Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah Comments and Suggestions Your comments and suggestions about this manual would be appreciated. Please submit them to: Curriculum Planning 50 East North Temple Street, Floor 24 Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3200 USA E-mail: [email protected] Please list your name, address, ward, and stake. Be sure to give the title of the manual. Then offer your comments and suggestions about the manual’s strengths and areas of potential improvement. Cover: Hannah Presenting Her Son Samuel to Eli, by Robert T. Barrett © 1996, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America English approval: 1/01 Contents Lesson Number and Title Page Helps for the Teacher v 1 “This Is My Work and My Glory” (Moses 1) 1 2 “Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born” 5 (Abraham 3; Moses 4:1–4) 3 The Creation (Moses 1:27–42; 2–3) 9 4 “Because of My Transgression My Eyes Are Opened” 12 (Moses 4; 5:1–15; 6:48–62) 5 “If Thou Doest Well, Thou Shalt Be Accepted” (Moses 5–7) 17 6 “Noah . Prepared an Ark to the Saving of His House” 23 (Moses 8:19–30; Genesis 6–9; 11:1–9) 7 The Abrahamic Covenant 27 (Abraham 1:1–4; 2:1–11; Genesis 12:1–8; 17:1–9) 8 Living Righteously in a Wicked World (Genesis 13–14; 18–19) 32 9 “God Will Provide Himself a Lamb” 36 (Abraham 1; Genesis 15–17; 21–22) 10 Birthright Blessings; Marriage in the Covenant (Genesis 24–29) 40 11 “How Can I Do This Great Wickedness?” (Genesis 34; 37–39) 46 12 “Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction” (Genesis 40–45) 51 13 Bondage, Passover, and Exodus (Exodus 1–3; 5–6; 11–14) 56 14 “Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me” (Exodus 15–20; 32–34) 62 15 “Look to God and Live” (Numbers 11–14; 21:1–9) 68 16 “I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord” (Numbers 22–24; 31:1–16) 73 17 “Beware Lest Thou Forget” (Deuteronomy 6; 8; 11; 32) 77 18 “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” (Joshua 1–6; 23–24) 82 19 The Reign of the Judges (Judges 2; 4; 6–7; 13–16) 87 20 “All the City . Doth Know That Thou Art a Virtuous Woman” 92 (Ruth; 1 Samuel 1) 21 God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him (1 Samuel 2–3; 8) 96 22 “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” (1 Samuel 9–11; 13; 15–17) 101 23 “The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever” (1 Samuel 18–20; 23–24) 107 24 “Create in Me a Clean Heart” (2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51) 111 iii 25 “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord” (Psalms) 117 26 King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness (1 Kings 3; 5–11) 123 27 The Influence of Wicked and Righteous Leaders 128 (1 Kings 12–14; 2 Chronicles 17; 20) 28 “After the Fire a Still Small Voice” (1 Kings 17–19) 134 29 “He Took Up . the Mantle of Elijah” (2 Kings 2; 5–6) 139 30 “Come to the House of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 29–30; 32; 34) 144 31 “Happy Is the Man That Findeth Wisdom” (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes) 151 32 “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” (Job 1–2; 13; 19; 27; 42) 157 33 Sharing the Gospel with the World (Jonah 1–4; Micah 2; 4–7) 162 34 “I Will Betroth Thee unto Me in Righteousness” (Hosea 1–3; 11; 13–14) 166 35 God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets (Amos 3; 7–9; Joel 2–3) 170 36 The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense (Isaiah 1–6) 175 37 “Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things” (Isaiah 22; 24–26; 28–30) 179 38 “Beside Me There Is No Saviour” (Isaiah 40–49) 183 39 “How Beautiful upon the Mountains” (Isaiah 50–53) 187 40 “Enlarge the Place of Thy Tent” (Isaiah 54–56; 63–65) 190 41 “I Have Made Thee This Day . an Iron Pillar” 194 (Jeremiah 1–2; 15; 20; 26; 36–38) 42 “I Will Write It in Their Hearts” (Jeremiah 16; 23; 29; 31) 198 43 The Shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 18; 34; 37) 201 44 “Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh” (Ezekiel 43–44; 47) 207 45 “If I Perish, I Perish” (Daniel 1; 3; 6; Esther 3–5; 7–8) 211 46 “A Kingdom, Which Shall Never Be Destroyed” (Daniel 2) 216 47 “Let Us Rise Up and Build” (Ezra 1–8; Nehemiah 1–2; 4; 6; 8) 220 48 “The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord” (Zechariah 10–14; Malachi) 225 iv Helps for the Teacher President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “I hope that for you [studying the scriptures] will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will be- come a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted” (“The Light within You,” Ensign, May 1995, 99). As a Gospel Doctrine teacher, you have the opportunity to help the members of your class learn to love the Old Testament and find the enlightenment that President Hinckley promised. As you teach, you will be following the example of the Savior, who loved the scriptures and used them to teach his disciples. Just after Jesus was resurrected, he used the scriptures to teach two disciples powerful truths. A disciple named Cleopas and his companion were walking along the road to Emmaus, discussing the news they had just heard that Jesus’ body was no longer in the sepulchre. As they walked, they were joined by Jesus but did not recognize him. He asked what they were talking about and why they were sad, and they told him of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. When Jesus heard this, he “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). Cleopas and his companion asked the Savior to stay with them, and as they sat to eat they recognized him as the resurrected Lord. He then vanished from their sight, and they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32). The scriptures that prompted the disciples’ hearts to burn were from the books of Moses and the prophets—the scriptures that we know as the Old Testament. As you teach these same sacred truths, the Holy Ghost will testify of their truth- fulness to your class as he did to Cleopas and his companion. Studying the Old Testament should strengthen class members’ testimonies of the Savior and their commitment to live his gospel. Guided by the Spirit in their study, class members should be able to testify with Job, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25). Teaching by the Spirit When preparing for Gospel Doctrine class, it is important that you seek inspira- tion and guidance from the Spirit of the Lord. “The Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith,” said the Lord, “and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach” (D&C 42:14). Remember that the Holy Ghost is the teacher in your class. The way you seek the Spirit is through prayer, fasting, daily study of the scriptures, and obedience to the commandments. While preparing for class, pray for the Spirit to help you understand the scriptures and the needs of class members. The Spirit can also help you plan meaningful ways to discuss the scriptures and apply them to the present (1 Nephi 19:23). With the help of the Spirit, you will become an effective instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach his word to his children. v Some suggestions for how to invite the Spirit into your class are given below: 1. Invite class members to offer prayers before and after the lesson. During class, pray in your heart for the Spirit to guide you, to open the hearts of class members, and to testify and inspire. 2. Use the scriptures (see “Focusing on the Scriptures” below). 3. Bear testimony whenever the Spirit prompts you, not just at the end of the lesson. Bear testimony of the Savior. Frequently invite class members to bear their testimonies. 4. Use hymns, Primary songs, and other sacred music to prepare class members’ hearts to feel the Spirit. 5. Express love for class members, for others, and for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 6. Share insights, feelings, and experiences that relate to principles in the lesson. Invite class members to do the same. Members could also tell how they have applied or taught what was discussed in previous lessons. Focusing on the Scriptures Preparing for Gospel Doctrine class requires diligent, prayerful study of the scrip- tures. The Lord commanded, “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word.” As you obtain his word through scripture study, the Lord promises that “your tongue [shall] be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea the power of God unto the convincing of men” (D&C 11:21).