Youth Lesson Plan

THE OPENER (2–3 minutes)

Quick poll/ranking. Ask students to hold up fingers, 1 to 5.

1 = “I decide fast.” 5 = “I overthink everything.”

Then ask: “When you overthink, what’s the usual emotion driving it, fear, embarrassment, or missing out?” Let a few answer.

Transition: Israel stood on the edge of the promised land and overthought themselves into forty years of wandering. These chapters show what fear does, and what faith does.

SCRIPTURE DEEP DIVE (12–15 minutes)

Have students open scriptures. Tell them they are going to act like investigators: first observations, then meaning.

Start with Numbers 13:27–28, 30–31. Ask two students to read.

“And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great…” (Numbers 13:27–28)

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

“But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” (Numbers 13:31)

Ask: “What do you notice about how both sides describe the same land?” Let them point out that both admit it’s good, both see obstacles, but they interpret differently.

Now read Numbers 14:3–4, 8–9 with two different students.

“And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword… were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” (Numbers 14:3)

“And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” (Numbers 14:4)

“If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us… Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land… the Lord is with us: fear them not.” (Numbers 14:8–9)

Ask: “What do you hear in their questions? What does fear do to their memory of God?” Then ask: “Why would someone want a new captain?” Let them connect it to wanting a leader who will tell them what they already want.

Shift to healing. Read Numbers 21:8–9.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:8)

“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:9)

Ask: “What action did the Lord require?” Then ask: “Why might someone refuse something that easy?”

Bring in Book of Mormon interpretation, Alma 33:19–21. Have one student read.

“Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished.” (Alma 33:19–21)

Ask: “According to Alma, what stops people from looking?” Let them say hardness of heart, pride, stubbornness.

THE BIG IDEA (8–10 minutes)

Principle 1: Fear can turn into rebellion when we stop trusting the Lord’s past help. Israel’s words get intense fast: “Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt” (Numbers 14:4). Ask: “What are modern ‘Egypts’ teens feel tempted to run back to, even after choosing the gospel?” Keep it real: old habits, toxic friend groups, hiding, quitting.

Principle 2: Faith is not ignoring problems, it is choosing the Lord’s promise as the most important fact. Caleb does not deny walled cities, he says, “Let us go up at once” (Numbers 13:30). Ask: “What would ‘at once’ look like in a teen decision, apologizing, deleting an app, talking to a parent, meeting with a bishop?” If temple worthiness comes up, say: “This is sacred and personal, please speak with your bishop or refer to the temple recommend questions.”

Principle 3: Christ heals through ‘looking’ faith, steady attention, and humble action. The Lord’s remedy was direct: “when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Numbers 21:8). Helaman connected that looking to Christ:

“Yea, and as many as looked upon that serpent did live… …even so he shall be lifted up who should come. And as many as should look upon him with faith might live…” (Helaman 8:14–15)

Ask: “What counts as ‘looking’ today?” Let answers include prayer, sacrament, scriptures, repentance, asking for help, choosing honesty.

I will say plainly, with gratitude, that Jesus Christ heals. He does it His way, and He keeps His word.

MIX IT UP, ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY (5–8 minutes)

Case study (whole class, no small groups). Read this scenario aloud:

“A friend tells you, ‘If you stop doing that, you’ll lose everyone. Also, God can’t expect you to be that serious.’ You feel fear, and part of you wants to go back to what you used to do.”

On the board write two headings: Fear Report and Faith Report.

Ask students to generate a few sentences for each, using scripture language patterns:

• Fear Report can echo “We be not able” (Numbers 13:31) or “return into Egypt” (Numbers 14:4).
• Faith Report can echo “The Lord is with us: fear them not” (Numbers 14:9) or “look… and… live” (Numbers 21:8).

Keep it respectful. No one has to share personal details.

THE LANDING (3–4 minutes)

Read one line that can stick in their head this week:

“Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye…” (Numbers 14:9)

Invite them to choose one moment this week to practice “looking,” not scrolling past the remedy. When fear spikes, they can pray once with honesty, open the scriptures for five minutes, or choose repentance quickly. The Lord’s pattern in Numbers stays consistent: He leads, He heals, and He keeps covenant promises when His people trust Him enough to move forward.