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

Lamentations 1; 3: “His Compassions Fail Not”

“Lamentations 1; 3: ‘His Compassions Fail Not,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Lamentations 1; 3: ‘His Compassions Fail Not,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Jeremiah 31–33; 36–38; Lamentations 1; 3: Lesson 136

Lamentations 1; 3

“His Compassions Fail Not”

A Hispanic man gives the Savior, Jesus Christ, a hug. Christ is wearing a white robe.

Because the Savior is filled with compassion, He is willing to heal, comfort, and forgive, even when we sin against Him. After Jerusalem was destroyed because of sin and rebellion, Jeremiah sought to help the Jews understand the Savior’s compassion and to find hope in it. This lesson can help students feel the Savior’s compassion for them, even when they sin.

Student preparation: Invite students to recall a story from the scriptures that demonstrates the Savior’s compassionate nature. Students will have a chance to refer to this story in the lesson.

Possible Learning Activities

After we sin

Imagine a young man has done his best to make good choices in his life. One day while attending a party, he gives into peer pressure and drinks alcohol because he wants to fit in. The next morning, he wakes up feeling alone, guilty, and frustrated. He slowly begins making other poor choices and starts losing hope for his future.

Write students’ responses to the following questions on the board. The written responses will be referenced throughout the lesson.

When people sin, how might they see or feel about themselves?
How might they see or feel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Invite students to ponder the following questions to evaluate their own feelings.
Have you ever thought any of the statements on the board?
Which of these statements do you know are false? Which are you unsure about?

It is important to remember that we all sin and “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). As you study Lamentations today, look for impressions from the Holy Ghost that can help you recognize how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel about you, even when you make mistakes.

Sorrow for sin

Consider displaying the following picture. Invite students to share what they see in this image or how it makes them feel. Explain that this image shows Jeremiah and his great sorrow. Students could share what they remember about the story of Jeremiah and why he would have felt sorrow. As needed, share details from the following paragraph.

The Cry of Jeremiah. From an engraving done at the Nazareen School.

For about 40 years, the Lord told Jeremiah to prophesy to the house of Israel about Jerusalem’s destruction and captivity if they chose not to repent and turn back to God (see Jeremiah 16:1–13). During the reign of King Zedekiah, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and brought many people into captivity, fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy (see Jeremiah 52). Sometime after these events, Jeremiah recorded the book of Lamentations.

You might want to explain that the term lamentation refers to expressions of deep sorrow or grief.

The following activity could help students understand the suffering the Lord’s people experienced. You might organize students into pairs or small groups to study the scripture passages. Explain that Jeremiah wrote most of these verses from Jerusalem’s perspective as if the city itself were speaking.

Read one or two of the following passages, looking for words or phrases that express how the people felt after suffering because of their sins.

Lamentations 1:1–4

Lamentations 1:16–18

Lamentations 1:20–22

What words or phrases did you discover?

To help students examine what they discovered from an eternal perspective, you could ask the following question.
Knowing that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, why do you think They allow us to experience this kind of suffering when we sin?

If students need help answering this question, you could invite them to read passages such as 2 Corinthians 7:9–10; Alma 42:18, 29; Doctrine and Covenants 95:1, looking for possible answers.

The Savior’s compassion

The remainder of the lesson can help students feel the compassion the Savior has for us even when we sin.

You could organize students into pairs to study the following passages and answer the accompanying questions. For example, one student could study verses 22–26, and the other verses 31–33.

Reflect on the statements on the board from the beginning of the lesson. Read Lamentations 3:22–26, 31–33, looking for words or phrases you would share with someone who feels this way.

What words or phrases would you share? Why?
What truth from these verses would you want them to understand?

As students share, they might identify the following truth: The Lord has compassion for us, even when we sin.

If students need help understanding the word compassion, you could share the following definition: “In the scriptures, compassion means literally ‘to suffer with.’ It also means to show sympathy, pity, and mercy for another” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Compassion,” Gospel Library).

To better understand the Savior’s compassion, students could do the following activity. Instead of studying one of the following options, students could think of and study a different story from the scriptures that demonstrates the Savior’s compassion.

Complete one of the following study options, looking for what helps you better understand how you can experience the Savior’s compassion in your life.

Study one of the following stories that demonstrate the Savior’s compassion: Matthew 18:23–35; John 8:1–11.
Study one or two of the following scripture passages that teach about the Savior’s compassion: Mosiah 15:7–9; Doctrine and Covenants 64:2–4; Doctrine and Covenants 101:9.

Consider inviting students to teach each other what they learned and felt. You could invite willing students to share with the class.

The following testimony might also help with this discussion.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

15:45

Jesus Christ can forgive because He paid the price for our sins.

Our Redeemer chooses to forgive because of His incomparable compassion, mercy, and love.

Our Savior wants to forgive because this is one of His divine attributes.

And, like the Good Shepherd He is, He is joyful when we choose to repent.

Even as we feel godly sorrow for our actions, when we choose to repent, we immediately invite the Savior into our lives. (“Repentance: A Joyful Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 123)

Feeling the Savior’s compassion for me

When have you or someone you know experienced the Savior’s compassion? (Remember not to share past sins or anything that is too personal.)

Remind students of the young man from the beginning of the lesson.
What would you share with this young man based on what you learned today?

Additional Resources

What if I feel my choices have taken me too far from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

14:32

Perhaps some may even have wondered, “Is it even possible to go back? Will I be labeled forever, rejected, and avoided by my former friends? Is it better to just stay lost? How will God react if I try to return?” …

Our Heavenly Father will run to us, His heart overflowing with love and compassion. …

Heaven will rejoice at our return. (“The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 88)

How can the Savior’s compassion help me?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

The Savior’s compassion in the face of our imperfections draws us toward Him and motivates us in our repeated struggles to repent and emulate Him. (“Our Good Shepherd,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 29)

Elder Peter F. Meurs of the Seventy testified:

10:2

Whether you are carrying the burden of unresolved sin, suffering because of an offense committed against you long ago, or struggling to forgive yourself for an accidental mistake, you have access to the healing and redeeming power of the Savior Jesus Christ.

I testify that He lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He loves us. He has compassion for us, He is filled with mercy, and He can heal you. (“He Could Heal Me!,” Liahona, May 2023, 41)

What if I am trying to repent but continue to struggle?

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

15:26

The joyful news for anyone who desires to be rid of the consequences of past poor choices is that the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He does rebellion. Whereas the Lord warns that unrepented rebellion will bring punishment, when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy. (“Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 83)

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

If you find yourself making the same mistakes, struggling to be firm in your desire to change, express to your Heavenly Father your love for Him and strengthen your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn of Him, study about His sacred Atonement, and think deeply about what He suffered for you. Keep His commandments with more exactness. As you do your part to build your faith in the Savior, I promise you that heaven will compound this gift of faith, and you will have the spiritual strength to repent of your sins and not return to them. (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 104)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

For an alternative way to begin the lesson, consider showing the video “Point of Safe Return” from time code 0:00 to 1:58. In this video, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared an analogy to teach about the Savior’s ability to heal and forgive.

15:40

Invite students to discuss the following question:

What are ways Satan tries to convince us that we have gone past a “point of no return” when we sin?

Invite students to ponder if they have felt they could not be forgiven for a sin or mistake they had made. Consider sharing the following statement.

Elder Uchtdorf continued:

Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God’s plan for our salvation. (“Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 99)

As they study, students could look for evidence of the Savior’s ability to save us from our sins.

The need for godly sorrow

Students might have questions about why we feel guilty or suffer when we sin. One way to answer these questions is to study the role of godly sorrow.

Invite students to ponder the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Students could study what the Apostle Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 7:9–10. They could also read about the Nephites who experienced sorrow because of their sins in Mormon 2:11–14. Students could discuss a question such as the following:

What do you learn about godly sorrow and worldly sorrow?

You could also share the following statement from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency:

16:18

Godly sorrow inspires change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Worldly sorrow pulls us down, extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation.

Godly sorrow leads to conversion and a change of heart. It causes us to hate sin and love goodness. It encourages us to stand up and walk in the light of Christ’s love. True repentance is about transformation, not torture or torment. Yes, heartfelt regret and true remorse for disobedience are often painful and very important steps in the sacred process of repentance. But when guilt leads to self-loathing or prevents us from rising up again, it is impeding rather than promoting our repentance. (“You Can Do It Now!,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 56)