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

Ezekiel 47: Blessings of the Temple

“Ezekiel 47: Blessings of the Temple,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Ezekiel 47: Blessings of the Temple,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47: Lesson 141

Ezekiel 47

Blessings of the Temple

The Lord gives us many blessings through our worship in the temple. Ezekiel saw in a vision a latter-day temple that will be built in Jerusalem. He saw water flowing from this temple, healing the surrounding land and bringing life to the Dead Sea. The vision symbolizes the blessings the Lord gives us as we worship Him in His temple. This lesson can help students feel a greater desire to worship God in the temple.

Student preparation: Consider giving students the following questions and inviting them to come prepared to share their answers:

Possible Learning Activities

Desire to worship in the temple

Begin the lesson in a way that helps students think about their desire to attend and worship in the temple. To do this, you could display a picture of a temple. Then, write students’ answers to one of the following questions on one side of the temple and their answers to the other question on the other side.

What are some reasons a teenager may want to attend and worship in the temple?
What are some reasons they may not want to attend the temple? What might make it difficult?

Self-assessment questions can help students identify opportunities for personal growth and learning. Invite students to take a moment to ponder the following questions about themselves.
How strong is your desire to worship in the temple? Why?
What may keep you from wanting to attend the temple?

As you study Ezekiel today, seek the Lord’s help to increase your desire to attend and worship in the temple.

Ezekiel’s vision of the temple

Note: To help students feel the Lord’s love, it is important in this lesson to refer to blessings as coming from the Lord through the temple, not from the temple itself.

In Ezekiel 47, Ezekiel saw a vision that could symbolize the blessings the Lord gives to all who do temple and family history work. It began with a heavenly messenger bringing Ezekiel to the temple door in Jerusalem.

Read Ezekiel 47:1, looking for what Ezekiel saw coming from the temple.

How might water be a fitting symbol for the blessings of the Lord?

Some possible answers might include that water gives life, is needed by everyone, cleans, and is available to all. During His mortal ministry, the Savior compared Himself and the blessings He offers to living water (see John 4:10; 7:37–39).

It may be useful for the following activity to explain that a cubit is a unit of measurement, from the elbow to the tips of the fingers, approximately 18 to 21 inches or 45 to 53 centimeters.

Read Ezekiel 47:2–5, looking for how deep the water became as it flowed out of the temple.

Because the Lord’s teaching in this account is very visual, it can help to draw what we are learning. On the top half of a page in your study journal, draw a simple representation of a temple and the water coming from it. (You will draw more of where the water goes in the bottom half later.)

What do you think the Lord was teaching in this vision about the blessings He gives through the temple?

Ask students:

If you were to draw something on your picture to symbolize where nothing lives or thrives, what would it be, and why?

If the same question were asked to those in Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day, the answer may likely be the Judean wilderness or the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea has its name because of its inability to sustain animal or plant life. It also contains salt water and is undrinkable. If useful, show or direct students to the picture “Judean Wilderness” (Bible Photographs, no. 3) in Study Helps in the Gospel Library or in the Bible Appendix to see the wilderness by the Dead Sea. They could also look at “Physical Map of the Holy Land” (Bible Maps, no. 1) and find the Wilderness of Judea and the Dead Sea.

Read Ezekiel 47:8–9, 12, looking for what would happen to everything the water from the temple touched, including the Dead Sea.

How would you summarize what you learned from Ezekiel’s vision?

Deepen your understanding

Read the handout “Blessings of the Temple” and underline or circle any blessings that stand out to you.

On their drawings, students can write these blessings in the water coming from the temple. They can also add any additional blessings they can think of that the Lord gives us through the temple.

Consider inviting students to share their drawings and written blessings with a partner or small group. Alternatively, you could draw the river on the board and ask students to write the blessings they thought of there. Students can then add to their drawings blessings they would like to remember from what others shared.

What blessings stood out to you?

Invite students to think of answers to the following questions for a few moments before you ask them. As they share, you might ask questions such as the following: “Why is that meaningful to you?” “Has anyone else had a similar experience?” and “What would you like to add to what has been shared?”

If students live in an area where many have not attended the temple because of distance, and they do not know many people who have attended the temple, consider altering the second question to ask about blessings students or others have experienced as they have prepared to worship in the temple.
How might any of the blessings you identified heal or give life?
When have you or those you know experienced one of these blessings from the Lord through worshipping in the temple?

How you feel about the temple

To conclude the lesson, consider finding a place on your picture or in your study journal to write your feelings about attending and worshipping in the temple and receiving the Lord’s blessings. Seek the help of the Holy Ghost to write your feelings well and accurately.

Consider inviting any students who would like to share their thoughts and testimony. Consider sharing your own as well.

Additional Resources

Where can I find out more about temples and the blessings the Lord gives us through His temples?

To learn more, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ web page for temples: https://folky.shop/temples

The Gospel Topics entry for temples: https://folky.shop/study/manual/gospel-topics/temples

Thomas S. Monson, “Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign or Liahona, Oct. 2010, 12–19

How are temples connected to the Lord?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

The temple is the house of the Lord. The basis for every temple ordinance and covenant—the heart of the plan of salvation—is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Every activity, every lesson, all we do in the Church, point to the Lord and His holy house. (“Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32).

Supplemental Learning Activities

An alternative beginning

If you feel it would be useful for students, consider starting with the following activity:

Imagine that your stake president invites you to be part of a special youth committee in your stake. He is concerned that some youth in your stake do not desire to attend the temple and are not planning to make additional covenants in the temple later. He invites you to discuss the following:

Why might some youth not want to attend the temple?

Your stake president invites you to keep these reasons in mind as you do the following:

Study the various blessings the Lord gives us through the temple.
Create a small poster to help youth want to attend the temple. The stake president could give copies of this poster to all the youth of the stake at a special devotional.

The drawing students make in the lesson could serve as the poster, or they could outline a different one at the end of the lesson.

Making and keeping covenants

If you feel it would be useful to focus on the need to keep covenants to prepare us for the temple, show students a picture of a temple.

Why are temples sacred or holy places?

Read Ezekiel 44:5–9, looking for who the Lord said could and couldn’t enter the holy temple. Explain that the phrase “stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh” in verse 9 refers to non-Israelites who had not made covenants to follow the Lord.

Based on these verses, what principle can we learn about who can enter the house of the Lord? (Students may use different words, but make sure it is clear that if we make and keep covenants with the Lord, He will permit us to enter His holy house.)
Why do you think the Lord has standards we must meet before we enter His house?

Ask students to review the temple recommend questions, looking for the standards we need to live to be worthy to worship in the temple. Invite them to ask any questions they have. Ask them to share how they feel living according to these standards would prepare us to make additional covenants with the Lord in the temple.