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

Psalms 61–86: “Give Ear to my Prayer, O God”

“Psalm 61–86: ‘Give Ear to my Prayer, O God,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Psalm 61–86: ‘Give Ear to my Prayer, O God,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86: Lesson 105

Psalms 61–86

“Give Ear to my Prayer, O God”

A women with her hands together, she is praying

You can probably think of moments in your life when you desired to draw near to Heavenly Father. Many of the Psalms are heartfelt prayers that provide an example of approaching Heavenly Father in humble faith. Prayer is a powerful tool that allows anyone at any time to call upon God for comfort, strength, or guidance. As with many tools, we can learn to use prayer more effectively. This lesson will help students communicate more meaningfully with Heavenly Father through prayer.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to pay attention between now and the next class to how they feel they are connecting with Heavenly Father in their prayers.

Possible Learning Activities

Careful versus casual

Before class, write “careful” and “casual” on the board. Make sure students understand the following definitions of these words. Careful: done with thought or attention. Casual: relaxed or unconcerned.

Consider organizing students into pairs or small groups to share what they think it would look like to be careful or casual in the following activities. Alternatively, you could invite partnerships or groups to come up with things they are careful about and things they are casual about.

Playing a sport

Learning an instrument

School work

After students have had a chance to share, write “prayer” on the board.

What might it look like to be careful or casual in prayer?

Invite students to think about how they currently approach their own prayers. The following is one way to do this. Assure students that they will not share their answers with anyone else.

Silently consider your responses to the following questions:

Would you consider your prayers to be more careful or casual? Why?
How might you be blessed if your prayers were more careful and meaningful?

Many of the psalms are heartfelt prayers that provide an example of approaching Heavenly Father in humble faith. As you study these psalms, be sensitive to thoughts and feelings from the Holy Ghost about how to communicate more meaningfully with Heavenly Father through prayer.

The psalms can teach us about prayer

To help students understand ways they can communicate more meaningfully with Heavenly Father in prayer, consider displaying the following scripture passages and questions on the board. Students could read a passage, then think about how it answers one or more of the questions.

It could be helpful to quietly play instrumental music as students study.

Read at least three of the following scripture passages, looking for answers to one or more of the questions that follow.

When should I pray to Heavenly Father?
How can I be more careful in my prayers?
What should my attitude be like when approaching Heavenly Father in prayer?

Invite students to share what they discovered. As part of the discussion, write the following incomplete statement on the board: Our prayers to Heavenly Father can become more meaningful as we …

Ask students to complete the statement with what they learned about prayer from the psalms they read. Some examples of what students might say include:

pray at any time of the day (see Psalm 55:16–17).

pray when we feel overwhelmed (see Psalm 61:2).

pray for deliverance (see Psalm 69:13–18).

pray for mercy (see Psalm 86:3–5).

pray with an attitude of love, reverence, and praise (see Psalm 63:4–6; 86:8–13).

Praying with love and reverence for Heavenly Father

This portion of the lesson focuses on this truth: Our prayers to Heavenly Father can become more meaningful as we pray with an attitude of love, reverence, and praise.

One way we can pray to Heavenly Father with an attitude of greater love and reverence is through the tone and language of our prayer.

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

The special language of prayer follows different forms in different languages, but the principle is always the same. We should address prayers to our Heavenly Father in words which speakers of that language associate with love and respect and reverence and closeness. …

… We wish to follow the Savior’s teaching, “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” [Matthew 6:7; see also 3 Nephi 13:7.] Our prayers should be simple, direct, and sincere. (“The Language of Prayer,” Ensign, May 1993, 16)

You might explain that we can show love, respect, and reverence to Heavenly Father by addressing Him using the words thee, thou, thy, and thine. See “The Language of Prayer,” Ensign, May 1993, for more information.

Think about the language you use in your prayers and how it reflects your feelings for Heavenly Father.

Why might it be worth the effort to use respectful and reverent language in your prayers?

Read Matthew 6:5–13 looking for how Jesus Christ exemplified love and reverence to Heavenly Father in prayer.

What do you learn from the Savior’s teachings and example that can influence the way you pray?
How has sincere prayer blessed your life?

Application

The following diagram can help students think about ways to apply what they learned about prayer. Invite students to draw the diagram in their journals. Then invite them to write answers to the questions in the graphic in each section.

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

Help students to recognize that what they wrote are things they can start applying today. Invite them to act on one or two of the things they wrote. If students are able, you might invite them to take a picture of their graphic to remember what they wrote down.

Consider sharing your testimony of how we can communicate with Heavenly Father in meaningful ways through prayer.

Additional Resources

How can prayer help in troubling times?

President M. Russell Ballard (1928–2023) taught:

During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven’s inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times. …

How great is the power of prayer, and how needed are our prayers of faith in God and His Beloved Son in the world today! Let us remember and appreciate the power of prayer. (“Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 78, 79)

How can we make our prayers more meaningful?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

I testify that prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.

I witness Heavenly Father lives and that He hears and answers every earnest prayer. (“Pray Always,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 44)

What can help us as we seek answers to our prayers?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 132]. (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of First Presidency, shared:

God cares about you. He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions. The answers to your prayers will come in His own way and in His own time, and therefore, you need to learn to listen to His voice. God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way. (“Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 21)

Supplemental Learning Activities

What the psalmist knew about Heavenly Father

Learning about Heavenly Father can help students approach Him in prayer. If you have extra time in your lesson, before moving to the application section, consider inviting students to read the following scripture references. It might be helpful for students to be organized into pairs and have one partner read the first two sets of verses and the other partner read the third set of verses. Invite students to read the verses looking for what the psalmist understood about God that could influence their prayers.

Psalm 62:5–8

Psalm 63:7

Psalm 86:8–10, 13, 15–16

After students have read and shared their findings, you could discuss the following question with the class:

How might knowing these things about Heavenly Father help someone pray more earnestly?
What do you know about Heavenly Father that could help you in your prayers?

Make time for prayer

To help students make time to communicate with Heavenly Father in prayer, consider showing the video “Face to Face with President Eyring and Elder Holland” from time code 44:35 to 46:09. President Jeffrey R. Holland shared ways he and his wife Patricia made time to pray.

96:16

After the video, you might invite students to share what they learned or thought. Students could be invited to set aside a certain time each day for prayer.

Hope and trust in our youth

Psalm 71:5 could be used to help students have hope in God and trust Him during their youth.

Sometimes youth can underestimate the importance of following the gospel in their younger years, thinking that they will follow it more deliberately when they are adults. It can be valuable for students to think about the power God can have in their lives as they trust in Him. Invite students to read Psalms 71:5 and Alma 38:2 thinking about the importance of trusting in God in their youth. You might have students discuss the following:

Why do you think it is important to learn in our youth to have hope and trust in God?
How has God been a source of strength or hope for you in your youth?

“Truth shall spring out of the earth” (Psalm 85:11)

To help students study about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, you could organize students into partnerships and invite each to read one of the following, looking for prophecies of the Book of Mormon: Psalms 85:11, Isaiah 29:4, and Moses 7:62. If needed, help them see that each refers to God’s word coming out of the earth (or ground), making reference to the gold plates that were hidden in the ground for Joseph Smith to find and translate.

How has the Book of Mormon helped you come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

“I Pray When”

You may want to show the video “I Pray When” (1:56) as part of the discussion about when we should pray to Heavenly Father. Students could then be asked which ideas they saw repeated in the scriptures studied in Psalms, or they could be asked to share additional times when they pray.

1:56

“Are You Really There?”

The music video “Are You Really There?” (3:46) depicts individuals turning to Heavenly Father in prayer and receiving answers to their prayers. You could show this video to help students think about their own prayers and feel hope that Heavenly Father will answer their prayers.

3:45