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 40–43: God Comforts His People

“Isaiah 40–43: God Comforts His People,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Isaiah 40–43: God Comforts His People,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Isaiah 40–49: Lesson 119

Isaiah 40–43

God Comforts His People

Jesus is standing on a hill. You can see the sun in the background

God will not abandon His covenant people. Through His prophet Isaiah, God comforted those who would eventually be taken captive into Babylon. God offers us, His covenant people today, the same words of comfort: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isaiah 41:10). This lesson can help students feel God’s comfort.

Student preparation: Invite students to read or listen to the words of some or all verses in the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns—for Home and Church). Ask them to identify comforting words or phrases and to come to class prepared to share.

Possible Learning Activities

Fear is not new

Consider beginning class by displaying the following statement and question. Students could be invited to list their answers on the board.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following observation:

Fear is not new. The disciples of Jesus Christ, out on the Sea of Galilee, feared the “wind, and the waves” in the dark of the night (Mark 4:34). As His disciples today, we too have fears. (“Be Not Troubled,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 18)

What are some fears people throughout the world, including disciples of Jesus Christ, might have?

After students have listed various fears, share the remainder of Elder Rasband’s statement, which includes fears he has seen in the world today. You could add some of these to the list on the board.

Elder Rasband continued:

15:42

Our single adults fear making commitments such as getting married. Young marrieds … can fear bringing children into an increasingly wicked world. Missionaries fear lots of things, especially approaching strangers. Widows fear going forward alone. Teenagers fear not being accepted; grade schoolers fear the first day of school; university students fear getting back a test. We fear failure, rejection, disappointment, and the unknown. We fear hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires that ravage the land and our lives. We fear not being chosen, and on the flip side, we fear being chosen. We fear not being good enough; we fear that the Lord has no blessings for us. We fear change, and our fears can escalate to terror. Have I included just about everyone? (“Be Not Troubled,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 18)

What effect can our fears have on us?

Consider inviting students to reflect on whether they can relate to any of the fears that have been listed or to think of their own fears. Share the following context to help students see circumstances that may have caused the Israelites to fear.

Isaiah prophesied of the destruction and captivity that would come upon Israel and Judah. Beginning in Isaiah 40, God inspired Isaiah to write to the Jews in the distant future who would be dwelling in captivity.

What could be some fears or concerns a person in captivity might face?

Read Isaiah 40:1–2, looking for the message God instructed Isaiah to deliver to His covenant people.

What attributes or characteristics of God do you learn from these verses?

Share your witness that God comforts His covenant people in our day. Consider displaying the following image. Students could draw this, or something similar, in their study journals. Invite them to make marks on their drawing to answer the accompanying questions.

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

Fear Comfort

In general, where on this scale would you place your feelings about your life right now?
Where would you place your feelings about the future?

As you study, look for what God teaches that can help you experience more of His comfort. If you read or hear something you think might bring comfort, those thoughts could be the Holy Ghost communicating to you. Consider recording these insights near the drawing in your study journal.

God comforts His people

To help comfort His covenant people, God inspired Isaiah to teach many things about Him in Isaiah 40–43. You will have the opportunity to identify some of these truths and consider how they could help comfort someone who is afraid.

Display the following instructions and explain that students will have the chance to complete this activity later in the lesson.

Using a passage from Isaiah, create a short message that could comfort someone who is afraid. Include each of the following:

Step 1. Words or phrases from the passage that could help someone feel comforted by God. Summarize these into a simple statement of truth.

Step 2. A scripture, hymn, or statement from a Church leader to support the teachings in the passage.

Step 3. A personal experience or modern example that illustrates how knowing this about God can bring comfort.

Model

Before students complete this activity, explain that you will provide a model using Isaiah 41:10–14. The following is one way you could model these steps. Continue to display the three steps and be very clear with students when you are demonstrating each step.

Read Isaiah 41:10–14, looking for God’s words of comfort to His covenant people. Note that worm in verse 14 can mean meek and humble.

Step 1

What words or phrases do you think could be comforting? Why?
How would you summarize them into a simple statement of truth?

In their own words, students may have identified something such as: We don’t need to fear, because God will be with and strengthen His covenant people.

Step 2

How can knowing God will be with and strengthen us help us not to fear?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared how our relationship with the Lord can help us to not fear:

15:3

Even with the increasing worldly influences around us, we need not fear. The Lord will never desert His covenant people. There is a compensatory power of spiritual gifts and divine direction for the righteous. This added blessing of spiritual power, however, does not settle upon us just because we are part of this generation. It comes as we strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, as we come to know Him and love Him. (Neil L. Andersen, “Drawing Closer to the Savior,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 73–74)

Step 3

When have you felt that God was with you or had strengthened you?

Messages of comfort

Give students time to prepare their short message of comfort. They could do this individually or with a partner.

Select one of the following sets of verses. Create a short message that could comfort someone who is afraid. Follow the three steps to do this.

When students are ready, invite them to share their messages of comfort in groups or with the class. If students share a hymn as part of their message, you could invite them to select a verse that supports what they shared. Sing that verse together as a class. You could repeat this, depending on how much time you have available.

Conclusion

Give students time to reflect on what they have learned about God that can bring them comfort. Remind them that these insights may have been inspired by the Holy Ghost, who teaches and testifies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite students to record their thoughts in their study journals.

Additional Resources

How does having God in my life help me overcome fear?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

14:48

I know that life without God is a life filled with fear. I also know that life with God is a life filled with peace, joy, and power. Resolve to live your life with God.

My dear young people, our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, are ready to bless you. They will not forsake you. (“Worldwide Day of Testimony: I Can Do All Things Through Christ,” Oct. 22, 2023)

Even though the Lord promises to be with me, what if I feel alone?

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

You are not alone on this journey. Your Heavenly Father knows you. Even when no one else hears you, He hears you. When you rejoice in righteousness, He rejoices with you. When you are beset with trial, He grieves with you.

… I promise you, you are not alone. (“Your Wonderful Journey Home,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 127–128)

Isaiah 41:10, 13. What is the significance of the right hand?

Referring to the phrase “I … will hold thy right hand” (Isaiah 41:13), one Latter-day Saint scholar shared the following insight:

The right hand is the covenant hand. This phrase reminds us of the covenant relationship we have with the Lord, as his “servant” and “chosen” (see Isaiah 41:8–9). It suggests that the Lord will hold up our hand, meaning he will sustain us as we seek in righteousness to keep our covenants. It also suggests that the Lord will hold our hand as an expression of comfort and support (see Isaiah 42:6). (Donald W. Parry, Understanding Isaiah [1998], 353–354)

Supplemental Learning Activities

The greatness of God

Before studying Isaiah 41:10, 13, take time to help students understand what Isaiah teaches about the greatness of God.

One way to do this could be to bring a scale and various objects to class. Invite students to guess how much each object weighs and then place them on the scale. Then invite students to read Isaiah 40:12, looking for what God said only He could measure or weigh.

Or you could bring a large bucket to class and invite students to read Isaiah 40:15, looking for how God used a bucket to describe His greatness.

How might trying to comprehend the greatness of God be comforting to those who were captive in Babylon?
How can this knowledge comfort us in our trials today?

As you study Isaiah 40–43, continue looking for evidence of the greatness of God and how this knowledge can bring you comfort.

Isaiah 41:10. Cross-references about overcoming fear

To help students understand God’s invitation to “Fear not,” invite them to link or cross-reference Doctrine and Covenants 6:36–37 or 68:5–6 with Isaiah 41:10. Or encourage them to look for other meaningful scriptures by searching the phrase “fear not” in Gospel Library.

Invite students to share with a partner how the passage or passages they linked help them better understand God’s invitation to “fear not.”

Live by faith

To reinforce truths about the Lord that students may have shared, and why we can have faith in Him, consider watching “Live by Faith, Not by Fear,” (1:09) available in Gospel Library. Remind students to record things they are learning in their study journals.

1:9

A light of the Gentiles

If students share a message of comfort from Isaiah 42:5–7, take time to help the class understand our responsibility to share God’s message with others. You might explain that the word Gentile has a dual meaning. At times it refers to people of non-Israelite lineage. Other times it refers to people that are without the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives (see Bible Dictionary, “Gentile”).

What can we do to be a light to those who sit in spiritual darkness?
How might these verses relate to the work we do in temples?
How might they relate to missionary work?

President Russell M. Nelson explained:

Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel. Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others. …

All missionaries teach and testify of the Savior. The spiritual darkness in the world makes the light of Jesus Christ needed more than ever. Everyone deserves the chance to know about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. (“Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona, Apr. 2022, 7)