Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual

1 Old TestamentGospel Doctrine teacher s ManualOld TestamentGospel Doctrine teacher s ManualPublished byThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsSalt Lake City, UtahCover: Hannah Presenting Her Son Samuel to Eli,by Robert T. Barrett 1996, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, rights reservedPrinted in the United States of AmericaEnglish approval: 1/01 Comments and SuggestionsYour comments and suggestions about this Manual would be appreciated. Please submit them to:Curriculum Planning50 East North Temple Street, Floor 24 Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3200 USAE-mail: 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. iiiContentsLesson Number and TitlePageHelps for the teacher v1 This Is My Work and My Glory (Moses 1)12 Thou Wast Chosen Before Thou Wast Born 5(Abraham 3; Moses 4:1 4)3 The Creation (Moses 1:27 42; 2 3)94 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)176 Noah.

2 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)329 God Will Provide Himself a Lamb 36(Abraham 1; Genesis 15 17; 21 22)10 Birthright Blessings; Marriage in the Covenant (Genesis 24 29)4011 How Can I Do This Great Wickedness? (Genesis 34; 37 39)4612 Fruitful in the Land of My Affliction (Genesis 40 45)5113 Bondage, Passover, and Exodus (Exodus 1 3; 5 6; 11 14)5614 Ye Shall Be a Peculiar Treasure unto Me (Exodus 15 20; 32 34)6215 Look to God and Live (Numbers 11 14; 21:1 9)6816 I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord (Numbers 22 24; 31:1 16)7317 Beware Lest Thou Forget (Deuteronomy 6; 8; 11; 32)7718 Be Strong and of a Good Courage ( Joshua 1 6; 23 24)8219 The Reign of the Judges (Judges 2; 4; 6 7; 13 16)8720 All the City.

3 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)9622 The Lord Looketh on the Heart (1 Samuel 9 11; 13; 15 17)10123 The Lord Be Between Thee and Me For Ever (1 Samuel 18 20; 23 24) 10724 Create in Me a Clean Heart (2 Samuel 11 12; Psalm 51)111iv25 Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord (Psalms)11726 King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness (1 Kings 3; 5 11)12327 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)13429 He Took Up .. the Mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 2; 5 6)13930 Come to the House of the Lord (2 Chronicles 29 30; 32; 34)14431 Happy Is the Man That Findeth Wisdom (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes)15132 I Know That My Redeemer Liveth ( Job 1 2; 13; 19; 27; 42)15733 Sharing the Gospel with the World ( Jonah 1 4; Micah 2; 4 7)16234 I Will Betroth Thee unto Me in Righteousness (Hosea 1 3; 11; 13 14) 16635 God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets (Amos 3; 7 9; Joel 2 3)17036 The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense (Isaiah 1 6)17537 Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things (Isaiah 22; 24 26; 28 30)17938 Beside Me There Is No Saviour (Isaiah 40 49)18339 How Beautiful upon the Mountains (Isaiah 50 53)18740 Enlarge the Place of Thy Tent (Isaiah 54 56; 63 65)19041 I Have Made Thee This Day.

4 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)19843 The Shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 18; 34; 37)20144 Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh (Ezekiel 43 44; 47) 20745 If I Perish, I Perish (Daniel 1; 3; 6; Esther 3 5; 7 8)21146 A Kingdom, Which Shall Never Be Destroyed (Daniel 2)21647 Let Us Rise Up and Build (Ezra 1 8; Nehemiah 1 2; 4; 6; 8)22048 The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord (Zechariah 10 14; Malachi)225vHelps for the TeacherPresident 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, yourminds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted ( The Light withinYou, Ensign,May 1995, 99).

5 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 thatPresident Hinckley promised. As you teach, you will be following the example of the Savior, who loved the scriptures and used them to teach his after Jesus was resurrected, he used the scriptures to teach two disciplespowerful truths. A disciple named Cleopas and his companion were walkingalong 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 Jesusbut did not recognize him. He asked what they were talking about and why theywere sad, and they told him of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. When Jesusheard this, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerninghimself (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.

6 He then vanished from theirsight, and they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us, while hetalked 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 the old testament should strengthen class members testimonies of the Savior and their commitment to live his Gospel . Guided by the spirit in theirstudy, class members should be able to testify with Job, I know that my redeemerliveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth ( Job 19:25).Teaching by the SpiritWhen preparing for Gospel Doctrine class, it is important that you seek inspira-tion and guidance from the spirit of the Lord.

7 The spirit shall be given unto youby the prayer of faith, said the Lord, and if ye receive not the spirit ye shall notteach (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 Spiritto help you understand the scriptures and the needs of class members. The Spiritcan also help you plan meaningful ways to discuss the scriptures and apply themto the present (1 Nephi 19:23). With the help of the spirit , you will become aneffective instrument in the hands of the Lord to teach his word to his 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 classmembers, and to testify and inspire.

8 2. Use the scriptures (see Focusing on the Scriptures below).3. Bear testimony whenever the spirit prompts you, not just at the end of thelesson. Bear testimony of the Savior. Frequently invite class members to beartheir Use hymns, Primary songs, and other sacred music to prepare class members hearts to feel the Express love for class members, for others, and for Heavenly Father and Share insights, feelings, and experiences that relate to principles in the class members to do the same. Members could also tell how they haveapplied or taught what was discussed in previous on the ScripturesPreparing 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 obtainmy word. As you obtain his word through scripture study, the Lord promisesthat your tongue [shall] be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spiritand my word, yea the power of God unto the convincing of men (D&C 11:21).

9 This Manual is a tool to help you teach the scriptures. Encourage class membersto bring their scriptures to class every week. Where possible, Latter-day Sainteditions of the scriptures should be used. Refer to the excerpts from the JosephSmith Translation of the Bible that are in the Bible footnotes and in the sectionfollowing the Bible Dictionary. During class, keep discussions focused on the scriptures. Be judicious in your useof commentaries and other nonscriptural sources of information. Class membersshould be taught to seek knowledge and inspiration from the scriptures and thewords of the latter-day class member should be given a copy of the old testament Class MemberStudy Guide (34592). This booklet provides summaries and questions that willhelp class members understand the scriptures, ponder how to apply them, andprepare for class discussion. Encourage parents to use the study guide in familyscripture FormatThis Manual has been written for youth and adult Gospel Doctrine classes and is to be used every four years.

10 The lessons have been designed to contain moreinformation than you will probably be able to teach in one class period. Seek theSpirit of the Lord in selecting the scripture accounts, questions, and activities thatbest meet the needs of class lesson includes the following purpose statement provides you with a main idea to focus on asyou prepare and teach the first part of this section summarizes the scripture accounts in the lesson outline. Some lessons suggest additional reading that will give you increased understanding. In many lessons this section also includes othersuggested preparations, such as materials you may want to bring to section consists of a simple activity, object lesson, orquestion to help class members prepare to learn, participate, and feel theinfluence of the spirit . Whether you use the Manual s attention activity or one of your own, it is important to focus class members attention at thebeginning of the lesson.