Youth Lesson Plan: Genesis 12–17;Abraham 1–2

THE OPENER (2–3 minutes)
Object lesson: Bring a small sticky note (or a piece of masking tape) and a marker. Write one word on it: “DESIRE.” Stick it to your shirt where everyone can see it. Then ask: “If someone followed you around all week and had to guess your one-word desire based on your choices—what word would they write on a sticky note and put on you?” Let a few answer. (If it gets too serious too fast, you can lighten it: “If your word is ‘snacks,’ I respect the honesty.”)

Transition: Abraham’s story starts in a messy family situation, but it’s powered by one thing that turns everything: what he desired.

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SCRIPTURE DEEP DIVE (12–15 minutes)
Have everyone open to Abraham 1:2. Tell them: “Before we explain anything, let’s do our favorite scripture skill: noticing. What jumps out?”

Read Abraham 1:2 aloud together, slowly:

“And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness; desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.” (Abraham 1:2)

Ask: “How many times do you hear the word desiring (or desire ideas)? What does Abraham connect his desires to—peace, knowledge, commandments, blessings, being a ‘prince of peace’?”

Now pair students up for 60 seconds: “Pick one phrase from that verse you think is most teen-relevant and tell your partner why.”

Bring them back and go to Abraham 1:1 and Abraham 1:2 together. Let them notice the contrast: Abraham is not starting from a perfect background; he’s starting from a choice. Then connect to the Come, Follow Me introduction idea (from the bundle): Abraham “came from a troubled family,” and yet his desire was “to be a greater follower of righteousness” (Abraham 1:2). Ask: “What does that teach someone who feels like their family situation is complicated—or like they’re the only one trying?”

Next, shift to covenant promises. Read Genesis 12:2 with the class and have them circle one phrase:

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

Ask: “What’s surprising about the last part? God doesn’t just say ‘I’ll bless you.’ He says ‘thou shalt be a blessing.’ What might that look like in a school hallway, on a team, in a friend group, at home?”

Then go to Abraham 2:10–11 and read it carefully (this is one of those lines that explains why Abraham matters to us):

“And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father.” (Abraham 2:10)
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.” (Abraham 2:11)

Ask discovery questions:

• “According to verse 10, who gets counted as Abraham’s ‘seed’?” (Let them answer from the text: “as many as receive this Gospel…”)
• “According to verse 11, what is the ultimate ‘how’ of blessing the whole earth?” (Again, let the text speak: “the blessings of the Gospel… salvation… life eternal.”)

Keep it teen-real: “So Abraham’s covenant isn’t just ancient history. It’s God building a family that blesses other families.”

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THE BIG IDEA (8–10 minutes)
Principle 1: Righteous desire matters to God, especially when your environment is messy. The bundle teaches that Abraham’s desire was “to be a greater follower of righteousness” (Abraham 1:2), and that God “honored his desire.” Ask: “What’s hard about believing your desires matter when your life doesn’t look ideal? What helps you keep wanting good things when you’re tired, stressed, or feeling alone?”

Principle 2: God’s covenant blessings are meant to turn you into a blessing. Let Genesis 12:2 do the work: “thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). Ask: “What’s the difference between ‘God bless me’ and ‘God, make me a blessing’? Which one sounds more like Jesus?”

Principle 3: Receiving the gospel brings you into Abraham’s covenant family. Read the key line again: “as many as receive this Gospel… shall be accounted thy seed” (Abraham 2:10). Ask: “How might it change the way you see yourself if you believed you truly belong to a covenant family with a mission to bless others?”

If a student asks about temple covenants or ordinance details, respond gently: “This is sacred and personal—please speak with your bishop or refer to the temple recommend questions.” Then return to what the scriptures in the bundle explicitly say about covenant belonging and blessing.

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MIX IT UP – ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY (5–8 minutes)
Case study (whole class): Present one realistic scenario and let them talk it through.

“Imagine a friend says: ‘My family doesn’t really do Church stuff. I’m not like those kids who grew up with it. I don’t think God expects much from me.’”
Ask: “Using only phrases from Abraham 1:2, Genesis 12:2, and Abraham 2:10–11, what would you say back?”

Let them answer, and if they struggle, point them to exact phrases they can borrow:

• “finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me…” (Abraham 1:2)
• “desiring to… keep the commandments of God…” (Abraham 1:2)
• “thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2)
• “as many as receive this Gospel… shall be accounted thy seed” (Abraham 2:10)

Keep it a little dorky but sincere: “Congratulations, you just did scripture-based counseling. That’s basically a spiritual superpower.”

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THE LANDING (3–4 minutes)
Come back to the sticky note on your shirt: DESIRE. Say: “Abraham’s life starts with desire and turns into covenant—and that covenant turns into a life that blesses other people.”

Invite them to try one simple thing this week: “Pick one line from Abraham 1:2 that matches who you want to become. Write it somewhere you’ll see it—notes app, mirror, backpack. Then once this week, do one small action that proves that desire is real.”

Bear testimony tied strictly to the texts: God noticed Abraham’s righteous desires (Abraham 1:2). God promised, “thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). And God declared that those who receive the gospel are counted in that covenant family (Abraham 2:10–11). That is hope—especially for students who feel like they’re starting from behind.