Malachi

You could bring a piece of fresh fruit along with a spoiled or rotten food item to class, or display images like the following:

You might then ask a question like the following:

• If someone offered you either the fresh or spoiled food to eat, what might it communicate about their feelings toward you?

Explain that Malachi was the last known prophet to minister to the Israelites until John the Baptist began to preach more than 400 years later. In Malachi’s day, many of the Jews had fallen into apostasy (see “What is the book of Malachi?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament). Malachi 1 records what the Lord said to the Israelites about the offerings they presented to Him. Invite students as they study to pay attention to promptings from the Spirit that help them give their best to God.

Invite students to study Malachi 1:6–14, looking for the people’s attitude toward the Lord. (Consider also pointing students to “Malachi 1:7–8, 12–14. How were the priests polluting sacred ordinances?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

Consider asking questions like the following to help students share insights from these verses:

• What might these people have forgotten about the purpose of their offerings? What might their offerings suggest about how they felt about the Lord?

• What does this account help you understand about how we can honor and please the Lord? (Students might identify a truth like the following: We honor and please the Lord when we give our best to Him.)

To help students deepen their understanding of this truth, consider displaying the following study activities and giving them time to complete one of them:

1. Find scriptures about people who pleased and honored the Lord by giving their best to Him. (Examples include Mark 14:3–9; Luke 21:1–4; Alma 22:15–18.)

2. Find scriptures that illustrate how Jesus Christ gave His best to Heavenly Father. (Examples include Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 22:39–44; John 8:29; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19.)

3. Find teachings from the scriptures or Church leaders that describe how we can give the Lord our best today. (Examples of scriptures include Omni 1:26; 3 Nephi 9:19–20; Moroni 10:32–33.)

After sufficient time, invite students to share their insights with a partner or small group. You might also discuss questions like the following together as a class:

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that motivates you to give your best to Them?

• What are some specific ways we can give our best to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and show our love for Them?

Invite students to think of ways they can more fully give their best to the Lord. Encourage them to write their ideas and any impressions they may have received from the Holy Ghost in their personal notes.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

You could begin by discussing the following scenario with your students:

Jasmine is a young adult who recently started meeting with the missionaries. She has felt a growing sense of peace as she learns about Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. During her meeting with the missionaries tonight, they introduced the law of tithing. They taught about the Lord’s promised blessings for those who obey this law, and then they asked Jasmine if she was willing to follow it. Jasmine responded, “That sounds like a really hard commandment to follow! I’m not sure if I’m ready to make that kind of commitment.”

• What are some reasons why people might consider the law of tithing to be a difficult commandment?

Invite students to reflect on their own feelings about living the law of tithing. Explain that Malachi 3 contains important teachings about this law. The Israelites of Malachi’s day had turned away from the Lord (see “What is the book of Malachi?” in Scripture Helps: Old Testament). One way the Lord invited the people to mend their broken relationship with Him was through obeying His law of tithing. Encourage students as they study today to look for truths that help strengthen their commitment to live the law of tithing.

Consider sharing the next portion of the scenario about Jasmine:

Later that evening, the missionaries received a text message from Jasmine. She said, “Thanks for the discussion tonight. I’m still considering things. I’m curious to know what motivates you to live the law of tithing. Anything you can share with me would be appreciated!”

Explain that in this learning activity, students will have an opportunity to create a response to Jasmine. To help them prepare to do this, provide the handout titled “The Lord’s Law of Tithing.” Students could complete the handout individually, with a partner, or in small groups.

After sufficient time, have students share their responses with a few others. You might also ask a few students to share their response with the entire class. After students share, you could write the following truth on the board: As we obey the law of tithing, the Lord will pour out blessings upon us. (This is an example of a cause-and-effect relationship in the scriptures. For more about helping students practice this skill, see “Looking for Cause-and-Effect Relationships in the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.)

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Give students time to write down what they have learned or felt from their study today. As needed, they could also write down what they might do to more fully live the law of tithing. Testify of the blessings the Lord gives to those who faithfully obey this law.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”

If possible, you could invite students ahead of time to bring a picture of an ancestor to class, along with an interesting fact or story about them. To begin the learning activity, invite students to form small groups. Students who were able to learn about an ancestor could briefly share what they learned with other members of the group. You might then discuss the following question as a class:

• Why do you think it is important to remember and feel connected to family members who came before us?

Invite students to think about their current efforts to participate in family history and temple work. Encourage them as they study today to be open to impressions from the Holy Ghost that help them understand how they can more fully participate in this important work.

Remind students that Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament, and his writings are the final words of the Old Testament record. He prophesied after the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity. In chapter 4, Malachi prophesied of events related to the last days and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Invite students to read Malachi 4:1–6, along with the entries related to Malachi 4 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament. Invite them to look for what Malachi prophesied would happen. To help students share their insights, consider asking questions like the following:

• What do you think Malachi meant when he said that the proud and wicked would be left with “neither root nor branch”? (verse 1).

• How was Malachi’s prophecy in verses 5–6 fulfilled? (If students need help, refer to the three entries for Malachi 4:5–6 in Scripture Helps: Old Testament.)

• How would you describe the purpose of Elijah restoring priesthood keys to the earth? (Students could share a truth like the following: The Savior sent Elijah to restore the sealing keys and turn families’ hearts to each other.)

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

The sealing power is supernal evidence of how much God loves all of His children everywhere and wants each of them to choose to return home to Him. (“Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys,” Liahona, May 2024, 121)

• How is the sealing power a manifestation of God’s mercy and love?

Remind students that a significant way our hearts can be turned to our ancestors, and theirs to us, is through participating in temple and family history work. Explain that the Lord has promised great blessings to those who participate in this important work. Elder Dale G. Renlund called these blessings “breathtakingly amazing.”

To help students learn about these blessings, you could have them find the bulleted list in Elder Renlund’s message “The Blessings of Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 47). Alternatively, you could show the video “The Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History Work” (3:26) or “The Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History Work 2” (4:04).

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After they identify the promised blessings, consider inviting students to share what stood out to them. You might also ask:

• What are some blessings you learned about that you desire to receive?

• How has participating in temple and family history work helped you feel more connected to your ancestors? How has it helped you feel more connected to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

If time and circumstances permit, you could give students some time in class to explore the FamilySearch app or FamilySearch.org. They could use the Memories page to learn about one or more of their ancestors. Or they could explore their family tree to see if they can find family names to prepare for temple ordinances. As needed, you could invite students who are familiar with these resources to teach the class how to use them.

You could conclude by sharing this statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen:

These are your days. You were born in a time of temples and technology. These are your days to more fully turn your hearts to your fathers and bring saving ordinances to millions within your families. These are your days to prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

As you contribute to this sacred work, your knowledge and faith in the Savior will increase and you will receive a more certain witness that life continues beyond the veil. You will receive protection against the temptations that surround you, and you will prepare yourself and the world you live in for the Second Coming of the Savior. (“These Are Your Days,” New Era, Feb. 2015, 2)

Invite students to write down any thoughts or impressions they received today. Encourage them to make a plan for how they will begin making or continue to make temple and family history work a priority.

Return to “Learning Activity Options.”