Scripture Central

Genesis 18–23 highlights several remarkable women whose stories, read through an LDS lens, reveal faith, covenant, and the quiet influence of righteous women in God’s plan. Sarah stands at the center: in Genesis 18 she hears the promise that she will bear a son in her old age and initially laughs, a deeply human reaction that the Lord gently turns into a lesson about divine power and timing. Latter-day Saints often see in Sarah a model of covenant partnership with Abraham—someone who grows into faith and ultimately receives the miracle promised. Genesis 19 introduces Lot’s wife and daughters, whose experiences near the destruction of Sodom show both the dangers of looking back spiritually and the complexity of preserving family in a fallen world. An LDS perspective emphasizes agency and accountability, while also recognizing the difficult circumstances these women faced.

Genesis 20–23 continues to show how women are woven into the covenant story. Sarah’s protection in foreign courts underscores the Lord’s watchful care over covenant mothers through whom promises flow. Her eventual joy in Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21) fulfills God’s word and highlights the doctrine that nothing is impossible for the Lord. Hagar and her son Ishmael are also remembered compassionately in Latter-day Saint thought: though separated from Abraham’s household, they are seen as recipients of God’s mercy and promises. Finally, Sarah’s death in Genesis 23 is treated with great honor, showing her importance as a matriarch in Israel. Altogether, these chapters present women not as side characters but as vital participants in the Abrahamic covenant, whose faith, struggles, and divine encounters still teach modern disciples about trust in God’s promises.

Genesis 18–23 highlights several remarkable women whose stories, read through an LDS lens, reveal faith, covenant, and the quiet influence of righteous women in God’s plan. Sarah stands at the center: in Genesis 18 she hears the promise that she will bear a son in her old age and initially laughs, a deeply human reaction that the Lord gently turns into a lesson about divine power and timing. Latter-day Saints often see in Sarah a model of covenant partnership with Abraham—someone who grows into faith and ultimately receives the miracle promised. Genesis 19 introduces Lot’s wife and daughters, whose experiences near the destruction of Sodom show both the dangers of looking back spiritually and the complexity of preserving family in a fallen world. An LDS perspective emphasizes agency and accountability, while also recognizing the difficult circumstances these women faced.

Genesis 20–23 continues to show how women are woven into the covenant story. Sarah’s protection in foreign courts underscores the Lord’s watchful care over covenant mothers through whom promises flow. Her eventual joy in Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21) fulfills God’s word and highlights the doctrine that nothing is impossible for the Lord. Hagar and her son Ishmael are also remembered compassionately in Latter-day Saint thought: though separated from Abraham’s household, they are seen as recipients of God’s mercy and promises. Finally, Sarah’s death in Genesis 23 is treated with great honor, showing her importance as a matriarch in Israel. Altogether, these chapters present women not as side characters but as vital participants in the Abrahamic covenant, whose faith, struggles, and divine encounters still teach modern disciples about trust in God’s promises.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist.
Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course.
Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

In this episode, Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the stories of faithful women in the Old Testament who demonstrated deep obedience, covenant loyalty, and unwavering trust in God—even when their discipleship required real sacrifice. Through an LDS lens, she highlights how women were vital participants in God’s covenant work, not merely background figures. Their lives show that faith in the Lord often requires courage, patience, and a willingness to place divine promises above personal comfort or social expectations.

A special focus is given to Sarah in Genesis 12 and the Book of Abraham, following the journey she and Abraham make to Egypt during a time of famine. There, they encounter serious danger as Abraham fears for his life because of Sarah’s beauty, leading to complex moral and spiritual tests. From an LDS perspective, Sarah’s faith, unity with Abraham, and trust in God’s protection reveal a woman deeply committed to the covenant path. Her story—marked by risk, displacement, and divine deliverance—invites viewers to appreciate the spiritual strength of covenant women and to see how their examples still guide Latter-day Saints striving to live faithfully today.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist.

Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course.

Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.