Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah

You could begin by sharing the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund:

As followers of Jesus Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we strive—and are encouraged to strive—to do better and be better. Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, “Am I doing enough?” “What else should I be doing?” or “How can I, as a flawed person, qualify to ‘dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness’?” (“Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 109)

Invite students to think about whether they have ever asked questions like this before. You might also ask:

• When you think about your standing before God, what other questions come to your mind?

• What cautions or advice might you share with someone who questions whether they are doing enough or are good enough?

Invite students as they study today to pay attention to what they learn from the scriptures and from the Holy Ghost that can help them live in a way that fulfills what the Lord asks of us.

It may be helpful to explain that Micah was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom of Judah at around the same time as Isaiah, in the eighth century BC. He prophesied of the judgments that would come upon the people of Israel and Judah because of their wickedness. He pleaded with the people to remember the great blessings they had received from the Lord and invited them to repent and be gathered to Him (see “What is the book of Micah?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament).

To help students understand the context of Micah 6, explain that this chapter describes an imagined conversation between the Lord and the people of Judah. The people were going through the motions of worship by offering sacrifices, but they still participated in sinful behaviors that were offensive to the Lord. (This is an example of contextual information that can help students better understand what they read in the scriptures. For more about the importance of context, see “Understanding the Scriptures in Context” in Scripture Study Skills.)

Invite students to read Micah 6:3–4, looking for questions the Lord asked the people. (After reading, you could point out that in these verses, the Lord was essentially asking the people what He had done to deserve their rejection.)

Summarize Micah 6:6–7 by explaining that the people responded to the Lord’s questions by asking if they should offer larger sacrifices to please Him. Invite students to read Micah 6:8, looking for what the Lord said He desired of the people. You could then ask:

• How would you summarize what is taught in this verse as a statement of truth? (Help students to identify a truth like this: The Lord is pleased when we strive to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.)

You could share the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund to help students better understand Micah’s teachings in Micah 6:6–8:

The Old Testament prophet Micah asked … : “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?” [Micah 6:6]. Micah satirically wondered whether even exorbitant offerings might be enough to compensate for sin, saying: “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten [thousand] … rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for … the sin of my soul?” [Micah 6:7].

The answer is no. Good deeds are not sufficient. Salvation is not earned. Not even the vast sacrifices Micah knew were impossible can redeem the smallest sin. Left to our own devices, the prospect of returning to live in God’s presence is hopeless.

Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough. … As Micah explained, “[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (“Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 109)

Write the following three phrases from verse 8 on the board:

Do justly

Love mercy

Walk humbly

Invite students to choose one of the phrases to study more deeply. They could study portions of Elder Dale G. Renlund’s message “Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 109–11) that relate to the phrase they chose. They might also look up words like “just,” “mercy,” or “humble” in their scriptures or in Gospel Library to find other resources to study. You could display questions like the following to guide their study:

• How would you define this phrase?

• How did Jesus Christ exemplify this? (see John 8:29).

Consider dividing students into small groups and inviting them to share what they learned from their study. It could be helpful to have students discuss in groups of three with group members who studied a different phrase.

After sufficient time, you could have a few students share insights from their discussion with the rest of the class.

Invite students to choose one of the three things the Lord requires in Micah 6:8 (“do justly,” “love mercy,” or “walk humbly”) that they feel prompted to work on in their personal lives. Encourage them to write down one or two things they feel inspired to do.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by discussing examples of the different ways people might respond after they sin. Consider writing students’ answers on the board. Invite students to share reasons why they think people might respond in the ways that have been identified.

Then consider sharing the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund:

My invitation to all of us is to evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. If we don’t try, we’re just latter-day sinners; if we don’t persevere, we’re latter-day quitters; and if we don’t allow others to try, we’re just latter-day hypocrites. As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were. (“Latter-day Saints Keep on Trying,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 58)

Consider inviting students to ponder how they feel they are doing at turning to Jesus Christ after they sin. Encourage them to look for truths as they study today that can help them desire to consistently turn to the Lord.

As needed, remind students that Micah was a prophet in the Southern Kingdom of Judah at the time of other prophets, like Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. Explain that Micah 7 begins with Micah mourning over the wickedness of the Israelites and the destruction that was coming because of their sins (see Micah 7:1–6). However, Micah prophesied that Israel would return to righteousness in a future day with the Lord’s help.

Invite students to read Micah 7:7–8, 18–20, looking for Micah’s description of the Lord. (If students need help understanding verse 20, you could point them to 2 Nephi 29:14.) Then consider asking:

• What can we learn about the attributes and character of God from these verses?

You might record students’ insights on the board. Using their responses, you could write down a truth like this one: As we repent of our sins, we will be forgiven because the Lord delights in mercy.

You might also consider sharing this statement by President Jeffrey R. Holland:

Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it. (“Laborers in the Vineyard,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 33)

To learn more about the Lord’s merciful nature, you could invite students to do the following:

1. Using their scriptures or Gospel Library, search for “Mercy” in Guide to the Scriptures, Topical Guide, or Topics and Questions.

2. Find an example of someone who didn’t expect or feel deserving of the Lord’s mercy yet experienced it as they turned to Him. (Examples could include Luke 7:44–48; 1 Timothy 1:12–16; or Alma 38:6–8.)

After students have had time to study, you might display questions such as these for pairs or small groups to discuss:

• What did you learn about the Lord’s love, mercy, and redeeming power from what you studied?

• How could knowing more about the Lord’s mercy motivate someone to repent and seek His forgiveness?

Consider sharing a video illustrating the Lord’s mercy in the lives of His children. For example, you might show “I Know His Grace Is There When I Fall | His Grace” (6:24) or “Returning to Prayer” (4:43).

6:24

4:43

Invite students to think of a time when they experienced the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness. They could record what they learned about Him from those experiences. Students could also record ideas on how they might more fully seek the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness in their lives.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by displaying the following self-assessment and inviting students to respond to each item in their study journal by using the scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

1. When I have gospel questions, I seek answers through prayer, the scriptures and words of prophets, and other reliable sources.

2. When my questions remain unanswered, I stay committed to Jesus Christ and His restored Church.

3. I am willing to accept that some of my gospel questions may not be fully answered in this life.

4. I trust that God values my sincere questions and will guide me as I exercise faith in seeking answers.

After completing the assessment, you could ask:

• How can asking questions about the gospel build our faith in Jesus Christ?

Invite students to think of gospel questions they currently have. As they study, invite them to look for what Habakkuk’s example can teach them about seeking and receiving answers from God.

Explain that the Lord called Habakkuk to be a prophet to the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. Habakkuk knew that the Lord would use the Babylonians to destroy the Kingdom of Judah, which had become wicked. He had questions about why the Lord would allow the wicked Babylonians to conquer his people.

Invite student to read Habakkuk 1:2–4, looking for questions Habakkuk struggled with. Allow students to share what they found. You might also ask:

• How might you rephrase some of Habakkuk’s questions in your own words?

• What are examples of similar questions people might ask today?

Invite students to read Habakkuk 2:1–4 and 3:17–19, along with “Habakkuk 2:4. What does it mean for the just to ‘live by his faith’?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament. Have students look for what Habakkuk chose to do as he wrestled with his questions. Have them also look for the Lord’s response. Consider asking questions like the following to help students share what they learned:

• What can we learn from Habakkuk’s example that can help us when we have difficult questions? (Students could identify a truth like the following: We can choose to remain faithful to the Lord while waiting for answers to our sincere questions. You could have students identify words or phrases from the scriptures that show how Habakkuk exemplified this truth.)

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that could help you trust Them while waiting for answers to your questions?

• What might it look like for us to remain faithful to the Lord when we are dealing with difficult questions? (You could share the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson as part of this discussion.)

If you have questions—and I hope you do—seek answers with the fervent desire to believe. Learn all you can about the gospel and be sure to turn to truth-filled sources for guidance. We live in the dispensation when “nothing shall be withheld” [Doctrine and Covenants 121:28]. Thus, in time, the Lord will answer all our questions.

In the meantime, immerse yourself in the rich reservoir of revelation we have at our fingertips. I promise that doing so will strengthen your testimony, even if some of your questions are not yet answered. Your sincere questions, asked in faith, will always lead to greater faith and more knowledge. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library)

To help students better understand the bolded truth, it may be helpful to give them time to study the five guiding principles from “Seeking Answers to Gospel Questions” (Topics and Questions, Gospel Library). Students could then discuss their insights with a partner. You could also have several students share what they learned with the class.

Invite students to think about what they have learned and felt today and to record any spiritual impressions they received from the Holy Ghost. You could share your testimony and encourage them to act on their spiritual impressions.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”