. He would take care of them. care of them.

•The brothers were The brothers were happy. They went happy. They went home. They told home. They told Jacob that Joseph Jacob that Joseph was alive. Jacob was was alive. Jacob was very happy. very happy.

•Jacob and his sons Jacob and his sons took their families to took their families to Egypt. They were Egypt. They were called Israelites. The called Israelites. The king of Egypt gave king of Egypt gave the Israelites land the Israelites land and animals. They and animals. They were happy to be in were happy to be in Egypt. Egypt.

•Before Jacob died, he Before Jacob died, he blessed all of his blessed all of his sons. sons.

•How did Joseph show that How did Joseph show that he had forgiven his he had forgiven his brothers? brothers?

•Let’s read Let’s read Genesis 45:9–11, Genesis 45:9–11, 14–1514–15

•How do you think he felt? How do you think he felt? •How do you feel when you How do you feel when you

forgive someone who has forgive someone who has been unkind? been unkind?

Enrichment Activity #1

• How do you feel when How do you feel when someone forgives you?someone forgives you?

• Why do we all need to Why do we all need to learn to forgive others? learn to forgive others?

•Let’s read Let’s read Matthew 6:14–15; Matthew 6:14–15; D&C 64:10D&C 64:10

• Do you have a any Do you have a any positive experiences you positive experiences you have had with forgiveness have had with forgiveness to share?to share?

• I need someone who is I need someone who is feeling strong to hold this feeling strong to hold this bag as I put each rock in. bag as I put each rock in.

• Now I need you to hold Now I need you to hold the bag for a while. the bag for a while.


• Each rock represents an Each rock represents an angry or hurt feeling. angry or hurt feeling.

• When we keep our angry When we keep our angry and hurt feelings, they and hurt feelings, they become burdens to us. become burdens to us.

• People are more important People are more important than problems.than problems.


• If we can forgive others, If we can forgive others, our burden will be gone our burden will be gone and we will feel better. and we will feel better.

• It is important to forgive It is important to forgive others and continue to love others and continue to love and care about them. and care about them.

• Be as forgiving as Joseph Be as forgiving as Joseph was to his brothers.was to his brothers.

• Share this activity with your Share this activity with your families. Discuss with them families. Discuss with them how keeping angry or hurt how keeping angry or hurt feelings is like carrying feelings is like carrying around a bag of heavy rocks.around a bag of heavy rocks.


• Let’s use Let’s use these props these props to role-play to role-play one part of one part of the story of the story of Joseph and Joseph and his brothers.his brothers.


•Let’s read Matthew 6:14–Let’s read Matthew 6:14–15 and discuss its 15 and discuss its meaning. meaning.

• If you forgive others, you will feel If you forgive others, you will feel happier and Heavenly Father will happier and Heavenly Father will forgive you for your wrongdoings. forgive you for your wrongdoings. • Think of someone who has hurt your Think of someone who has hurt your

feelings. feelings. • I challenge you to pray for that person I challenge you to pray for that person

and then do something kind for them. and then do something kind for them. Enrichment Activity #3

• In the Olympics the best athletes In the Olympics the best athletes receive medals for their performances. receive medals for their performances.

• Spiritual performance is much more Spiritual performance is much more important than athletic performance, important than athletic performance,

and each of us will be blessed by and each of us will be blessed by forgiving those who offend us. forgiving those who offend us.


• I have a medal for each of you I have a medal for each of you for accepting the challenge to for accepting the challenge to return kindness for an unkind return kindness for an unkind deed. The medal is a reminder deed. The medal is a reminder

of what you promised to do.of what you promised to do.

Doctrine and Covenants Doctrine and Covenants 64:1064:10

10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom 10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.required to forgive all men.

• When we are full of angry feelings toward When we are full of angry feelings toward others, we cannot have the Holy Ghost to be others, we cannot have the Holy Ghost to be

with us. with us.

• Heavenly Father wants us to forgive so we Heavenly Father wants us to forgive so we can be free of those angry feelings and can be free of those angry feelings and

enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost. enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

• Let’s memorize the scripture. Let’s memorize the scripture. Enrichment Activity #5

1. Help me, dear Father, to freely 1. Help me, dear Father, to freely forgiveforgiveAll who may seem unkind to me. All who may seem unkind to me.

Help me each day, Father, I pray;Help me each day, Father, I pray;Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.

2. Help me, dear Father, to truly 2. Help me, dear Father, to truly repent,repent,Making things right, and changing Making things right, and changing my ways.my ways.

Help me each day, Father, I pray;Help me each day, Father, I pray;Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.Help me live nearer, nearer to thee.

• Words and music:Words and music: Frances K. Taylor, 1870–1952 Added text (verse 2) © 1989 IRI Frances K. Taylor, 1870–1952 Added text (verse 2) © 1989 IRI


• I bear my I bear my testimony to you of testimony to you of the importance of the importance of forgiving others. forgiving others.

• We must be able to We must be able to forgive in order to forgive in order to be forgiven. be forgiven.

• I have felt peace I have felt peace after I was able to after I was able to forgive.forgive.

• Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net and Microsoft Office. Hymn and lesson materialsare from lds.org. The lesson and activities are from the Primary 6 Old Testament manual. The scripture story is from Old Testament Scripture Stories and the June 1990 Friend from lds.org.

• No copyrighted materials were knowingly used in this presentation. Please do not use this presentation for commercial use.

“Lesson 17: Joseph Forgives His Brothers,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),71.

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Transcript of “Lesson 17: Joseph Forgives His Brothers,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),71.