Exodus 33–40

Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Be sure to eliminate any distractions that may interrupt your learning experience.

Begin your study with prayer.

What are some reasons why people do not want to change for the better?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy related an experience he had while serving as a bishop. According to Elder Hallstrom, what can affect our ability to change?

You can read the text for this video here: Donald L. Hallstrom, “What Manner of Men?” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 53–54.

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two youth talking

Read the following scenarios, looking for differences between the attitudes and beliefs of these two young men.

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.

Notice the differences between the attitudes and beliefs of these two young men. The first falsely believes that God is not forgiving. The second falsely believes that God will not hold him accountable for his sins.

1. What problems could arise from these false beliefs?

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Israelites worshipping a golden calf

You might remember that the children of Israel sinned against God by worshipping the golden calf.

As you study Exodus 33–34, look for truths that can help you understand how God works with us when we sin.

Read Exodus 33:1–4, looking for why the children of Israel “mourned” (verse 4). Note that the phrase “evil tidings” in verse 4 means bad news.

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concerned-looking youth reading the Bible

We learn from Exodus 33:3 that sin separates us from the Lord. The Lord demonstrated this by commanding Moses to move the tabernacle out of the camp of Israel (see Exodus 33:7). The tabernacle spoken of in verse 7 was not the finished tabernacle that the children of Israel were commanded to construct for the performance of priesthood ordinances (see Exodus 25:8–9). It was a different structure called the “tent of meeting” (see Exodus 33:7, footnote b).

Because Moses had not sinned with the children of Israel, he was worthy to be in the Lord’s presence.

Read Exodus 33:9–11, looking for words or phrases that describe the relationship Moses had with the Lord.

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Moses and the Ten Commandments

As recorded in Exodus 33:12–23, Moses pled with the Lord to be with the children of 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. In verse 20, we read that the Lord declared that no one can see His face and live. But in Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 33:20 (in the Bible appendix), this verse is clearer because this inspired translation of the verse says that the Lord had stated that because the children of Israel had sinned, they would not be allowed to see His face at that time.

The Lord commanded Moses to create another set of stone tables.

Read Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34:1–2 (in the Bible appendix), looking for what the Lord said He would write on the second set.

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Moses

Joseph Smith Translation, Exodus 34:1–2 (in the Bible appendix) teaches us that at this time the Lord withdrew the authority and ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood from Israel. He replaced them with a law “after the law of a carnal commandment” (verse 2), which we call the law of Moses. 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 (see D&C 84:23–27).

Read Exodus 34:4–7, looking for what the Lord taught Moses about His attributes. The word longsuffering refers to the Lord’s patience with and mercy for His children. 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).

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the Savior

From Exodus 34:6–7 we learn the following truths about the Savior’s attributes: The Lord is merciful and forgiving. He is also perfectly just and will hold us accountable for our sins.

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 and will be held accountable for them. (See Alma 42:13–15; D&C 19:16–19.)

2. Answer one or both of the following questions:

• When have you felt the Lord’s mercy, grace, longsuffering, or goodness in your life? Be sure to not share anything that is too personal or sacred.

• How can the truths recorded in Exodus 34:6–7 help you as you seek to repent of the things you have done wrong?

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Moses descending from Mount Sinai

Read this summary of Exodus 34:8–35: In these verses, 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 if they would keep His covenant by obeying the commandments. Moses then descended Mount Sinai and taught the Lord’s words to the people.

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youth giving a gift

Imagine that someone gave you a gift grudgingly (meaning the person did not want to give it) and another person gave you a gift willingly. How would you feel receiving the gift that was given grudgingly? How would you feel receiving the gift that was offered willingly?

We read in Exodus 35 that the children of Israel offered gifts to the Lord. Exodus 35:1–3 records that 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.

Read Exodus 35:4–5, looking for what the Lord commanded the Israelites regarding the offerings they gave to build the tabernacle.

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youth reading scriptures

Read Exodus 35:20–22, 29, looking for how the people responded to the Lord’s command. You may want to mark what you find.

What can we learn from these verses about how the Lord desires us to give offerings?

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happy youth looking up

From Exodus 35:20–22, 29 we can identify the truth that the Lord desires that we give our offerings to Him with a willing heart.

3. Answer the following questions:

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

• How does giving these offerings willingly help us grow closer to the Lord?

• When have you or someone you know willingly made offerings to the Lord?

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youth thinking

How willingly do you give your offerings to the Lord?

Take the survey and evaluate yourself in the following scenarios. Your answers will remain anonymous.

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tabernacle of Israel

The remainder of Exodus 35 and also Exodus 36–40 record that thousands of Israelites freely made an offering and completed the tabernacle exactly as the Lord had instructed.

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. “The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34–35) and remained there day and night.

How might you show your love to God by giving offerings to Him willingly?

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youth writing

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• The Lord is merciful and forgiving. He is also perfectly just and will hold us accountable for our sins.

• The Lord desires that we give our offerings to Him with a willing heart.

In your study journal or your Notes on LDS.org, write down a specific offering that you would like to give to the Lord. Include a goal to make that offering willingly.