Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
Lessons 1–2
Old Testament Lessons
- Lessons 1–2
  Welcome to the Old Testament
- Lessons 3–6
  Moses 1; Abraham 3
- Lessons 7–9
  Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
- Lessons 10–12
  Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5
- Lessons 13–15
  Genesis 5; Moses 6
- Lessons 16–18
  Moses 7
- Lessons 19–21
  Genesis 6–11; Moses 8
- Lessons 22–24
  Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2
- Lessons 25–28
  Genesis 18–23
- Lessons 29–32
  Genesis 24–33
- Lessons 33–34
  Genesis 37–41
- Lessons 35–37
  Genesis 42–50
- Lessons 38–40
  Exodus 1–6
- Easter
- Lessons 41–44
  Exodus 7–13
- Lessons 45–47
  Exodus 14–18
- Lessons 48–51
  Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34
- Lessons 52–55
  Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19
- Lessons 56–57
  Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27
- Lessons 58–60
  Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34
- Lessons 61–64
  Joshua 1–8; 23–24
- Lessons 65–67
  Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16
- Lessons 68–70
  Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–7
- Lessons 71–73
  1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16
- Lessons 74–76
  1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7
- Lessons 77–80
  2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 6–9; 11
- Lessons 81–82
  1 Kings 12–13; 17–22
- Lessons 83–85
  2 Kings 2–7
- Lessons 86–89
  2 Kings 16–25
- Lessons 90–91
  2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30
- Lessons 92–93
  Ezra 1, 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
- Lessons 94–96
  Esther
- Lessons 97–99
  Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42
- Lessons 100–103
  Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46
- Lessons 104–106
  Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86
- Lessons 107–108
  Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150
- Lessons 109–112
  Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12
- Lessons 113–116
  Isaiah 1–12
- Lessons 117–118
  Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35
- Lessons 119–122
  Isaiah 40–49
- Lessons 123–125
  Isaiah 50–57
- Lessons 126–129
  Isaiah 58–66
- Lessons 130–133
  Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
- Lessons 134–137
  Jeremiah 31–33; 36–38; Lamentations 1; 3
- Lessons 138–141
  Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47
- Lessons 142–145
  Daniel 1–7
- Lessons 146–148
  Hosea; Joel
- Lessons 149–151
  Amos; Obadiah; Jonah
- Lessons 152–154
  Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah
- Lessons 155–157
  Haggai 1–2; Zechariah 1–4; 7–14
- Lessons 158–160
  Malachi
Lessons 161–165
Life Preparation Lessons
- Lessons 161–165
  Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Lessons 166–170
  Scripture Study Skills
- Lessons 171–176
  For the Strength of Youth Guide
- Lessons 177–180
  Building Self–Reliance
- Lessons 181–187
  Physical and Emotional Health
- Lessons 188–191
  Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Lessons 192–195
  Succeed in School
- Lessons 196–200
  Missionary Preparation
- Lessons 201–204
  Temple Preparation
- Lessons 205–208
  Teachings of Church Leaders

Exodus 25; 35–40: “The Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle”

“Exodus 25; 35–40: ‘The Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Exodus 25; 35–40: ‘The Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19: Lesson 52

Exodus 25; 35–40

“The Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle”

A depiction of the Israelite tabernacle in the wilderness. The tabernacle is viewed from above. The interior and exterior of the tabernacle are depicted.

In obedience to the Lord’s command, the Israelites built a tabernacle, or temple, in the wilderness. This tabernacle was a portable sanctuary where the Lord could dwell among His people as they traveled. This lesson can help students feel an increased desire to worship the Lord in His temple.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to use the Gospel Library or temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org to find pictures of temples or videos related to the temple. Ask students to think about how they feel about the Lord’s temple. Invite them to consider how modern-day temples help them remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Possible Learning Activities

What is the purpose of temples?

Consider beginning the lesson by sharing the following scenario. You could then display the questions after the scenario and invite students to discuss them with a partner.

Imagine that a temple will soon be dedicated in your area. You invite a friend to attend the temple open house with you. Your friend accepts your invitation but mentions that she does not know anything about temples.

What would you want your friend to understand about temples and their purpose?
How might you respond if your friend asked you why temples are important to you?

After students have discussed their responses with their partners, invite them to think about their answers to the following question.
Using a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high), how would you rate your desire to consistently worship the Lord in the temple?

Consider inviting the students to think about why they responded the way they did to the previous question.

As you study today, pay attention to what the Holy Ghost can teach you about temples and how they connect us to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Seek inspiration to help you feel an increased desire to worship the Lord in His temples.

The Lord commands the Israelites to build a tabernacle

While speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, the Lord asked that the Israelites offer their gold, silver, and other valuable materials to build a sanctuary, or tabernacle, for Him. In our time, we have also been asked to build temples to serve as a sanctuary or a place of holiness.

Read Exodus 25:8, looking for why the Lord wanted the Israelites to build a sanctuary.

What did you find?
What does the Lord’s reason for this commandment teach you about Him and the way He feels about us?

Symbolism of the tabernacle

The objects and ordinances in the tabernacle were symbolic. They were meant to teach Israel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how to journey through life back to Them.

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

After students have had enough time to study, invite them to share what they learned. You could ask questions like the following as part of this discussion.

What symbols seemed especially meaningful or interesting to you?
What did the symbols from the tabernacle teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Modern-day temples

An exterior shot of the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple. We see exterior images of the temple.

Consider displaying an image of a modern-day temple. Explain that temples today include Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances that God withheld from the ancient Israelites because of their rebellion. Despite this difference, there are many similarities that our temples share with the ancient tabernacle.

What similarities do you see between our temples and the ancient tabernacle?
What truths do you learn from these similarities?

Encourage students to share a variety of answers to the previous question. You could list on the board the truths that students identify. Using their own words, students may identify truths such as the following:

The Lord commands us to build temples so He can dwell among us.
The ordinances and symbols of the temple teach about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
The temple helps us prepare to return to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Explain that, like the ancient tabernacle, modern-day temples contain symbols that teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Baptistry (Temples) at Provo City Center Temple

Winnipeg Manitoba Temple. An interior image of the temple featuring the Sealing Room. There are chairs around an altar. Above the altar is a chandelier. There is a stained glass window on one side.

What are ways that modern-day temples help you remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

As part of your discussion of the previous question, consider showing pictures of specific rooms inside modern-day temples. For example, after pointing out a picture of a baptistry in the temple, you could ask the students what the ordinance of baptisms for the dead can teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. You might want to use the images above or the images included in the article “Inside Temples,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

You could also watch the video “Welcome to the Washington D.C. Temple” (11:46), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. This video is another resource to help students see how modern-day temples teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If time is limited, consider watching one of the following portions: time code 0:00 to 3:49, time code 4:37 to 7:44, or time code 8:16 to 9:04.

11:45
How can knowing that temples teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ affect our desire to worship there?
When have you felt closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ because of the temple or by participating in temple and family history work?

Record your impressions

To help students reflect on what they have learned and felt from the Holy Ghost today, consider inviting them to answer the following question in their study journals.

What have you learned or felt today from the Holy Ghost that has influenced your desire to worship the Lord in the temple?

You could invite a few willing students to share what they wrote. Let students know they will have an opportunity to reflect on their desire to worship the Lord in the temple in Lesson 80: “Assess Your Learning 5”.

Testify of the truths you have discussed today.

Additional Resources

Why is it important for me to worship the Lord in the temple?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

8:3

My dear brothers and sisters, the assaults of the adversary are increasing exponentially, in intensity and in variety. Our need to be in the temple on a regular basis has never been greater. I plead with you to take a prayerful look at how you spend your time. Invest time in your future and in that of your family. If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples. (“Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 114)

What should my focus be as I attend the temple?

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

14:46

When one goes to the holy temple for the first time, he or she may be somewhat awestruck by that experience. Our job is to ensure that the sacred symbols and revealed rituals, the ceremonial clothing and visual presentations, never distract from but rather point toward the Savior, whom we are there to worship. The temple is His house, and He should be uppermost in our minds and hearts—the majestic doctrine of Christ pervading our very being just as it pervades the temple ordinances—from the time we read the inscription over the front door [“Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord.”] to the very last moment we spend in the building. Amid all the wonder we encounter, we are to see, above all else, the meaning of Jesus in the temple. (“The Message, the Meaning, and the Multitude,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 7)

What if I feel nervous about attending the temple?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

18:59

If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less. Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there. I promise you that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation. (“The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 95)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

Before class, find the statistical report given during the Saturday afternoon session of the most recent April general conference. You can find this at newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or in the most recent May issue of the Liahona.

Display pictures of temples, and ask students some questions about temples based on the statistical report. For example, you could ask how many temples are operating, which temples are under construction, which temples were recently announced, and so forth. Then to prepare students to study about the Lord’s commandment for the Israelites to build a tabernacle, consider asking:

How are we blessed by building temples?

Additional videos

You could use the following videos at different points in the lesson:

“Temples” (5:40). Various scholars and Latter-day Saints describe what temples are and why they are significant. You could use this video at the beginning of the lesson, or you could use it toward the end of the lesson before you ask students how the temple has brought them closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

5:41

“Latter-day Saint Temples” (1:40). This video provides a brief introduction to temples and their purpose. You could use it at the beginning of the lesson.

1:40