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

Psalm 136: “O Give Thanks unto the Lord”

“Psalm 136: ‘O Give Thanks unto the Lord,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Psalm 136: ‘O Give Thanks unto the Lord,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Psalms 102–3; 110; 116–19; 127–28; 135–39; 146–50: Lesson 108

Psalm 136

“O Give Thanks unto the Lord”

Like many hymns, the Psalms remind us to give thanks in all things. Expressing sincere gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can open our eyes and hearts to Their love and mercy and allows our love for Them to grow. This lesson can help students feel Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love as they express gratitude for Them.

Student preparation: Invite students to offer a prayer thanking Heavenly Father without asking for anything in return. Students could prepare to share their impressions from the experience with the class.

Possible Learning Activities

How can I feel God’s love?

Begin class by helping students ponder how they can feel God’s love. One way to do this is to invite students to imagine the following scenario.

One day a friend says to you: “Sometimes in church and seminary, people talk about feeling God’s love. I’m not sure I feel it. What can I do to feel His love in my life?”

How might you respond to your friend?

Students might have various answers, or they might not know what to say. After students respond, you could share the following statement.

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) explained something we can do to feel God’s love:

My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. (“The Divine Gift of Gratitude,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 87)

How would you summarize what President Monson taught?

As students share their answers, write the following truth on the board: Expressing gratitude for our blessings helps us feel God’s love.

Read Psalm 136:1–3, 26, looking for why the psalmist expresses gratitude for God.

What do you notice?

You might want to invite students to mark the phrase “for his mercy endureth for ever.” You could point out that every time the psalmist expresses gratitude, he recognizes God’s love. You might explain that in Hebrew the word for mercy in these verses is hesed, which is “a special kind of love and mercy that God feels for and extends to those who have made a covenant with Him” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 6).
Why do you think expressing gratitude for our blessings helps us feel God’s love?

Recognizing God’s blessings

To help students assess how they are doing at expressing gratitude to the Lord, you could do the following activity. Remind students that the Holy Ghost can help us remember so that we can learn and improve. Invite students to listen for impressions from the Holy Ghost as they consider their answers.

Think about your experiences over the last week. In your study journal, answer the following questions with the phrases never, once or twice, a few times, or many times.

How often did you recognize a specific blessing from the Lord in your life?
How often did you express gratitude to the Lord for your blessings?
How often did you feel His love?

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

Expressing gratitude to God

To help students practice expressing gratitude to God, you could invite them to do one of the following activities.

Choose one of the following options to express your gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Pay attention to the love you might feel from Them as you do this.

Express your gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in a social media post or by writing in your journal.
Make a list of things that you are grateful for. Remember to include those things in your next prayer.

To conclude, you might share how expressing gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ helps us feel Their love and allows our love for Them to grow.

Additional Resources

What are some blessings that come from expressing gratitude?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency shared:

I try to remember the Savior’s sacrifice and His love for me. Then, when I pray to Heavenly Father to give thanks, I feel love and assurance that my prayers are heard and that I will receive whatever is best for me and those I love. It strengthens my testimony. (“Our Constant Companion,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 94)

Why should I give thanks for trials?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

17:27

The revelations, for which we are grateful, show that we should even give thanks for our afflictions because they turn our hearts to God and give us opportunities to prepare for what God would have us become. … In the midst of the persecutions the Latter-day Saints were suffering in Missouri, the Lord gave a similar teaching and promise: “Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks; … and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good” (D&C 98:1, 3). And to Joseph Smith in the afflictions of Liberty Jail, the Lord said, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7). Brigham Young understood. Said he, “There is not a single condition of life [or] one hour’s experience but what is beneficial to all those who make it their study, and aim to improve upon the experience they gain” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 179).” (“Give Thanks in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 96)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

You might begin class by sharing the following.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020, President Russell M. Nelson shared the following experience:

A few weeks ago, I woke in the middle of the night with the thought that I should offer a prayer of gratitude to God for all of His children around the globe. Thoughts flooded my mind of all of the things for which we should be grateful and how expressing that gratitude could become a healing spirit in our lives. As the inspiration came, specific details, including when and how I should share this message, came to my mind and heart. (“The Story behind My Global Prayer of Gratitude,” Inspiration [blog], Gospel Library, Nov. 20, 2020)

President Nelson then urged people around the world to express gratitude to the Lord and others.

What blessings might come from expressing gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Additional video options

After the students complete the handout, you might consider showing one of the following videos in place of the one suggested:

“President Russell M. Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude” (from time code 2:45 to 4:27)

11:38
“In the Spirit of Thanksgiving” (4:48)

4:49

Ways to express gratitude

In addition to teaching us that we should express gratitude to the Lord, the Psalms also share ways to do so. You could invite students to read Psalm 149:1–6 and Psalm 150, looking for ways we can express gratitude to the Lord. Students could add other ways to express gratitude, including other teachings in the scriptures. You could then invite students to share a favorite hymn of thanksgiving that the class can sing or listen to together.

The Psalms teach about family

Another point of emphasis in Psalms is family. Consider inviting students to read Psalm 127:3–5, looking for what it teaches about family. You could invite students to share what stands out to them. You might ask what concerns someone might have about these teachings. Ask how students could respond to those concerns. The Family: A Proclamation to the World could be a helpful resource.

The Psalms teach about prayer

You might not have discussed prayer yet in previous lessons on Psalms. If not, you could invite students to read Psalm 145:18–20, looking for what these verses teach about prayer. You could explain that “nigh” means near and “fear him” means to honor or reverence God. You could ask students to share experiences where they have witnessed the truths taught in this psalm.