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(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.
(08:03) Joseph acknowledges to his brothers that God was aware of his trials, and that ultimately they were for his good.
(13:25) A comparison of God’s fairness and mercy.
(21:51) Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin for his father’s sake.
(26:41) The Savior can fix broken things.
(29:25) Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as tribes of Israel.
(38:34) A closer look at some complicated passages you may be wondering about.
(41:54) How the Egyptian Book of the Dead may be related to the book of Genesis.
(48:58) Jacob knew loss and what it was like to live in a world of chaos and sin.
(54:19) Jacob confers patriarchal blessings upon each of his sons before he passes away.
(1:02:13) The Bible and the Book of Mormon were destined to come together and bless the world.

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The post Ep 363 | Genesis 42-50, Come Follow Me 2026 (March 16-22) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) Joseph of Egypt: An example of living the covenant with steady discipleship.
(06:51) Shechem defiles Dinah. Simeon and Levi seek revenge by wiping out the inhabitants of the city.
(13:02) Rachel bears Benjamin and dies in childbirth. She is buried in Bethlehem.
(17:57) Reuben sins with Bilhah.
(21:29) Joseph is sold into Egypt by his brothers. Joseph is a visionary man.
(25:01) Alternate readings of “the coat of many colors.”
(28:45) In Jewish legend, Joseph of Egypt possessed a sacred stone that was passed down from Adam.
(36:05) Judah sins with Tamar, his widowed daughter-in-law, and she bears twins.
(43:11) Joseph rises to prominence wherever he goes. Joseph is a seer.
(46:57) We can employ Joseph’s strategies for overcoming temptation.
(51:34) Joseph interprets dreams and eventually becomes a ruler of Egypt.
(55:46) Finding temple symbolism in this story.
(58:41) Joseph marries Asenath. Hugh Nibley’s research teaches us more about her identity.
(1:03:49) Joseph as a type of Christ.
(1:06:48) As descendants of Joseph, we are called to gather God’s children.

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The post Ep 362 | Genesis 37-41, Come Follow Me 2026 (March 9-15) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) Those searching for an eternal companion can learn valuable lessons from the story of Isaac and Rebekah.
(04:18) “He shall send his angel before thee to help” in Genesis 24.20.
(06:47) A caution: The Lord may have not chosen one particular person to be your spouse.
(09:16) The servant’s test of how to choose an eternal companion. If you are looking for a 3-3 marriage, be a 3!
(23:05) Four ways to read the text, with three important lenses. The temple symbolism of Rebekah at the well.
(30:17) Abraham marries Keturah after the death of Sarah.
(33:15) The sons of Ishmael and their “castles” in Genesis 25.12-18.
(34:50) Abraham died and was gathered to his people. These verses echo eternal truths regarding the reunification of families in the Spirit World after death.
(38:38) Rebekah and Isaac have twins named Jacob and Esau. These men represent two nations.
(45:51) Esau is the progenitor of the Edomites.
(49:20) Esau sells the birthright in Genesis 25.29-34. Esau’s tears remind us to not despise the blessings within our reach.
(57:46) The people of the covenant always seek sacred places to commune with God.
(1:03:13) The literal reading (peshat) of Genesis 27.1-40 with 4 points of emphasis from the Institute Manual.
(1:10:27) Patterns, types, and figures may provide deeper meaning to Genesis 27. Reading this text with an allegorical (remez) and sacred temple approach (sod).
(1:21:36) The three fold structure of the creation and the three Patriarchs may increase our understanding of temple symbolism and show us Rebekah’s essential purpose in this story.
(1:31:10) We can accept the responsibility of the Abrahamic Covenant by sharing the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jacob’s story emphasizes the importance of keeping the covenant in the family first.
(1:36:46) The geopolitical situation between Judah and Israel may have influenced the text.
(1:38:29) The Book of Mormon teaches that when we treat family like the enemy, we open the door to the real enemy.
(1:39:42) “Jacob’s Ladder” can be viewed as a heavenly vision of the Lord. Bethel as a representation of modern-day temples.
(1:47:56) Jacob meets Rachel at a well. The matriarchs are often associated with water.
(1:50:02) Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Leah first since she is the older sister. He then marries Rachel, but serves 7 years for her because he loves her. The challenges of plural marriage.
(1:53:47) The image of opening a mother’s womb as a manifestation of heavenly power. The sanctity of life is very important to God.
(1:58:30) The names of the children of Israel are puns that expose the rivalry between the sisters Rachel and Leah.
(2:06:20) Faith in God includes faith in his timing, even for righteous desires. God remembered Rachel and he will remember you.
(2:09:11) The Lord (or an angel) tells Jacob to leave Haran. Jacob and Laban hold a contest regarding the fertility of their flocks. Rachel hides Laban’s “household gods.”
(2:14:41) Jacob’s reconciliation with Laban through a covenant.
(2:18:38) Jacob asks God for a blessing to endure well and reconcile with Esau in Genesis 32. Jacob wrestles with a “man” or God. A comparison between Jacob’s wrestle in Genesis and Enos’ wrestle in the Book of Mormon.
(2:25:06) Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, which can mean “let God prevail.” We also receive a new name when we become followers of Christ and in other times of our lives. The symbol of the embrace.

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The post Ep 361 | Genesis 24-33, Come Follow Me 2026 (March 2-8) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) An overview of these chapters.
(02:05) Abraham’s prophetic call and the symbolism of the mighty tree with sacred associations.
(13:26) “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
(14:00) Hebrew word play with laugh, rejoice, and Isaac’s name. Doubts and hopes are tied together in this story.
(16:36) Abraham bargains with the Lord for Sodom and Gomorrah to be saved because he knows the mercy of God.
(23:25) The story of Sodom and Gomorrah also portrays God’s justice.
(24:34) Lot makes efforts to save his family from destruction in Genesis 19.
(29:33) Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom cost him his family.
(33:41) The troubling narrative of Lot’s two daughters and the cave in Genesis 19.30-38.
(38:22) Beauty for ashes in Isaiah 61.3. Through tragic experiences, beauty can come to pass. Your origin story is not who you are.
(41:48) Genesis 20 is a triplet of the same story. This chapter introduces the Elohist’s narrative, a source text most likely related to Lehi’s Brass Plates text.
(43:04) The long-promised day finally comes and Isaac is born. We should trust and have faith in promises that take time to be fulfilled. The Song of Sarah.
(44:57) Hagar and Ishmael are cast out of Abraham’s household and they wander in the wilderness. Their water runs out and God shows her a well of water. God helps us, but also wants us to do all we can.
(55:22) Complexities, gaps, and anachronisms in Genesis 21. A covenant, a sacred well, and a tree at Beer-sheba are illustrations of temple imagery, connecting the Patriarchs to figures of the temple and visionary experiences.
(58:41) The burial of Sarah in Genesis 23. Different ways to read Abraham’s “mourning” and “weeping” for Sarah.
(1:03:00) The Lord asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac upon Mount Moriah, the foundation stone, Jerusalem’s most sacred ground.
(1:06:47) We are here to be tested. We will have trials of faith equal to Abraham’s.
(1:11:05) Isaac is an excellent type of Jesus Christ. Elder Melvin J. Ballard shares his feelings regarding Heavenly Father sacrificing his Son.

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The post Ep 360 | Genesis 18-23, Come Follow Me 2026 (February 23-March 1) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant include preservation, protection, priesthood, power, a place, and posterity.
(09:20) The responsibility of the Abrahamic Covenant is to make Christ’s name known to the world and help all to obtain priesthood and temple blessings.
(19:29) The Lord places Abraham and his posterity, Israel, in the center of the world. Our challenge is to influence the world without being influenced by the world.
(29:51) Abraham and Sarah experience “The Hero’s Journey.” Sarah’s combat with Pharaoh is similar to Eve’s battle with the serpent.
(39:01) Abraham grants the superior land to Lot. We should be generous with others as was Abraham.
(40:32) Anachronisms in Genesis 14 are clues as to when it was written.
(43:20) Melchizedek has largely been removed from the Hebrew Bible, but was on the Brass Plates. Melchizedek is a type of Jesus Christ.
(49:57) Abraham and Sarah both gave God the benefit of the doubt in regard to his promise of having seed. Like them, we should do all we can to ensure the Lord’s promises are fulfilled.
(52:49) The ritual cutting of sacrificial animals in Genesis 15 relates to ancient covenant making.
(57:53) Abraham’s visionary experience included both light and darkness.
(1:01:04) The Lord tells Sarai to choose Hagar to bring forth Ishmael. The word used for bringing forth children relates to the idea of “building.”
(1:05:40) Circumcision is a token or sign of the covenant given to Abraham.
(1:07:04) How El Shaddai (the Almighty God) can be read as a representation of our Divine Mother in Heaven, with blessings connected to children and life. The historical evolution of Israel’s view of the nature of God.

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The post Ep 359 | Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2, Come Follow Me 2026 (February 16-22) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) Different approaches to reading the flood account.
(03:47) The flood can symbolize a second creation of the earth.
(05:55) A strange passage in Genesis 6.1-4. This text introduces concepts like Watchers, Giants, and a conflict between Enoch and the forces of darkness. It can be read as a polemic against Babylonian religious and political views.
(18:26) Mount Sinai and Mount Hermon as headquarters of the opposing forces of good and evil.
(25:01) Jesus addresses his disciples in Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon in Matthew 16.13-19.
(32:00) The harsh reality of the portrayal of destruction throughout the scriptures. The Book of Mormon provides a pattern for how to live in peace.
(39:05) The people of Noah’s day were swept off because the earth was corrupt and filled with violence.
(43:33) The Lord sent a prophet and gave them 120 years to change. The people were warned before they were destroyed.
(48:22) Noah’s Ark can be a symbol of the temple.
(57:19) A pattern of how to follow a prophet. It takes patience and faith to follow prophets in a day of peace.
(1:01:48) The bow in the cloud is a token of the covenant in Genesis 9.12-13. When we look up at the rainbow we are remembering the promise of God to bring Enoch and Zion to earth.
(1:06:35) Ways to read the curse Noah gives Canaan in Genesis 9.20-27.
(1:12:27) The Table of Nations in Genesis 10. The dividing of the land and the languages. The Tower of Babel as a polemic against the beliefs of the Babylonians.
(1:17:01) Our connection to Abraham and his covenant. God has promised to preserve us just as he preserved Noah.

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The post Ep 358 | Genesis 6-11; Moses 8, Come Follow Me 2026 (February 9-15) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) Moses 7 reveals the true character of God. He is an eternal being who weeps for His children.
(09:06) The law must be administered. Moses 7.38 – “a prison have I prepared for them.” There is an exit from hell as explained in D&C 19.
(14:51) Terryl and Fiona Givens share their view on “The God Who Weeps.”
(22:19) The teaching that “The Son of Man” will come down to earth, be lifted upon the cross, resurrected, and take up the saints to be crowned (Moses 7.53-56) is rejected by those that edited the Old Testament. Enoch, Lehi, and Nephi teach the message of the Messiah.
(27:40) Enoch literature is apocalyptic and was not included in the Christian canon.
(30:49) Many ideas in the Bible are influenced by the writings of Enoch.
(48:30) There is great wickedness upon the earth. Boyd K. Packer discussed how the youth of our day face greater challenges than those of his generation.
(57:24) Defining what Zion means. Enoch and his people established Zion and were taken up to God.
(1:06:04) In the last days, we are to gather again into a holy city called Zion and the city of Enoch will return.

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The post Ep 357 | Moses 7, Come Follow Me 2026 (February 2-8) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) The book of the generations of Adam. Another way to view the long lives of the early Patriarchs. The Sumerian King List may help give context to their ages.
(11:38) A brief overview of Enoch literature. The name Mahijah in Moses 6.40 was also found on second century fragments discovered at Qumran in 1948.
(19:13) Scriptures are a book of remembrance.
(21:15) Seers see things we cannot see.
(31:54) The call narrative. Enoch’s prophetic call is consistent with elements of the narrative call pattern.
(34:44) The Plan of Salvation as taught by Adam and Enoch is the same message the Savior taught. The Atoning Messiah is central to the plan, but was removed from the Old Testament.
(49:26) Another way of understanding “children conceived in sin” in Moses 6.55. This text can be connected to the Fallen Angels or the Watchers in 1 Enoch.
(54:50) Children of Christ versus Children of Satan as portrayed in Alma 5 and its connection to Moses 6.55.
(56:19) “Man of Holiness” in Moses 6.57 can be describing God as a man of the temple or the husband of the divine woman.
(58:55) An invitation to find Jesus everywhere.

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The post Ep 356 | Genesis 5; Moses 6, Come Follow Me 2026 (January 26-February 1) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) Heavenly Father’s plan in the premortal council and Jesus’ role as Savior. The Savior sought only the glory of the Father.
(06:15) The Serpent (Satan) comes to Eve. The serpent was subtle, a word with many meanings. 2 Nephi 2 explains how agency works its requirements.
(13:40) Adam and Eve were commanded to not eat the fruit and to also multiply and replenish the earth. A discussion on these potentially conflicting commands.
(20:23) Another view on the divine commandments given to Adam and Eve.
(26:01) Eve’s temptation and the Fall. Understanding Lehi’s discourse on the Fall helps us see how it was a blessing to all mankind.
(31:07) Reading Genesis 3 through the lens of the temple and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount will help us see layers of meaning.
(45:16) The curse given to the serpent as an allusion to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
(47:39) The curse given to Eve relates to sorrow in conception. Other ways to interpret “He shall rule over thee.” The curse given to Adam.
(58:54) Moses 4 introduces the two first laws of heaven: obedience and sacrifice.
(1:03:52) Moses 5 shows how Cain’s choices led him down a dark path.
(1:10:07) The Mahan principle is converting life into property.
(1:15:50) The Lord invited Cain to think about his choices. One lesson from this story for parents is “Don’t freak out!”
(1:19:54) Hidden meaning in the names of Cain and Abel. Their story can be read as a rivalry between two priesthoods.
(1:24:23) The Book of Mormon helps us see that the curse and mark put on Cain was an absence of the Light of Christ or a dark countenance.

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The post Ep 355 | Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5, Come Follow Me 2026 (January 19-25) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.

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(00:00) An overview of the The Old Testament.
(04:27) Bryce breaks down the Old Testament into nine time periods.
(09:41) Canonization and the creation of the Greek Septuagint. The authors of the New Testament quoted the Greek version of the Old Testament. The version that Jesus used is unknown.
(13:01) The Old Testament is not one book written by a single author. It is an anthology of books written over centuries by individuals. Later authors sometimes rejected and edited earlier authors. Remnants remain that multiple Gods participated in the creation. The first word in Genesis invites us to consider the Grand Pre-mortal Council.
(20:03) The creation accounts address why the world was created, not how. The purpose of the earth is to create eternal families.
(33:17) Ancient cultures shared the creation story at their temples during the New Year. The time-honored principle of marriage and family are connected to the purposes of creation.
(36:21) Chaos played a role in the formation of the earth. God transformed unorganized matter into something beautiful. The cosmology of the Bible invites modern readers to think about scripture differently.
(41:18) The temple takes us to the creation and the creation takes us to the temple because each us back to God.
(48:25) Moses 2 and 3 can be read as a single account. This is contrasted with the documentary hypothesis, where scholars believe Genesis 1 and 2 come from two different sources because of differences in the text.
(54:21) Seven eternal lessons in the creation account invite us to find success during our time on earth. Finding balance between work and rest.
(1:00:29) Seek spiritual things first, then temporal.
(1:01:50) Cherubim and a flaming sword foiled Satan’s plan and preserved the space between the trees. God protected our probationary estate. God knew from the very beginning that we would sin and need time to repent.
(1:13:11) Satan’s Plan B is to get us to take away our own or someone else’s probationary state. Toxic perfectionism is addressed. Continual progression is what matters to God.
(1:16:55) The river flowing out of Eden as a symbol for the division found in mortality. We must find ways to be unified.
(1:23:08) Instead of focusing on what we are missing, our focus should be on all our blessings.
(1:28:23) Pardes is an acronym to describe the ways of reading scripture: Peshat, remez, derash, and sod. The plain reading (peshat), allegorical or hidden reading (remez), the moral or imperative sense or application (derash), and the mystical, esoteric, or temple reading (sod).
(1:30:13) The rib in Genesis 2.22 symbolizes partnership in marriage.
(1:38:44) “Helper” or ʿēzer as found in Genesis 2.18 has often been misread and used to subjugate women. The term translated as “help meet” actually denotes the kind of powerful help that God gives. Eve’s position next to Adam places both in a setting as having dominion over the whole earth. Eve is called “Zoe” in the LXX, the mother of all the living ones. There is no kingdom without Eve.
(1:47:02) Fig leaves can represent covering our sins with bigger and bigger lies.
(1:52:47) Garments are a piece of the temple that we wear to remind us of our connection to the Savior’s atonement.

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The post Ep 354 | Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5, Come Follow Me 2026 (January 12-18) appeared first on LDS Scripture Teachings.