Daniel 1–7

Consider beginning by discussing a scenario like the following:

Since she moved out of her parents’ home, Nora has frequently encountered people who have different beliefs and standards, particularly regarding the Word of Wisdom. Many of her roommates and coworkers drink coffee, tea, and alcohol, and she has often been offered these substances. Sometimes people ask why it is such a big deal for her to avoid them.

• What are some questions or concerns someone in Nora’s situation might have?

Invite students to think about how they might respond if they were in Nora’s situation. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help strengthen their commitment to obey the Lord’s Word of Wisdom.

Explain that around 606 BC, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and took certain Israelites captive into Babylon. The king commanded that some of the Israelite youth be trained for service in his household. Among these youth were four young men named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In Babylon, their names were changed to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (see “What is the book of Daniel?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Before studying Daniel 1, point out that the Word of Wisdom as the Lord has revealed it in our day did not exist in Daniel’s time. However, the law of Moses did include specific dietary laws that guided the Lord’s people anciently.

Invite students to study Daniel 1:5–20 and the entry for Daniel 1:5–16 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament. Have them look for truths that could help them in situations where they are tempted to disobey the Word of Wisdom or other commandments. Additionally, you could show the video “God Gave Them Knowledge” (from time code 0:52 to 5:15 and 5:46 to 6:15).

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To help students share their insights from these verses, you might ask questions like the following:

• What stood out to you as you studied these verses?

• If Daniel and his friends had wanted to rationalize eating the king’s meat, what kinds of excuses could they have come up with?

• What did you learn about the Lord that can help in situations where you are tempted to disobey His laws? (Students might identify a truth like the following: We can receive physical and spiritual blessings if we keep God’s laws.)

If time permits, you could give students time to learn more about the Lord’s law of health in our day. They could do this by studying some of the following resources:

• “Word of Wisdom” in the Guide to the Scriptures or in Topics and Questions (Gospel Library)

• “The Word of Wisdom: What It Is, What It Isn’t,” New Era, Aug. 2019, 26–28

• Doctrine and Covenants 89

Invite students to share what they learned with a partner or small group. You might also discuss questions like the following together as a class:

• How do you think the Word of Wisdom demonstrates God’s love for His children?

• What blessings have you recognized from the Lord as you obeyed the Word of Wisdom? (As part of this discussion, you could show the video “Leave the Party” [6:26].)

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Invite students to consider ways they could more fully obey the Word of Wisdom. Encourage any who might have broken this commandment to remember that the Lord will help them as they turn to Him and repent. Reassure them that the Lord loves them and invites them to keep trying. Encourage students to record plans they have made or spiritual promptings they received in their personal notes.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by discussing the following statement by Elder Ronald A. Rasband:

President Russell M. Nelson said … : “Do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work” [Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024, 121].

Hastening His work. “Hastening” is a word that matters. It suggests moving quickly, accelerating, and even urgency. In the growth of the Church and the plan of Christ, hastening is happening. And we are all a part of it. (“Right Before Our Eyes,” Liahona, May 2025, 13)

• What evidence do you see that the Lord is hastening His work today?

• What might cause someone to “miss the majesty of this moment”?

Encourage students as they study today to ponder how they can avoid “miss[ing] the majesty” of the last days. Invite them to seek to recognize the significance of the Savior’s Church being on the earth today.

Consider displaying the following image and inviting a student to explain what they know about what is depicted:

As needed, explain that Daniel was among the first group of captives from the Kingdom of Judah taken to Babylon (see “What is the book of Daniel?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament). Daniel and some of the other Israelite youth were trained to serve in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar (see Daniel 1). Later, the king was troubled by a dream. None of his wise men could tell him what the dream was or how to interpret it. As a result, the king commanded that all his wise men, including Daniel, be killed. Before that could happen, God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (see Daniel 2:1–26).

Invite students to read Daniel 2:24–30, looking for what Daniel taught King Nebuchadnezzar about his dream.

Have students create a table like the following in their notes. Then give them time to study the resources listed in the table and record their findings.

After sufficient time, invite students to share what they learned by discussing questions like the following:

• What does the stone cut out of the mountain without hands represent?

• What can we learn about the Lord’s restored Church from His revelation to Daniel? (As part of this discussion, students could identify a truth like this: The Lord established His Church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—and it will continue to grow until it fills the whole earth.)

• How can remembering this truth help us when we face opposition or when our faith is challenged?

Consider inviting students to choose one of the following activities to help them more fully appreciate the significance of the Lord’s revelation to Daniel:

1. Study portions of Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s message titled “Right Before Our Eyes” (Liahona, May 2025, 13–16). Look for evidence that Daniel’s prophecy is being fulfilled.

2. Study “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” (Gospel Library). Look for and mark (1) truths the Savior has revealed and (2) events He has brought forth in restoring His Church.

After sufficient time, invite students to share insights they gained from their study with a partner or small group. Then consider asking the following question:

• In what ways have specific parts of the Restoration—such as the First Vision, priesthood restoration, Book of Mormon, or organization of the Church—influenced your life? Why?

Testify of the truths you have discussed today. Encourage students to consider ways they can more fully participate with the Lord in His latter-day work. Encourage them to record their ideas in their personal notes.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin class by writing the following incorrect statement on the board: The Lord will always deliver us from our trials by giving us what we want, when we want it.

You could then have students discuss the following questions with a partner or small group:

• If this statement were true, how might it affect our spiritual growth and development?

• How could you revise this statement to make it more accurate?

Ask a few students to share insights from their discussions, including the revised statement they created.

Invite students to ponder how likely they are to remain faithful to God when life doesn’t go as they hoped. Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them remain faithful to the Lord regardless of the circumstances.

Consider displaying the following image and inviting a student to share what is being depicted:

As needed, remind students that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were faithful Israelites. They lived in Babylonian captivity and served in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had a large golden image built and commanded everyone to fall down and worship it when certain music was played. Anyone who refused would be thrown into “a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:1–6).

Invite students to read Daniel 3:7–18, looking for evidence of the faith these men had in Jesus Christ. Invite students to share what they learned by asking questions like the following:

• What stood out to you about the actions and words of these men?

• How would you summarize their response to the king in verses 17–18? (As part of this discussion, you could help students identify the following truth: We show our faith in Jesus Christ by choosing to obey Him, regardless of the consequences. Consider inviting students to write this truth next to verses 17–18 in their scriptures.)

Invite students to share different situations young adults might face where they would need to show faith in Jesus Christ rather than faith in a temporary outcome. You could list their responses on the board. As part of this discussion, consider sharing the following statement by Elder Dennis E. Simmons, given while he was serving as a member of the Seventy, and ask the questions that follow:

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Our scriptures and our history are replete with accounts of God’s great men and women who believed that He would deliver them, but if not, they demonstrated that they would trust and be true.

He has the power, but it’s our test.

What does the Lord expect of us with respect to our challenges? He expects us to do all we can do. …

We must have the same faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not. … He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not. … He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not, … we will trust in the Lord.

… We will have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that if we do all we can do, we will, in His time and in His way, be delivered and receive all that He has. (“But If Not,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 74–75)

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that can help you remain faithful to Them, even when the outcome is uncertain?

• What experiences have you had with trusting in God regardless of the outcome? (As part of this discussion, you could show the video “Find Peace, Hope, and Healing in Jesus Christ” [1:36].)

Invite students to read Daniel 3:19–30 and look for what happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego after they stood up to the king. Alternatively, you could show the following image and invite a student who is familiar with the account to summarize verses 19–30 for the class.

To conclude, invite students to reflect on situations they are currently facing—or may face in the future—that require faith in Jesus Christ rather than in a specific outcome. Encourage them to record in their personal notes any insights or impressions they received today that could strengthen them in those moments.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

Consider beginning by discussing the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:

True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous. (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40–41)

• What are situations that require disciples of Jesus Christ to “stand out, speak up, and be different?” (Write students’ answers on the board so you can refer to them later in the learning activity.)

• What can make it hard to follow this counsel?

Invite students to silently evaluate their own willingness to “stand out, speak up, and be different.” Encourage them as they study today to look for truths that can help them resist pressure to disobey the Lord.

To help students understand the context for the verses they will study, explain that many years after the Jews were taken captive into Babylon, the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Medes and the Persians. King Darius of Persia then ruled over Babylon (see Daniel 5:30–31). Under Darius’s rule, Daniel rose to a position of high authority and influence (see Daniel 6:1–3).

Invite students to study Daniel 6 and make a list of gospel truths they find that inspire them to remain faithful to the Lord. They could do this with a partner or small group. (It may be helpful to introduce the skill “Identifying Gospel Truths in the Scriptures” from Scripture Study Skills before beginning this study activity.)

After students have completed their study, invite them to share truths they identified. Examples of truths they could share include these:

• As disciples of Christ, we will face opposition because of our beliefs (see Daniel 6:1–5).

• The Lord will bless our efforts when we stand up to worldly pressure (see Daniel 6:6–16).

• As we do what is right and trust the Lord, our righteous example can influence others (see Daniel 6:16–28).

You might also ask questions like the following:

• What did you notice about Daniel’s relationship with the Lord? What can help us have that kind of relationship with Him?

• What similarities did you notice between Daniel and Jesus Christ?

Direct students’ attention back to the list of situations on the board from the beginning of the learning activity.

Give students time to find other truths from the scriptures or statements from Church leaders that can help us when we encounter those types of situations. (If students need help, you could suggest that they study some of the following scriptures: Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 5:14–16; Romans 1:16; Philippians 4:13; 1 Nephi 3:7; Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.)

After sufficient time, have students share the scripture or statement they found with a partner or small group. Then have them explain how they feel the truth taught in their scripture or statement could help us when we face situations that require speaking up or standing out as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Consider discussing the following question together as a class:

• What blessings have you or those you know experienced by choosing to stand out, speak up, or be different as disciples of Jesus Christ?

Encourage students to consider what they have learned today that could help them remain faithful to the Lord. They could record spiritual impressions they received from the Holy Ghost. Conclude by sharing your testimony of the principles you have discussed today.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”