Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
Lessons 1–2
Welcome to the Old Testament
- 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

Isaiah 29: “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder”

“Isaiah 29: ‘A Marvellous Work and a Wonder,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Isaiah 29: ‘A Marvellous Work and a Wonder,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35: Lesson 118

Isaiah 29

“A Marvellous Work and a Wonder”

How is the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon marvelous to you? Isaiah described the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, as “a marvellous work and a wonder” (Isaiah 29:14). This lesson can help students feel gratitude for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon.

Student preparation: Invite students to think of how they might define the words marvelous and wonderful. Using their definition, invite them to find a verse or story in the Book of Mormon that is marvelous or wonderful to them.

Possible Learning Activities

Apostasy

To see the need for the Restoration of the gospel, it is helpful for students to understand the Great Apostasy.

To do this, tell students they are going to try and guess an event based on clues. Then display the following phrases one at a time as students try to guess “the Great Apostasy.” As students identify it, invite them to raise their hand but not share the answer yet.

Use the following phrases to determine what event is being described:

“darkness shall cover the earth” (Isaiah 60:2)
“a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11)
“grievous wolves shall enter in among you” (Acts 20:29)
“a falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Read Isaiah 29:8–10, looking for descriptions of the Great Apostasy.

How does the passage describe people who have either abandoned or never had access to the Lord’s truth due to the Great Apostasy?

We live in a world where many are still spiritually hungry, staggering, or sleeping. We may also make choices that distance us from the Lord. Take a moment to ponder ways you, or those you love, may feel this way.

As you study today, seek help from the Holy Ghost to appreciate what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us to overcome these challenges and turn to Them.

A marvelous work and a wonder

Read Isaiah 29:4 to identify what Isaiah prophesied the Lord would bless us with to overcome the effects of the Great Apostasy.

To help students understand that verse 4 is referring to the Book of Mormon, you could provide students with some of the following scripture references:

2 Nephi 33:13
Mormon 8:23
Last paragraph of “Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith” found in the introductory pages of the Book of Mormon.

Alternatively, you could display all of the references on the board and invite students to use as many of them as they need to identify what the Lord has blessed us with. Students could pick one or more of these references and cross-reference, or link, them to Isaiah 29:4. This can help them remember what they are learning.

You might invite students to read Isaiah 29:11–12 and looking for other phrases that could refer to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Students might mark, “the book is delivered to him that is not learned” (Isaiah 29:12). This phrase refers to Joseph Smith, who received very little formal schooling. If students do not know, you could explain that these verses refer to an event in Church history found in Joseph Smith—History 1:62–65.

Isaiah 29:13–14 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Isaiah 29:13–14, looking for what the Lord said He would do to overcome the effects of the Apostasy.

President Russell M. Nelson explained what the marvelous work and wonder is:

That marvelous work [and wonder] would include the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel. (“Scriptural Witnesses,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 46)

How would you summarize what we can learn from Isaiah 29:13–14?

Students might share something similar to the following: The Lord restored the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, to overcome the effects of the Great Apostasy.

Explain that the Restoration of the Gospel is “God’s reestablishment of the truths and ordinances of His gospel among men on earth” (“Restoration of the Gospel,” Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Library). Alternatively, you could watch “What Is the Restoration?” from time code 2:09 to 5:13.

5:13

To help students analyze this truth, consider placing them in groups to discuss the following questions.
What can this truth teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
How can the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon help us overcome the spiritual difficulties caused by the Great Apostasy?

The blessings of the marvelous work and wonder

The following can help students see how the Restoration and the Book of Mormon can help us overcome the effects of the Great Apostasy.

Write the question “How can the Lord bless me through the Restoration and the Book of Mormon?” in your journal. Read Isaiah 29:18–19 and write what you find that answers the question.

Complete one of the following activities:

Activity 1

Identify a verse or story from the Book of Mormon that brings you closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If helpful, you could look at Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passages.

Explain why it is marvelous to you.

Activity 2

Identify a doctrine, ordinance, blessing, or other aspect of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ (modern-day prophets, temples, the priesthood, and so on) that helps you draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Explain why it is marvelous to you.

After enough time, invite students to get into small groups and share their explanations.

Consider concluding class by inviting students to ponder why they are grateful to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. Consider sharing your feelings about why you are grateful for the Restoration or the Book of Mormon.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase during this lesson and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase for Isaiah 29:13–14 is “The Restoration of the gospel is ‘a marvellous work and a wonder.’” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Is the Restoration of the gospel complete?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

18:31

Sometimes we think of the Restoration of the gospel as something that is complete, already behind us—Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he received priesthood keys, the Church was organized. In reality, the Restoration is an ongoing process; we are living in it right now. It includes “all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” that “He will yet reveal” (Articles of Faith 1:9). … The exciting developments of today are part of that long-foretold period of preparation that will culminate in the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. (“Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 59)

President Russell M. Nelson explained:

The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again. …

The ongoing Restoration needs ongoing revelation. (“The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 94)

How can I gain a personal witness of the divinity of the Restoration?

The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World states:

With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know—as we do—that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (“The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World,” Gospel Library)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Book of Mormon prophecies in Isaiah 29

Isaiah gave other prophecies of the Book of Mormon in Isaiah 29. If you feel it would be helpful, you can explain these prophecies, or students could read the following scriptures and identify how they relate to the Book of Mormon:

Isaiah 29:4—Isaiah prophesied about the coming forth of the gold plates from the ground.
Isaiah 29:11–12—Isaiah prophesied about Martin Harris taking copies of some of the Book of Mormon characters to Professor Charles Anthon.

To help students see how Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 29:11–12 was fulfilled, you could draw the following chart on the board:

The subject of one of Isaiah’s prophecies	Isaiah’s prophecy of what the person or people would do	The fulfillment of the prophecy
Isaiah 29:11—“men”		Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65
Isaiah 29:11—“one that is learned”		Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65
Isaiah 29:12—“him that is not learned”		Joseph Smith—History 1:59

You could divide students into pairs and ask each partnership to read the references in the chart together and summarize Isaiah’s prophecies and their latter-day fulfillment in the center column. (You may want to explain that Nephi also recorded Isaiah’s account in 2 Nephi 27:6–10, 15–20. Nephi’s account provides more detail than Isaiah’s account in the Bible.)

As an alternative to the chart activity, you could watch “A Marvelous Work and Wonder” (3:57) or have willing students read the account of Martin Harris and Charles Anthon on pages 46–48 in Saints, Volume 1: The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846.

3:57

The Book of Mormon—A marvelous work and a wonder

You could use the following videos before students complete activity 1 or 2 in the lesson. You could also show them to help students identify how the Book of Mormon can bring hope and joy into our life.

“Look to the Book, Look to the Lord” from time code 1:32 to 3:22. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve shares Mary Elizabeth Rollins’s experience with reading the Book of Mormon.

15:7

“Go Ye Therefore” from time code 1:22 to 3:05. Sister Silvia H. Allred, former member of the Relief Society General Presidency, shares her experience with learning about the Book of Mormon.

10:25

Faith in every footstep

Helping students identify some of the blessings of the Restoration can help them increase their gratitude for the Lord’s marvelous “work and a wonder.” One way to help students to do this is to sing or listen to “Faith in Every Footstep.” Students could follow along with the lyrics and identify (1) ways we can participate in the Lord’s marvelous “work and a wonder” and (2) blessings that come from His great work. They could then share what they found.

5:37