ISRAELITES IN BONDAGE
Exodus CHAPTER 1 The children of Israel multiply—They are placed in bondage by the Egyptians—Pharaoh seeks to destroy the sons born to Hebrew women.
MOSES IN EGYPT then MIDIAN
Exodus CHAPTER 2 Moses is born to Levite parents, is raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, slays an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite, flees to Midian, and marries Zipporah—Israel in bondage cries to the Lord.
God can work through me to fulfill His purposes.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 1–6
- Moses had a major role in freeing Israel from bondage. But he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this if his mother, his sister, Pharaoh’s daughter, and other faithful women hadn’t protected and cared for him. Help your children learn about these women in Exodus 1:15–20; Exodus 2:2–10 (see also Numbers 26:59); and Exodus 2:16–21. You could also use this week’s activity page and “Baby Moses” (in Old Testament Stories, 61–63) to tell their stories. How did these women help fulfill God’s plan?
Old Testament Stories “Baby Moses” Illustrations and video
Friend March 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”
Lesson 18: The Birth and Calling of Moses,” Primary 6: Old Testament (Page 90-95) Tie the ends of the yarn together. Hand the yarn to a child and tell him or her to hold it up in a circle using only his or her hands. When the child cannot do so, ask another child to help, then another until all the children are helping form the yarn into a circle. (If you have only two or three children in the class, have them make a square or a six-sided figure.)
Explain that as each person was needed to help make the shape, each of us has a mission to fulfill in the kingdom of God. Tell the children that in this lesson they will learn about the prophet Moses and the mission he was called to perform.
Explain that there are many important things that Heavenly Father and Jesus need us to do. Ask the children to take turns writing their suggestions on the chalkboard. These may include being a parent, a teacher, a Church leader, or a good example. Emphasize that each of us has at least one mission to perform on earth and that God needs all of us to help build his kingdom.
- Tell the children about people you admire because of their faithfulness in serving God and those around them, even when they serve in small ways. Invite the children to talk about people they know who have faithfully served God and others. What is our part in God’s work?
Friend March 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities”
Story: When Moses was a baby, his mother hid him in a basket to keep him safe. His sister helped take care of him too. He grew up and became a prophet. (See Exodus 2:1–10.)
Activity: You can help others too! Go to page 12 to make a paper basket, like the one Moses was in. On pieces of paper, write ways you can serve others (and God). Then put the papers in the basket. When you want to help someone, choose a piece of paper and do what it says.
Friend March 2022 “Make a Basket for Baby Moses”
- Sing together a song about service, such as “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 236). Help the children think of simple things they can do to help others at home, at church, and at school.
MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH
Exodus CHAPTER 3 The Lord appears to Moses at the burning bush—Moses is called to deliver Israel from bondage—The Lord identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as the Great I AM—He promises to smite Egypt and bring His people out with great wealth.
Exodus 3:1–5 The Lord asked Moses to remove his shoes at the burning bush as a sign of respect and reverence.
I can treat holy places with reverence.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 1–6
- After reading Exodus 3:1–5 together, ask your children to summarize these verses in their own words (see also “Moses the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories, 64–66). You could also review the beginning of Elder Ulisses Soares’s message “Reverence for Sacred Things” (Liahona, May 2025, 108).
Old Testament Stories “Moses the Prophet” Story illustrations and Videos
- How did Moses show reverence in the Lord’s presence? How does the Lord want us to show reverence? You might also ask your children to help you find (or draw) pictures of sacred places or activities where we should be reverent.
- Activity ideas: Have the children sort these pictures, or the list below the pictures, into places where we should be reverent and where we don’t need to be reverent.
Talk about how being reverent at appropriate times helps us know Heavenly Father and Jesus better and feel their presence in our lives.
- Sing together a song about reverence, such as “Reverence Is Love” (Children’s Songbook, 31). As you do, your children could find words or phrases that explain what it means to be reverent. If we were bringing a friend to church for the first time, how would we explain what it means to be reverent?
For additional teaching ideas see Reverence.
When the Lord asks me to do something, He will help me do it.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 1–6
- Using the account in Exodus 3; 4:1–17, let your children take turns pretending to be Moses. It might be fun to include objects or simple props, such as a flashlight and a plant to represent the burning bush.
- Help your children discover how Moses felt about the assignment the Lord gave him (see Exodus 3:11; 4:1, 10). Maybe you could share with each other times when you had similar feelings. What advice would we share with Moses to help him? Read about how the Lord encouraged Moses in Exodus 3:12; 4:2–9, 11–12. Tell the children how the Savior has helped you fulfill a calling, follow a prompting, or do something else that was hard for you.
Friend February 2015 “Juliana Gives a Talk” Juliana is scared to give a talk, but Heavenly Father helps her.
- Help the children think of situations when they might be asked to do something that seems hard. Explain that just as Jesus helped Moses, Jesus will also help them. Sing a song about how Jesus helps us, such as “I Will Walk with Jesus” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Testify that the Savior will help us when we are worried or scared.
Friend June 2020 ” The Only Bald Deacon” Carlos was losing his hair due to cancer, so he shaved the patchy hair off. He was anxious about people staring at him when he passed the sacrament. He and his family said a prayer together before going in to church, and he felt peaceful and ready. When he got into the chapel he found all the other deacons with shaved their heads too.
Friend November 2019 “The Primary Talk” Dennis was afraid to give a talk in Primary because he stutters. He prayed, prepared, and practiced but he was still nervous, so he asked his father to give him a blessing. After the blessing he was able to give the talk with only a few stutters, and he knew Heavenly Father helped him.
Additional Lesson Topic Ideas
The Lord sees our afflictions and will help as we turn to him.
The Lord explained to Moses that He had seen the afflictions of the children of Israel, heard their prayers, and knew their sorrows (see Exodus 3:7).
- Assign each person an emotion based on the color they’re wearing most of:
- Yellow = happy
- Blue = sad
- Red = angry
- Green = calm
- Orange = scared
- Other = confused or surprised
- Each person will share a specific experience when they’ve felt that emotion.
- Can we tell how people are feeling just by their appearance or what they’re wearing?
- Who sees all our emotions, including our afflictions and sorrows, even when others might not be able to?
- Find scriptures that show how Jesus Christ knows and understands us.
Discussion: What are some trials we’ve been through? How can we know that the Lord was aware of us through those times?
Jesus Christ is my Deliverer.
Jesus Christ is also known as our “Deliverer.” What does it mean to deliver? Talk about how He has power to save us from sin and death. He also had a plan to deliver the Israelites
One of the central themes in the book of Exodus is that God has power to free His people from oppression. The enslavement of the Israelites as described in Exodus 1 could be seen as a symbol of the captivity we all face because of sin and death (see 2 Nephi 2:26–27; 9:10; Alma 36:28).
Additional Resources
See Old Testament Stories & Lesson Ideas & Old Testament: Activities & Games for additional lesson resources.
Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
The Red Crystal Lesson ideas
