"“How Can I Do This Great Wickedness?”

“How Can I Do This Great Wickedness?”
Lesson 11
Compiled by Maren Hardy Hale,
March 21, 2010

Scriptures: Genesis 34; 37-39
Board: Today’s themes:
1. The wages of Envy
2. The consequences of Moral Weakness
3. The blessings of Leadership and Virtue

INTRODUCTION

There is a huge contrast between the character of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and the characters of his brothers. Joseph was a man with great integrity, honesty and virtue. His brothers exemplified envy, jealousy, and moral laxity. Joseph’s moral courage and leadership show strength, discipline, and stability.

“By way of contrast, those who succumb to unchecked greed or lust display a wavering instability from which harmony, peace, and lasting happiness can never flow.” (Teachings and commentary on the Old Testament, Ed. J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p. 335)

QUESTION: What is happening to the standards of sexual morality presented today in our movies, television shows, books and magazines? [They are deteriorating]

EXPERIENCE: Media shock

Our family spent 8 years in Europe with the Air Force. During our first 3 years was no television. Then we were able to get Armed Services Television Network. This is one channel with public service announcements and carefully selected programs suitable for the whole family. When the New Era Magazine arrived each month our 3 oldest children fought over who got to read it first. Each of them devoured it from cover to cover. It was a wonderful time for our family.

We returned to the States and lived in the Temporary Living Facility on Mountain Home Air Force Base while we looked for a home in the community. We turned on the television and went through culture shock! We couldn’t believe what we were seeing and hearing. Standards had dropped so much in those 8 years. We turned it off and began, once again, to carefully monitor our family’s television watching.

When moral degradation is all around you, it creeps in slowly and you become numb to it. To safeguard our children, we must be very vigilant. It would be wise to never let our children watch a new TV show unless we sit down and watch it with them to judge its merits.

QUESTION: What are you doing to safeguard your children from TV?

One day one of our daughters mentioned that she had made a new friend at school. She said, Mom, “She’s just like me – her parents put a lock on their TV, too!” [Stimulus control]

“The moral behavior of society often differs from the moral standards that the Lord has established. While the standards of society can change, the Lord’s standards are constant.” (LDS Old Testament Manual, lesson 11)

QUOTE #1 [2nd paragraph is like a beautiful Psalm]

First Presidency Message (President Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O McKay): "By virtue of the authority in us vested as the First Presidency of the Church, we warn our people who are offending, of the degradation, the wickedness, the punishment that attend upon unchastity; we urge you to remember the blessings which flow from the living of the clean life; we call upon you to keep, day in and day out, the way of strictest chastity, through which only can God's choice gifts come to you and His spirit abide with you.
"How glorious is he who lives the chaste life. He walks unfearful in the full glare of the noonday sun, for he is without moral infirmity. He can be reached by no shafts of base calumny, for his armor is without flaw. His virtue cannot be challenged by any just accuser, for he lives above reproach. His cheek is never blotched with shame, for he is without hidden sin. He is honored and respected by all mankind, for he is beyond their censure. He is loved by the Lord, for he stands without blemish. The exaltations of eternities await his coming." (Conference Report, Oct 1942)

Today’s lesson has three themes:
1. The wages of Envy
2. The consequences of Moral Weakness
3. The blessings of Leadership and Virtue

BODY

Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers

Jacob married Leah and Rachel, and also married their handmaids, Zilpah and Bilhah. Jacob’s wives bore him 12 sons who became the beginnings of the 12 tribes of Israel. We learn in Genesis 32:28 that the Lord told Jacob, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

Joseph was the 11th Son of Jacob. He was the first child of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel. The 12th son was Benjamin (Genesis 35:16-18).

Joseph spent the remaining years of his youth at Hebron (20 miles south of Jerusalem) watching the flocks of sheep and goats.

Reuben was the firstborn through Leah. He was the automatic heir of the birthright.

QUESTION: How did Joseph, the 11th son, become the recipient of the birthright?
● Reuben lost he birthright – transgressed with one of his father’s
concubines
(Genesis 35:22).
● Birthright then fell to the 1st son of next wife – Joseph (1st son of
Rachel, Jacob’s 2nd wife).
● Sons of concubines not eligible because mothers were handmaids to Leah
and Rachel.

The Wages of Envy

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:3

37. Now Israel loved, Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.” [Septuagint word = a long coat with sleeves]

“Joseph being favored of Jacob became a target of malice on the part of his older brothers. Joseph was not reluctant to share his dreams regarding his future leadership and hence contributed to his brothers’ feelings of jealousy.

“When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, the stage was set for a future reunion in the courts of Pharaoh when his brethren would confess their sins and admit that Joseph was indeed divinely chosen to be the leader of the family and the patriarchal standard-bearer for many future nations.

“The rent ‘coat of many colors’ became a lasting symbol of the ultimate preservation of the Lord’s chosen lineage (Alma 46:23-34). The story of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, shows the results of jealousy, envy, greed, and hatred, yet shows the power of God in all things.” (“Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p. 336)

Let’s read 2 quotes from our prophets concerning the destructive nature of jealousy, envy, greed, and hatred.

QUOTE #2

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Ours is the duty to walk by faith. Ours is the duty to walk in faith, rising above the evils of the world. We are sons and daughters of God. Ours is a divine birthright. Ours is a divine destiny. We must not, we cannot sink to the evils of the world – to selfishness and sin, to hate and envy and backbiting, to the ‘mean and beggarly’ elements of life.” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, page 7)

QUOTE #3

President David O. McKay: “Jealousy, hatred, envy, animosity – all such evils you must overcome by suppression. That is where your control comes in. Suppress the anger! Suppress that jealousy, that envy! They are all injurious to the spirit.” (Gospel Ideals: Selections From the Discourses of David O. McKay, Improvement era, 1953, p. 356)

QUESTION: How can we overcome envy, jealousy, greed, and hatred?
● Gain gospel values and strive for unconditional love.
● Recognize happiness is within, not based on possessions or having fun.
● Recognize your divine nature – seek to improve yourself.

Envy and jealousy are concerns for everyone because of their power to destroy the souls of men.

As we know, the coat of many colors Joseph received of his father compounded the antagonism of Joseph’s brothers until they “hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him” (Genesis 37:3).

QUESTION: What have you seen when a child receives better treatment than the other siblings his or her family?
● Causes competition, rebellion or low self esteem in families.
● We can avert this situation if we teach our children to love one another
and value each other’s distinct abilities and talents – including their
own.
● Don’t discuss publically a child’s weaknesses or compare them (give
children the opportunity to grow, repent and change without any stigmas
attached. If you need help, go to confidential sources – bishop,
counselor, grandparent)

QUESTION: How can we overcome jealous feelings or anger towards family members, friends, or acquaintances? What should you do?
● If jealous – if you serve someone for whom you feel jealous, more feelings
of love and care come to the foreground and feelings of jealousy
subside.
● If Angry – confront source of frustration – talk about it rather than let
it boil
into a violent explosion. Be willing to carefully listen.

We know that Joseph had dreams that revealed the special relationship Joseph would have with his family and also foreshadowed the eventual mission of his posterity in the eternal salvation of the house of Israel.

Joseph’s brothers were unable to accept his dreams

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:8

8. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words”.

Remember the situation with Nephi and his older brothers. After Nephi had shared the meaning of Lehi’s dream and they said: “Thou has declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.” Nephi went on to say: “…the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center (1 Nephi 1-2)

Joseph’s brothers went 45 miles to Shechem to feed the flocks (Genesis 37:12). Later, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers. Arriving in Shechem, Joseph learned his brothers had gone on another 12 miles. (Genesis 37: 13-17)

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37: 18-20

18. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

QUESTION: Who wanted to spare his life? [Reuben – oldest, must have felt more responsibility for him – argued he must not be killed, but returned to his father.]

QUESTION: What did the brothers do?
● Stripped off his coat and left him a pit to die
● Joseph sold to a caravan of Ishmeelites headed to Egypt for 20 pieces of
silver (Genesis 37:27-28).
● Tore Joseph’s coat into many pieces, covered it with goat’s blood, and
returned it to Jacob as evidence a wild beast had devoured Joseph (Genesis
37:31-33)

Then Jacob mourned and no one could comfort him. Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

Portraits of Moral Weakness

Judah and Tamar

In Genesis 38, we see portraits of moral weakness. Judah takes a Canaanite woman and she bears him children. Judah then takes Tamar as a wife for Er. Er was wicked and the Lord slew him. Then Judah tells his son Onan to raise up seed to his brother Er through Tamar. (Genesis 38:1-8)

The Lord slays Onan for spilling his seed on the ground. Judah tells Tamar to remain in her father’s home until his son, Shelah is old enough, to take her as wife. (Genesis 10-11)

QUESTION: Then what does Tamar do? (Genesis 38:14-27)
● Tamar takes off her widow’s garment and sits by the wayside for Judah’s
now grown son Shelah to see her.
● Judah sees Tamar, thinks she is a harlot, desires her and promises her a
kid.
Tamar asks for his signet, bracelets, and staff as a pledge.
She conceives.
● Tamar leaves, puts on her widow’s garments and the pledge can’t be
delivered because she has gone. Judah wants kid delivered so he isn’t
blamed.
● Judah hears Tamar is with child and has her brought to him to be burnt.
● Tamar produces the signet, bracelets, and staff and Judah acknowledges them saying that Tamar is more righteous than he is'
“because that I gave her not to Shelah my son.”

Now, another portrait of moral weakness.

QUESTION: Who would like to tell us about Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who is defiled by Shechem (a prince and Hivite)? (Genesis 34:1-31)
● Dinah is defiled by Shechem who wants to marry her and goes to his father.
● Hamor wants to join families and goes to Jacob and his sons.
● Shechem says he’ll give a large dowry.
● Sons of Jacob lie and request that every man be circumcised.
● On the 3rd day when they were sore, Simeon and Levi slew all the males,
Including Shechem and Hamor, and took Dinah.
● Sons of Jacob spoil the city, take their wealth, wives, and children
captive.
● Jacob voices concern to his sons that they have put his family in harms
way with the Canaanites and Perizzites because of their deed.
● Jacob’s sons answer, “Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?”

“Simeon and Levi’s destruction laid the groundwork for lasting enmity in the land. The lessons overshadowing these portraits of moral weakness is the fact that the Lord’s purposes are not defeated, for Joseph’s sons inherited the birthright, and thus his lineage carried on the leadership role under the Abrahamic Covenant.

Similarly, the Savior would come from the preserved lineage of Judah as the light and life of the world. No matter what some of the Lord’s children do in defiance of His laws, the Lord is still in charge of the process whereby the plan of salvation can unfold to its ultimate destiny.” (Teachings and Commentary on the Old Testament, Ed. J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, p. 337)

Let’s read 3 quotes from latter-day prophets regarding moral weakness and transgression and the need for repentance.

QUOTE #4

Spencer W. Kimball:

“Illicit sex is a selfish act, a betrayal, and is dishonest. To be unwilling to accept responsibility is cowardly, disloyal. Marriage is for time and eternity. Fornication and all other deviations are for today, for the hour, for the “now.” Marriage gives life. Fornication leads to death. (Faith Precedes the Miracle, page 156)

QUOTE #5

Ezra Taft Benson: “Yes, one can repent of moral transgression. The miracle of forgiveness is real, and true repentance is accepted of the Lord. But it is not pleasing to the Lord prior to a mission, or any time, to sow one’s wild oats, to engage in sexual transgression of any nature, and then to expect that planned confession and quick repentance will satisfy the Lord.” (Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, p. 6)

QUOTE #6

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “There is in each of us that sense of modesty and morality to which this writer refers…The Lord has made it clear, and the experience of centuries had confirmed it, that happiness lies not in immortality, but rather in abstinence. The voice of the Church to which you belong is a voice pleading for virtue. It is a voice pleading for strength to abstain from that which is evil. It is a voice declaring that sexual transgression is sin. It is contrary to the will of the Lord. It is contrary to the teachings of the Church. It is contrary to the happiness and well-being of those who indulge in it.” (Teaching of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 48)

In our world today, we have daily reminders in the news of politicians, actors, sports heroes, clergy, and teachers, who have been unfaithful to their wives or who have hurt children. Their “planned confession and quick repentance” have sometimes satisfied the world, but not the Lord. We as Church members need to continue to plead “for the strength to abstain from that which is evil.”

QUOTE: President Spencer W. Kimball

“May I talk to you just a moment or two about that which is most dear and precious above all things. Can you think what it would be? Would it be bonds, stocks, or diamonds? Would it be herds or flocks? Would it be automobiles and houses? Would it be medals in athletics? This is the greatest blessing, the most dear and precious above all things – above all things. It cannot be purchased with money, but may be enjoyed by all, even those of humble circumstances as well as the affluent, as much by the high school student as by those who have doctor’s degrees. Even mortal life when placed upon the balance scales weighs less. That of which I speak is chastity and virtue. The lack of it has caused rivers of tears to flow, broken numerous homes, and deprived large numbers of innocent children.” (quoted in We Believe)

QUOTE #7

Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “Certainly our teachers were right when they held up an ideal that virtue was as sacred as life itself, and that we had better lose our lives than lose our virtue….Next to the crime of murder itself is the crime of sexual impurity.” (Conference Report, April 1929)

QUESTION: Ultimately, who ends up being hurt when lying and infidelity are present in a marriage? [Children – feel abandoned, think they are responsible – they have had a bad example and are afraid of marriage themselves]

Portrait of Leadership and Virtue

Joseph’s example of moral uprightness in Egypt is among the most celebrated instances of strength of character in all of scripture. We read in Genesis 39:23 that “The Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

QUESTION: How was Joseph blessed after being sold into Egypt?
● Joseph became a servant in the household of Potiphar, “a prosperous man.”

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 39:3-4

3. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to proper in his hand.

4. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

Joseph was blessed by the Lord because he “was a goodly person (Gen. 39:20).

Then Potiphar’s wife tried to lure Joseph to her. And Joseph answered, “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? (Gen. 39:9).

She continued to tempt Joseph and ‘he harkened not unto her…” (Gen 39:10)

Then Joseph went into the house to do business when no men were there.

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 39:12

12. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment into her hand, and fled, and got him out.

QUESTION: Then what does Potiphar’s wife do? [She lies to the men of her house and her husband about Joseph and he is put in prison.]

But the Lord was with Joseph and he found favor with the prison keeper. Joseph was put completely in charge of the prisoners and the Lord made Joseph prosper. (Genesis 39:21-23)

I admire Joseph’s reaction when he was first tempted by Potiphar’s wife. He said “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9). Joseph’s first allegiance was to his God.

Then when Potiphar’s wife cornered him, he had already made his decision for he
“left his garment into her hand, and fled, and got him out.” He wanted to avoid the very presence of evil.

We need to have a close association with our Father in Heaven through prayer so that He will have our first allegiance.

We need to teach our children to always avoid the presence of evil – to obey the promptings of the Spirit – when caught in a difficult situation, just leave and go to a place of safety. Do not hesitate!

EXPERIENCE: Invitation to a party

I was excited in high school to be invited to a party that all the popular kids were attending. After driving home from work, my mother drove me to the home where it was being held which was quite a distance from our home. I went down to the basement where my friends were. I saw them doing things that I was uncomfortable with. I had a bad feeling come over me. I quickly walked up the stairs and waited in the bathroom for a while until I thought my mother had reached home. I used the phone and called my mother to pick me up telling her I had a bad feeling about being there. She said she’d come immediately. As we drove home she never complained about having been in the car so many times and for so long, but instead expressed her happiness that I would listen to the Spirit.

EXPERIENCE: Missionary daughter in Austria

When our daughter, Spring, was serving a mission in Austria, she and her companion lived in a very bad area of the city. One evening as they were walking from an appointment, they felt someone following them. They received promptings that they were in danger and they quickly ran away. They felt blessed that they were in tune so that they could receive such a prompting.

Joseph had many difficult trials in his life, but he learned to turn bad experiences and circumstances into good ones.

QUOTE #8

Elder Harman Rector, Jr.: “[The] ability to turn everything into something good appears to be a godly characteristic. Our Heavenly Father always seems able to do this. Everything, no matter how dire, becomes a victory to the Lord. Joseph, although a slave and wholly undeserving of this fate, nevertheless remained faithful to the Lord and continued to live the commandments and made something very good of his degrading circumstances. People like this cannot be defeated.” (Ensign, January 1973, p. 130)

EXPERIENCE: Reverend Martin Neimoller

“For three years Reverend Martin Neimoller survived the horrors of Dauchau – the smells of burning human flesh and the sights of walking dead men. For three years this German pastor who dared to defy Adolf Hitler was kept in solitary confinement in the world’s worst concentration camp.

“‘How could you stand it without losing your sanity?’ an interviewer asked Pastor Neimoller years later over a Chicago radio station. ‘A man doesn’t realize how much he can stand until he is put to the test,’ Neimoller answered confidently, continuing, ‘you can stand far more than you think you can. You are much stronger than you think you are…if God is dwelling in your life’.” (Move with Possibility Thinking, p. 180)

CONCLUSION

Joseph was a man of integrity.

QUESTION: What is integrity? [Uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles – honesty – honorable]

QUOTE –

President James E. Faust: “I should like to emphasize three important elements of integrity – dealing justly with oneself, dealing justly with others, and recognizing the law of the harvest.” (Conference Report, April 1982)

The law of the harvest means that we sow what we reap.

Joseph demonstrated integrity by:
● Dealing justly with himself – he was true to the principles which he
believe in and was blessed. He worked hard at making the best of a bad
situation.
● Joseph dealt justly with others – he remained true to Potiphar and himself
by not giving in to Potiphar’s wife’s desires.
● Joseph understood the law of the harvest – no matter what situation Joseph
was in, he practiced the Law of the Harvest by always planting righteous
seeds.

Brothers and Sisters, I am so grateful for the example of Joseph who showed great integrity, honor, strength, leadership, and moral virtue.

It is my testimony that we are strong when our Father in Heaven, the Savior,
and the Holy Ghost are dwelling in our lives.

References:

Genesis 34; 37-39
Gospel Doctrine Old Testament Lesson ll, Bob Beardall
LDS Old Testament Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 11
Personal experiences of Maren Hardy Hale
Personal experience of Spring Hale Thibaudeau
Personal experience of Reverend Martin Neimoller (Move with Possibility Thinking, p. 180)
Quotes from General Authorities as noted in lesson
Teachings and Commentaries on the Old Testament, Ed. J. Pinegar and Richard J. Allen, pp. 346-341