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

Isaiah 58:1–12: The Power of Fasting and Prayer

“Isaiah 58:1–12: The Power of Fasting and Prayer,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Isaiah 58:1–12: The Power of Fasting and Prayer,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Isaiah 58–66: Lesson 126

Isaiah 58:1–12

The Power of Fasting and Prayer

The Lord has asked us to fast. How do you feel about this commandment? The Jews felt like the Lord did not acknowledge their fasting. Through Isaiah, the Lord taught the people about proper fasting. This lesson can help students feel a desire to fast in the Lord’s way.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how they feel about fasting and why. They might also ask a parent or trusted friend to share their thoughts and feelings.

Possible Learning Activities

Fasting

To help prepare students to learn about fasting, consider doing the following. As you discuss this topic, try to create an atmosphere where students can share openly without pressure or judgment.

Imagine that one Sunday morning, you are ready to eat breakfast when you remember that it is fast Sunday.

What are the first thoughts that enter your mind?

If needed, share the following explanation of fasting from the General Handbook:

The Lord has established the law of the fast and fast offerings to bless His people and to provide a way for them to serve those in need. …

Fasting may be done at any time. However, members usually observe the first Sabbath of the month as a fast day. A fast day typically includes the following:

Praying

Going without food and drink for a 24-hour period (if physically able)

Giving a generous fast offering

A fast offering is a donation to help those in need. When members fast, they are invited to give an offering that is at least equal to the value of the meals not eaten. Members are encouraged to be generous and give more than the value of these meals if they can. (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22.2.2., Gospel Library)

Take a moment to ponder how you feel about fasting as you reflect on the following questions:

How do you feel about fasting? Why?
If you have fasted before, what have you learned about the Lord and fasting from your experience?
What concerns or questions do you have about fasting?

As you study today, seek the Lord’s guidance to help with any concerns you have and to feel a desire to fast.

The Lord’s teachings about fasting

The Lord directed Isaiah to boldly declare the sins of the house of Israel. For example, they outwardly performed religious practices, including fasting, with the wrong intent.

Consider explaining or displaying any of the following information that might help students as they read the verses below:

“Bulrush” (verse 5) is a tall, thin grass that droops.
“Sackcloth” (verse 5) is coarse material that people wore anciently to symbolize their humility or sorrow. They also sprinkled ashes over themselves for the same reason.

Read Isaiah 58:3–5, looking for the answers to these two questions:

What did the people ask the Lord about their fasting?
What did the Lord tell the people they had done incorrectly regarding their fast?

Invite students to share their answers and what stood out to them. If needed, point out that as Israel fasted, they sought their own pleasure (verse 3), saw fasting as an affliction (verses 3, 5), and treated others poorly (verses 3–4).
How might we make similar mistakes as we fast?

Explain that the Lord intends for us to fast differently from these people. He intends that we fast with a humble attitude, purpose, and real intent (see Psalm 35:13; Joel 2:12; Jonah 3:4–10; Matthew 6:16–18; Alma 5:46; 6:6;17:3, 9).
Why do you think the Lord wants us to fast humbly, with a specific righteous purpose and real intent?

Promises of the Lord

Consider writing the following on the board: If we fast in the way the Lord intends, then…

Read Isaiah 58:6–12, looking for the purposes and blessings the Lord promises to those who fast as the Lord intends. You may want to mark them.

Isaiah 58:6–7 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Ask students to complete the sentence based on their study. They may write their answers on the board. The following are some examples:

He will loosen the hold of wickedness or sin upon us (see Isaiah 58:6).
He will undo heavy burdens (see Isaiah 58:6).
We will care for the poor and needy (see Isaiah 58:7).
He will bless us with light and health (see Isaiah 58:8).
He will answer our prayers (see Isaiah 58:9).

The blessings of fasting

To help students understand the blessings they identified, invite them to select one or two of the following situations:

A young man is stressed out about his schoolwork and his future.
A young woman feels like she can never be clean again because of her sins.
A young man is praying to know if the Church is true but is struggling to receive an answer.
A young woman wants to help the poor.
A young man faces a challenge he doesn’t know if he can overcome.

Find a phrase from Isaiah 58:6–12 that might motivate the person in the situation to fast and pray for God’s help. (Some situations may have more than one phrase that could apply.)

In small groups or as a class, invite students to share the situations they selected and the phrases that could help and why.

You might also invite them to share other situations in which the blessings the Lord promised in these verses may be helpful or ask if any of these blessings were especially meaningful to them and why.

How might fasting for and receiving these blessings bring you closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Examples of fasting and paying fast offerings

To help students understand the example of the Savior, explain that He fasted and taught about fasting while also living the principle. He fasted before his earthly ministry (see Matthew 4:1–2 and note that the Joseph Smith Translation for Matthew 4:1 adjusts the phrase “to be tempted of the devil” to “to be with God”). He also taught that some evil influences only depart “by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:19, 21).

Consider showing the following modern-day example of fasting and ask students what they liked or learned from it:

“Fast Offerings: A Simple Commandment with a Marvelous Promise” (3:01): President Henry B. Eyring tells of a woman’s experience with fast offerings in Sierra Leone during a war.

3:2

Invite students to ponder their own experiences with fasting, as well as the following questions, for a few moments:

What blessings has the Lord given you or those you know because of fasting?
How do you or could you make your fast more meaningful?

Consider sharing your own experiences as well.

Your feelings about fasting

Consider any impressions you have received through the Holy Ghost during this lesson as you write in your study journal how you feel about fasting. You may choose to include blessings from the Lord you want in your life and why.

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 58:6–7” is “the blessings of a proper fast.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

What are some examples of the blessings of fasting Isaiah taught?

Elder Carl B. Pratt of the Seventy taught:

9:59

If we fast and pray with the purpose of repenting of sins and overcoming personal weaknesses, surely we are seeking to “loose the bands of wickedness” in our lives. If the purpose of our fast is to be more effective in teaching the gospel and serving others in our Church callings, we are surely striving to “undo the heavy burdens” of others. If we are fasting and praying for the Lord’s help in our missionary efforts, aren’t we desiring to “let the oppressed go free”? If the purpose of our fast is to increase our love for our fellow man and overcome our selfishness, our pride, and having our hearts set upon the things of this world, surely we are seeking to “break every yoke.” (The Blessings of a Proper Fast, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 48–49)

Why and how should we fast?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

I know that God “has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name” (Alma 26:35).

So, during times of deep distress … the most natural thing for us to do is to call upon our Heavenly Father and His Son—the Master Healer—to show forth Their marvelous power to bless the people of the earth. …

How do we fast? Two meals or a period of 24 hours is customary. But you decide what would constitute a sacrifice for you, as you remember the supreme sacrifice the Savior made for you. (“Opening the Heavens for Help,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 74)

How do I make my fast acceptable to the Lord?

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) taught:

15:23

Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation. (“The Law of the Fast,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2001, 73)

What would happen if the principles of fasting occurred throughout the world?

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught:

What would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world[?] The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. … A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere. (“The State of the Church,” Ensign, May 1991, 52–53)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

Imagine your ward or branch is having a fast for a member with a difficult health issue. A new member of the Church wishes to participate but is unfamiliar with the principle of fasting. Consider inviting students to work in partnerships and share how they might answer the following questions:

What is fasting?
What has the Lord taught about fasting?
How can it help me or others?

Paying fast offerings

When students share their own experiences with fasting, you could explain that Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that youth “can also pay a fast offering if they choose” (“The Law of the Fast,” Ensign, May 2001, 74). You could ask if any of your students have paid fast offerings and would like to share their experience.

Examples of the blessings of fasting

The following video examples could be used instead of the video in the lesson:

For an example of blessings a young adult experienced as she began to fast, watch “Fasting: A Young Single Adult Ward- Amanda” (2:41).

2:41

For an example of how fast offerings can help those in need, watch “The Fast Offering” (8:08) from 2:02 to 7:17

8:8

For an example of Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin’s experience that helped him love the poor, members of the Church who paid fast offerings, and the leaders who administer help, Watch “The Law of the Fast,” (15:23) from timecode 9:01–10:20.

15:23

For an example of how to adapt the principle of fasting for those who cannot fast for 24 hours, watch “Is Not This the Fast that I Have Chosen?” (17:19) from timecode 14:07–15:45.

17:19