Seminary
Exodus 2–4—“I Will Be with Thy Mouth”
the Lord appearing to Moses

Exodus 1–6; Lesson 39

Exodus 2–4

“I Will Be with Thy Mouth”

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When we face difficulties, the Lord lovingly guides us through His prophets. Under Pharaoh’s reign, the children of Israel struggled in bondage and cried unto the Lord. The Lord heard their cries and called Moses as a prophet to help them. This lesson can help you trust in and follow the Lord’s living prophets.

Study the Scriptures

The prophet Moses is often quoted or mentioned in the scriptures. Nephi exhorted his brothers to “be strong like unto Moses” (1 Nephi 4:2). The Lord prepared and called Moses as a prophet to help deliver the Israelites.

Elder Allen D. Haynie of the Seventy explained:

Elder Allen D. Haynie

A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified, and sustained. (“A Living Prophet for the Latter Days,” Liahona, May 2023, 25)

mark iconMoses was prepared by the Lord to be a prophet. Read the following passages, looking for how the Lord prepared him. You might think about the experiences Moses had, who he got to know, and how the Lord directed Moses to be prepared to help deliver the Israelites. Mark what stands out to you.

Context. The Joseph Smith Translation of Exodus 3:2 changes the phrase “angel of the Lord” to “presence of the Lord.” It was Jesus Christ [Jehovah] in His premortal state who visited and spoke with Moses.

Think about how these things helped Moses prepare to help deliver the children of Israel from Pharaoh.

Review the following study options. Complete one or more. Then complete the Now What? section at the end of the lesson.

Option A

How do the words of prophets connect me to Jesus Christ?

mark iconEven after learning of God and His promises, Moses had concerns about his calling. Read Exodus 4:10–15, looking for how the Lord addressed Moses’s concerns. Mark what you find.

In Exodus 4:15, the Lord promised that He would give Moses His words. This helps us see that the Lord speaks His words through His prophets.

link iconRead Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38. The Lord again teaches that He speaks through His prophets. Link these verses to Exodus 4:15.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Elder Neil L. Andersen

A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior. (“The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 27)

Ponder how knowing this about prophets helps you to trust in their direction.

Option B

How can I strengthen my testimony that the Lord guides His prophets?

mark iconRead Exodus 3:14. Mark what the Lord told Moses to tell the people.

One of Jesus Christ’s titles is “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). It comes from the same root word as Jehovah. This translates to “He is” or “He exists” (Bible Dictionary, “Jehovah”). One of the roles of prophets is to testify that Christ exists and that He loves us. Why would it be meaningful to know that the Lord truly exists and is always present?

President Russell M. Nelson declared:

President Russell M. Nelson

The Lord Jesus Christ, whose Church this is, appoints prophets and apostles to communicate His love and teach His laws. …

Ask your Heavenly Father if we truly are the Lord’s apostles and prophets. Ask if we have received revelation on this and other matters. (“The Love and Laws of God” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sep. 17, 2019], 3, 5, speeches.byu.edu)

Reflect on your own testimony of the Lord’s prophet.

Now What?

young man watching general conference on a tablet

Read Exodus 4:30–31, looking for how the people responded to the Lord’s words through His prophet.

President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

President M. Russell Ballard

When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our response should be positive and prompt. (“His Word Ye Shall Receive,” Ensign, May 2001, 65)

share iconSearch current messages from the prophets and apostles (social media posts, general conference addresses, and so on). Find teachings that matter to you. Share that teaching with a loved one. Explain how it inspires you to trust and follow the Lord’s living prophet.

notebook iconRecord in your notebook how you will continue to hear and apply the word of the Lord through His prophets. If useful, use the ideas below:

  • Applying specific prophetic counsel from a recent general conference talk.

  • Studying the words of prophets more often, like listening to a general conference talk each morning while preparing for school.

  • Creating a plan to study the most recent general conference talks of each of the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (If you have digital access, you could use the Study Plans feature on the Gospel Library app.)

As part of your plan, record obstacles you think you might face. For each obstacle, write how you might overcome it.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you trust in and follow the Lord’s living prophets.

share iconShare one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

  • Your plan to hear and apply the word of the Lord through His prophets in your personal life.

  • The phrase or teaching you found from the prophets and apostles. Explain how it inspires you to follow the prophet.

  • Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

  • Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?