Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Old Testament Lessons
Title Page
Lessons 1–2
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
- 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 166–170
Life Preparation Lessons
- 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
Appendix

1 Kings 3: The Lord Blesses Us to Accomplish His Work

“1 Kings 3: The Lord Blesses Us to Accomplish His Work,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“1 Kings 3: The Lord Blesses Us to Accomplish His Work,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 6–9; 11: Lesson 78

1 Kings 3

The Lord Blesses Us to Accomplish His Work

Norway: Youth Social Media 2020: Savannah Andrewsen

Have you ever considered how the blessings you receive from Heavenly Father help you accomplish His work? After the death of David, his father, Solomon was appointed by the Lord to be the new king of Israel. Wanting to honor the Lord, Solomon humbly sought blessings that would increase his ability to serve the Lord and the Israelites righteously. This lesson can help students understand that the Lord will bless us with the ability to accomplish His work.

Student preparation: Invite students to write down something they are trying to do to participate in the work of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite students to prayerfully ask Heavenly Father what blessings they need to help Him accomplish His work

Possible Learning Activities

Humbly recognizing our weaknesses

To begin class, draw an image like the following on the board. Students could copy the drawing in their study journals. Then invite students to discuss the following questions:

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

What are some ways the Savior has invited us to participate in His work?
What are some ways a teenager might feel inadequate to serve the Lord?

Consider inviting students to list, in the gap between the images, some ways a teenager might feel inadequate. Students might identify worries, such as anxiety, shyness, feeling overwhelmed or not qualified. Then invite students to ponder the following questions.

Think about a few of the invitations the Lord has given you to participate in His work.

What concerns do you have about your ability to accomplish His invitations?
How confident do you feel in the Lord’s ability to help you overcome concerns you have?

As you study today, invite the Holy Ghost to help you understand how the Lord will help you accomplish His work.

King Solomon desires to reign righteously

Share with students that when King David died, his son Solomon was chosen by the Lord to reign as king of Israel (see 1 Kings 1:11–13). Solomon loved the Lord and desired to be a righteous king (see 1 Kings 3:3). You could change the label of the stick figure on the board to Solomon and change the other side to Be a righteous king.

How might a righteous king have been expected to act?
How might Solomon have felt replacing his father as king?

Consider displaying the following scripture passages and questions. You could organize students into partnerships. Have one partner read 1 Kings 3:5–9 and the other read 1 Kings 3:10–14, then share their answers with each other.

Read 1 Kings 3:5–9, looking for blessings Solomon requested of the Lord.

What impresses you about Solomon’s request? What Christlike attributes does Solomon demonstrate?

Read 1 Kings 3:10–14, looking for blessings the Lord promised Solomon.

How could a “wise and understanding heart” (verse 12) and “riches and honor” (verse 13) increase Solomon’s ability to serve the Lord righteously?
What did the Lord require of Solomon to qualify for these blessings? (verse 14).

Summarize Solomon’s experience with the Lord as a statement of truth.

Students might identify a truth such as: As we humbly recognize our weakness and seek the Lord’s help to bless others, He will increase our ability to accomplish His work. It might be helpful to write this truth on the board and invite students to mark the phrases that teach this truth.

Read the following statement from President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018), looking for the promise given to all who are willing to participate in the Lord’s work.

Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to [the Lord]. Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it. (“To Learn, to Do, to Be,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 62)

How might President Monson’s teachings help someone who was worried about their ability to serve the Lord?

You could draw a bridge between each side of the image on the board and label it The Lord’s help. Invite students to draw something similar in their study journals.

The Lord increases our ability to serve Him

After the study activity, invite students to respond to the following invitation.

Refer to the drawing in your study journal from the beginning of class. Prayerfully write down one or two weaknesses you feel could be keeping you from better serving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite the Holy Ghost to help you recognize blessings you could seek from the Lord that could help you overcome these weaknesses.

Demonstrate understanding

Provide an opportunity for students to share what they have learned. This can invite the Holy Ghost to testify that what they are sharing is true. The following activity is one way to help students do this.

Imagine a friend shares her anxiety about receiving a new calling in your ward or branch. From what you studied today, what would you share that could help your friend?

You might invite volunteers to share with the class. Consider encouraging students to take their handout home and share what they learned with a family member or friend. You could testify of the Lord’s power and willingness to bless us with what we need to faithfully labor with Him in this great work.

Additional Resources

What blessings can I seek from the Lord to help me participate in His work?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

14:11

God-given gifts make gifted people.

Looking through a gospel lens, God endows His children with many spiritual gifts, making them spiritually gifted people. Covenant-keeping members of the Church are bestowed with gifts of the Spirit, which include the gift of a testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift of faith to heal and be healed, the gift of discernment, the gift of receiving miracles, and the gifts of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord invites us to earnestly seek the best gifts, even spiritual gifts. He gives spiritual gifts to bless us and to use in blessing others. (“Promptings of the Spirit,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 42)

What if I feel discouraged about my abilities?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of First Presidency, reminded us:

17:55

Sometimes we feel discouraged because we are not “more” of something—more spiritual, respected, intelligent, healthy, rich, friendly, or capable. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with wanting to improve. God created us to grow and progress. But remember, our weaknesses can help us to be humble and turn us to Christ, who will “make weak things become strong.” Satan, on the other hand, uses our weaknesses to the point that we are discouraged from even trying.

I learned in my life that we don’t need to be “more” of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become.

God will take you as you are at this very moment and begin to work with you. All you need is a willing heart, a desire to believe, and trust in the Lord. (“It Works Wonderfully,” Ensign or Liahona, Oct. 2015, 22)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Petitioning the Lord for help to overcome challenges

Students might benefit from studying other accounts of people who humbly petitioned the Lord and received His help to accomplish His work.

Students could find accounts on their own, or you could provide some examples for them to choose from, such as these:

Enoch: Moses 6:27–39

Moses: Exodus 3:4–7, 10–14; 4:10–16

Gideon: Judges 6:11–16

Emma Smith: Saints, vol. 1, 96–97

President Russell M. Nelson: “Sweet Power of Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 8

As they study, students could discuss some of the following questions:

What was the Lord asking this person to do?
What weaknesses might this person have seen in themselves?
How did they petition the Lord for help?
How did the Lord bless them? How did they act in faith to qualify for the Lord’s blessings?

Students could prepare a short report on the person they selected, sharing the account and what they learned with a small group or with the class. You might invite students to draw a picture of the person or the account to display as they share.

1 Kings 3:16–28. Solomon demonstrates his understanding heart

As an example of how Solomon used the blessings the Lord provided, you could invite students to read 1 Kings 3:16–28. As they study the story of Solomon and the two women, you could ask discussion questions such as these:

How did Solomon demonstrate the Lord’s gift of wisdom and an understanding heart?
How could the gifts of understanding and discernment help you participate in the Lord’s work?

Students could then look at 1 Kings 4:29–34 to see how the Lord’s gifts to Solomon blessed his people.