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

2 Kings 6: “They That Be with Us”

“2 Kings 6: ‘They That Be with Us,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“2 Kings 6: ‘They That Be with Us,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

2 Kings 2–7: Lesson 85

2 Kings 6

“They That Be with Us”

When surrounded by the Syrian army, the prophet Elisha’s servant cried out in fear, “how shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). Elisha comforted his servant by helping him recognize the Lord’s help. We likewise can be comforted as we learn to recognize the Lord’s help. This lesson can help students feel increased confidence in the Lord’s constant and watchful care.

Student preparation: Invite students to prepare to share an experience when the Lord blessed or protected them or someone they know.

Possible Learning Activities

Recognizing the Savior’s care

To begin your lesson, consider drawing a stick figure in the center of the board.

The scriptures are filled with the Savior’s promises for His people who strive to serve Him. To visualize one of these promises, draw a stick figure on the center of a page in your study journal and label it Me.

Then, read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88, and draw around your stick figure how you visualize the Lord’s promises.

You could invite a student to add to the drawing on the board what they drew in their journal, explaining why they drew what they did. Other students could be invited to add anything different they may have drawn. Alternatively, students could share and explain their drawings with a neighbor.

How do you think it might affect someone if they were able to recognize these promises occurring in their life?
Why can it be difficult to see or recognize the Lord’s blessings and protection in our lives?

It may be helpful to testify that Heavenly Father and the Savior are actively involved in each student’s life.

Ponder how well you recognize Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s involvement in your life. Then respond to the following questions in your study journal:

Can you recognize at least one way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are blessing or protecting you? If so, how are They doing it?
What is a situation you are facing in your life where it could help you to better recognize Their blessings and protection?

As you study 2 Kings 6, invite the Holy Ghost to help you recognize ways Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are blessing and protecting you.

Divine help

Consider explaining the following information to help students understand the context of 2 Kings 6.

During a time of war between Israel and Syria, the king of Syria privately discussed his battle plans with his servants. However, the Lord repeatedly revealed Syria’s plans to the prophet Elisha, who would then warn the king of Israel. When the king of Syria discovered this, he sent an army to capture Elisha (see 2 Kings 6:8–13).

Choose an effective way for students to study the following verses to help them identify converting principles. For example, it may be helpful for students to study from the perspective of Elisha’s servant. They could occasionally pause and think about how they would feel if they were in his place. Students could also read as a class or in small groups, with different students reading the parts for Elisha, Elisha’s servant, and the king of Israel.

It may be helpful to explain that Samaria was the capital city of the kingdom of Israel.

Read 2 Kings 6:14–23, looking for ways the Lord blessed and protected Elisha and his servant.

What impressed you from the story?
What truths from this story could be relevant to us today?

Consider sharing the following truth if students did not already share a similar truth in their own words: The Lord can help us recognize His blessings and protection in our lives.
How do you think recognizing the Lord’s blessings and protection affected Elisha and his servant?

Recognizing the Lord’s blessings and protection

To help students recognize some ways the Lord can bless and protect them, you could organize them into pairs or small groups for the following activity.

Note: Students will be given an opportunity to reflect on the list they create in this activity in Lesson 96: “Assess Your Learning 6.”

Make a list of different ways the Lord might watch over and care for us. List as many as you can think of in two minutes.

After the two minutes, you could invite them to look for additional ideas they could include from Mosiah 24:13–15; Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3; 38:7or other scripture passages you might suggest. You could also share the following statement from President Eyring.

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught the following about the Lord’s help:

Like that servant of Elisha, there are more with you than those you can see opposed to you. Some who are with you will be invisible to your mortal eyes. The Lord will bear you up and will at times do it by calling others to stand with you. (“O Ye That Embark,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 58)

Consider inviting groups to take turns sharing examples from their lists while you or volunteers write them on the board. You might allow groups to keep sharing until all unique ideas have been shared.

Invite students to share examples they can think of from the scriptures when the Lord watched over or cared for someone in the ways listed on the board.

As you discuss the following questions, you may choose to share when you have recognized God’s blessings or help in your life.

What can make some of these blessings from the Lord harder to recognize than others?
When has the Lord blessed or protected you, or someone you know, in one of these ways?
What does this experience teach you about the Lord?

Opening our eyes

Consider concluding the lesson by displaying the following quote and instructions.

Sister Michelle D. Craig, formerly of the Young Women General Presidency, explained what we can do if we struggle to see how God is working in our lives:

9:45

There may be times when you, like the servant, find yourself struggling to see how God is working in your life—times when you feel under siege—when the trials of mortality bring you to your knees. Wait and trust in God and in His timing, because you can trust His heart with all of yours. But there is a second lesson here. My dear sisters and brothers, you too can pray for the Lord to open your eyes to see things you would not normally see. (“Eyes to See,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 15)

Consider answering the following question in your study journal:

What did you learn today that helps you feel confident the Lord watches over and cares for you?

Testify of the Lord’s love and of His ability to help students recognize His help in their lives.

Additional Resources

What else can we learn from the story of Elisha and his servant?

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

15:42

We may or may not have chariots of fire sent to dispel our fears and conquer our demons, but the lesson is clear. The Lord is with us, mindful of us and blessing us in ways only He can do. Prayer can call down the strength and the revelation that we need to center our thoughts on Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The Lord knew that at times we would feel fear. I have been there and so have you. …

In this Church we may be few in number by the way the world counts influence, but when we open our spiritual eyes, “they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16). (“Be Not Troubled,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 18–19)

How can I recognize God’s hand in my life?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen. (“Come Follow Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 90)

Does God still send angels to help us today?

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

From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. …

Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times. …

I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself. (“The Ministry of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 29)

Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternative beginning

For another way to prepare your students to study 2 Kings 6, consider placing several pictures of Jesus Christ around the room. Place some in visible areas and others in areas that are more difficult to see.

At the beginning of the lesson, ask your students if they noticed any of the pictures of the Savior you placed around the room. Invite them to point each of them out to you. If there are any pictures they did not notice or locate, provide hints to help the students find them.

Invite students to share ways this activity could apply to their lives. The following questions could help with the discussion:

How can this experience be like trying to see and recognize the Lord’s blessings and protection in our lives?
Why is it sometimes difficult to see or recognize the Lord’s blessings and protection in our lives?

Students could then ponder how well they recognize the Lord’s involvement in their lives.

Helping students visualize the account

To help students visualize the story in 2 Kings 2:14–23, you could show the video “Elisha and the Lord’s Army” (1:09). Then, consider inviting students to review the verses to find details that were missed in the video.

1:9

2 Kings 6:1–7. The axe head floated to the surface of the water

If you feel your students could benefit from a discussion about how God is aware of and cares about what is important to us, consider writing the following challenges or decisions on the board:

Taking a difficult test at school
Losing keys or a cell phone
Struggling with a relationship

Ask students which of these challenges or decisions they think God cares about the most.

Invite students to read 2 Kings 6:1–7, looking for a miracle the prophet Elisha performed. Then consider asking students the following questions:

Why was losing the axe head a concern for this man?
In the context of the plan of salvation, how important is an axe head?
What can this miracle teach us about God?

Students may identify a truth like the following: God is aware of our concerns and is merciful to us.

Invite students to read the following statement from President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018).

Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives. (“Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 88)

Invite students to share experiences they have had when the Lord helped them in small ways.