Many teachers struggle with how to teach Exodus 1–6.
The story of Moses and the Israelites can feel distant, while students are facing immediate pressure—competing voices telling them who to trust and how to live.

This episode of the Teach Ye Diligently Podcast explores how teachers can help students recognize those voices, see Jesus Christ as the One worth following, and understand why the Lord speaks through prophets.

The story of deliverance is powerful, but the doctrine can be lost if the lesson becomes only a summary of oppression and miracles.

Instead, teachers need to help students feel the real-life pressure of competing voices so the scriptures become meaningful when students begin reading.

In this episode, Mark and Travis discuss how teachers can help students:

• Create relevance before opening the scriptures
• Recognize the pressure of competing voices in their lives
• See Jesus Christ as the perfect example of standing for truth
• Understand why the Lord speaks through prophets
• Take responsibility for choosing which voice they will follow

The conversation also addresses a common challenge: students may understand the activity or discussion, but struggle to connect it to the scriptures. Teachers will see how to bridge that gap so engagement leads to real understanding.

The second half of the episode focuses on Exodus 5–6, where students wrestle with whether following Jesus Christ makes life easier or harder—and how the Lord’s promises give strength even when obedience makes life more difficult.

Chapters

00:00 Intro — Why This Podcast Helps Teachers Find Relevance, Responsibility, and the Savior
00:45 Exodus 1 — Helping Students Feel the Pressure to Stand Alone
01:40 Exodus 1 — Moving from Self-Evaluation to Christ-Centered Engagement
03:05 Exodus 1 — Using Technology or Stories to Help Students See the Savior
05:49 Exodus 2–4 — Helping Students Hear and Trust the Voice of Prophets
06:23 Exodus 2–4 — Using Preparation to Build Student Readiness
08:30 Exodus 2–4 — Creating Relevance with the Competing Voices Activity
11:00 Exodus 2–4 — Turning the Activity into a Spiritual Question
12:22 Exodus 2–4 — Discovering That the Lord Speaks Through Prophets
14:12 Exodus 2–4 — Seeing Jesus Christ in Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
16:27 Exodus 2–4 — Finding the Pattern of Why God Calls Prophets
17:48 Exodus 5–6 — Engaging Students with a Difficult Question
19:12 Exodus 5–6 — Using Movement to Drive Participation
20:30 Exodus 5–6 — Adapting for Small Seminary Classes
22:13 Exodus 5–6 — Using Prophetic Quotes to Deepen Understanding
23:55 Exodus 5–6 — Distinguishing Between Easier and Easy
24:44 Exodus 5–6 — Helping Students Understand the Scriptures
25:29 Teaching in the Savior’s Way — Learning from Christ’s Pattern

About the Podcast

The Teach Ye Diligently Podcast helps seminary and institute teachers recognize three critical moments in every lesson:

• Where the lesson becomes relevant to students’ lives
• Where students see Jesus Christ in the scriptures
• Where students take responsibility for their learning

Each episode focuses on a specific scripture block and helps teachers structure learning experiences where students can understand truth, believe truth, and act on truth.

Many teachers struggle with how to teach Genesis 42–45 and JST Genesis 50.

Joseph’s story moves from betrayal and family conflict to forgiveness—and then shifts to a lesson about the Prophet Joseph Smith.

This episode of the Teach Ye Diligently Podcast explores how teachers can help students feel the doctrine of forgiveness, see Jesus Christ in the scriptures, and strengthen their testimony of prophets.

The story of Joseph forgiving his brothers is familiar, but the spiritual power of the lesson can easily be lost if the class becomes only a summary of events.

Instead, teachers need to help students recognize the real-life problem forgiveness solves so the scriptures become meaningful when students begin reading.

In this episode, Mark and Travis discuss how teachers can help students:

• Create relevance before opening the scriptures
• Discover the doctrine of forgiveness in the story of Joseph
• See Jesus Christ as the true Deliverer
• Take responsibility for their learning by searching the scriptures
• Strengthen testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

The conversation also addresses an important reality when teaching forgiveness: some students may be dealing with serious hurt. Teachers need to help students understand the doctrine of forgiveness without ignoring wisdom, safety, and accountability.

The second half of the episode focuses on JST Genesis 50, where students learn why prophets matter and why every generation needs its own spiritual witness that Joseph Smith was called by God.

Chapters

02:04 Genesis 42–45 — Creating Relevance Before Opening the Scriptures
05:49 Genesis 42–45 — Bridging Real Life Problems to Scripture Study
09:44 Genesis 42–45 — Helping Students Discover the Doctrine of Forgiveness
12:18 Taking Responsibility for Learning — Letting Students Find Truth in the Scriptures
14:46 Teaching in the Savior’s Way — When Students Say “I Can’t Forgive”
18:35 Teaching Wisdom — Addressing Forgiveness Without Ignoring Abuse
20:31 JST Genesis 50 — Transitioning to the Lesson on Joseph Smith
21:14 Emphasizing the Savior — Jesus Christ as the True Deliverer
23:46 JST Genesis 50 — Helping Students See Why Prophets Matter
26:02 Strengthening Testimony — Why Every Generation Needs Its Own Witness of Joseph Smith
27:19 Taking Responsibility for Learning — Scripture Study Activity on Prophecies of Joseph Smith
30:03 Teaching Strategy — Observing and Supporting Student Discussion
31:28 Teaching in the Savior’s Way — Inviting Students to Teach and Testify
36:37 Lesson Focus — Measuring Success by the Spiritual Experience

About the Podcast

The Teach Ye Diligently Podcast helps seminary and institute teachers recognize three critical moments in every lesson:

• Where the lesson becomes relevant to students’ lives
• Where students see Jesus Christ in the scriptures
• Where students take responsibility for their learning

Each episode focuses on a specific scripture block and helps teachers structure learning experiences where students can understand truth, believe truth, and act on truth.

About This Episode
Many teachers know the story of Joseph in Egypt, but teaching the story alone does not automatically lead students to faith, understanding, or personal change. The real challenge for seminary teachers is structuring a learning experience that helps students understand the truth, believe it, and choose to act. In this episode of the Teach Ye Diligently Podcast, Mark Mason and Travis Peterson walk through what a complete seminary learning experience actually looks like from beginning to end using Genesis 37–41. Rather than simply retelling the story of Joseph and his brothers, they demonstrate how teachers can guide students through the process of discovering doctrine, seeing the Savior in the scriptures, and applying gospel truth in their lives.

What This Episode Demonstrates
This episode models the full teaching process: • Identifying the doctrinal purpose of the lesson • Helping students understand the context of Joseph’s life • Helping students feel the emotional tension in the story • Seeing the Savior in the scriptures • Structuring moments where students wrestle with truth and respond. If you teach seminary, Sunday School, or any youth scripture class, this episode will help you see how to structure a lesson that moves beyond telling the story to creating a learning experience that invites faith and action.

About the Hosts
Mark Mason and Travis Peterson serve as Seminary and Institute Coordinators in the U.S. Southeast Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their work focuses on helping teachers create learning experiences that center on Jesus Christ, invite learner responsibility, and increase student conversion.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:10 The Challenge of Teaching Long Narrative Scripture
07:20 Understanding the Context of Joseph’s Story
12:40 Helping Students Feel the Tension in the Story
18:30 Seeing the Savior in the Story of Joseph
26:10 Structuring the Learning Experience
36:45 Helping Students Apply the Doctrine
45:30 Walking Through a Full Lesson Example
54:00 Final Teaching Takeaways

Teach Ye Diligently Podcast
Helping seminary teachers center lessons on Jesus Christ, engage learners, and strengthen student conversion through effective gospel teaching.