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

Daniel 2: “A Kingdom Which Shall Never Be Destroyed”

“Daniel 2: ‘A Kingdom Which Shall Never Be Destroyed,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Daniel 2: ‘A Kingdom Which Shall Never Be Destroyed,’” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Daniel 1–7: Lesson 143

Daniel 2

“A Kingdom Which Shall Never Be Destroyed”

The Old Testament King Nebuchadnezzar is depicted sitting on his throne in front of the prophet Daniel. Daniel stands as he interprets the king's dream. In the background, depictions from the king's dream can be seen such as the great image and a stone cut from the mountain without hands getting ready to destroy the image. (The stone represents the latter-day kingdom of God.)

The Lord showed Daniel a vision of the latter days, when the Lord would set up His kingdom upon the earth. The Lord’s kingdom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will fill the earth and stand forever. This lesson can help students strengthen their testimony of the divine Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Student preparation: Invite students to choose one of the following ideas to prepare for this lesson:

Possible Learning Activities

Testimony of the Restoration

Consider inviting students to share any questions they remember that are asked during a temple recommend interview. If helpful, you could point to the temple recommend questions in the appendix of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. After students have shared a few questions they remember, you could write the following question on the board.

Think about how you would respond to the following temple recommend question:

Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

As needed, explain that the Restoration is “God’s reestablishment of the truths and ordinances of His gospel among men on earth” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Restoration of the Gospel,” Gospel Library).

Consider writing Why or why not? after the question on the board. Invite students to ponder their answers to both questions.

As you study Daniel 2 today, invite the Holy Ghost to help you recognize truths that can strengthen your testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ restored The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the earth.

King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream that troubled him. None of his wise men could tell him what the dream was or how to interpret it. As a result, the king commanded that all his wise men, including Daniel, be killed. Before that could happen, God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel (see Daniel 2:1–26).

Before sharing what God had revealed about the dream, Daniel taught the king that God was the source of the interpretation. Daniel also revealed that the dream was about “what shall be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28).

Illustration of Daniel talking to the king. Daniel 2:26–49

Read Daniel 2:31–43 and label the elements of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream on the handout with the interpretations you discover. Include the verses where you found the interpretations.

Help students identify that King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian kingdom was the head of gold (verse 38). The other parts of the image (or statue) represent other kingdoms that would come after Babylon.

Daniel 2:44–45 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Daniel 2:44–45, looking for words and phrases that describe the stone. Write these words around the stone on your handout.

As students read the following statement, invite them to write what the stone represents inside the stone on their handout.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what the stone represents:

The Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] is that prophesied latter-day kingdom, not created by man but set up by the God of heaven and rolling forth as a stone “cut out of the mountain without hands” to fill the earth [Daniel 2:45; see also verse 35]. (“Why the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 111)

What can we learn about God’s restored Church from this statement and from the Lord’s revelation to Daniel?

Using students’ words, help them identify that God established The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which will fill the whole earth and stand forever.

Consider sharing that the Lord Himself declared that His gospel would fill the whole earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 65:2). Students could cross-reference or link Doctrine and Covenants 65:2 to Daniel 2:35. You might explain that “filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:35) does not mean that everyone will join the Lord’s Church, but that it will spread throughout the earth (see 1 Nephi 14:12–14).
How do the phrases in Daniel 2:44–45 help us understand this truth?

The stone rolls forth

After interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel shared his testimony that it was “certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:45). As we develop our personal testimonies, the truths of the Savior’s restored Church can become certain and sure to us through the power of the Holy Ghost.

President Russell M. Nelson shared what we need to do to develop sure testimonies for ourselves:

Now, as President of His Church, I plead with you. … Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves [that the Savior’s Church has been restored], and please do it now. Time is running out. (“Come, Follow Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 91)

Read “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.” Look for truths the Savior has revealed and events He has brought forth in restoring His Church.
Discuss why these truths and events are important to the Restoration of the Savior’s Church.
Discuss the spiritual work someone could do to strengthen their testimony that Jesus Christ restored His Church.

After sufficient time, have each group share one truth or event that stood out to them. Invite them to share why it’s important to have a testimony of this truth or event and the spiritual work someone could do to gain or strengthen their testimony of it.

After each group has had the opportunity to share, invite students to answer the following questions in their study journals.

What truth or event of the Savior’s restored Church would you like to strengthen your testimony of?
What spiritual work can you do to strengthen your testimony of the Savior’s divine Restoration of His Church?

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 Daniel 2:44–45 is “God shall ‘set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed.’” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Daniel 2:45. What does it mean that “the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands”?

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

15:3

Interpreting a dream for Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel prophesied the Lord’s Church would rise in the last days as a small stone “cut out of the mountain without hands” [Daniel 2:45]. “Without hands,” meaning by divine intervention, the Lord’s Church would increase in magnitude until it fills the whole earth, “never [to] be destroyed … [but to] stand for ever” [Daniel 2:44]. (“Fulfillment of Prophecy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 75)

What does it mean that the stone will fill the whole earth?

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) shared:

The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 142)

Why is the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints important?

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Yes, our message is most certainly the Atonement of Jesus Christ and all that it stands for, but we have no way to make that unspeakable gift accessible or redemptive or effective in the lives of people unless we declare the latter-day Restoration of divine truth and heavenly priesthood. Take away Joseph Smith and the First Vision, take away the events which followed, take away a direct restoration from heaven, and what do we have? We don’t have much—at least not enough to distinguish us from a thousand other good groups of people. (“Testify of the Restoration,” New Era, April 2017, 3–4)

What other kingdoms could be represented by the image King Nebuchadnezzar saw?

If students want to learn more about the other kingdoms mentioned in Daniel 2:39–43 could represent, they could read what President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught in his talk “The Stone Cut Without Hands” (Ensign, April 1976, 8).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

Some youth might be worried about wickedness and evil spreading across the world. To help them look to the Lord instead of their worries, consider starting class with the following statement from President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008):

If ever your faith is inclined to weaken as you see the onward march of evil and oppression, read again the story of Daniel who, putting his trust in the “God in heaven that revealeth secrets” [Daniel 2:28], interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. (“Be Not Afraid, Only Believe,” Ensign, Feb. 1996, 4)

You could then invite students to study Daniel 2 using this eternal perspective as they look for truths they can learn from the story. Invite them to consider how what they learn can strengthen their faith in spite of evil they see around them.

Old Testament Restoration scriptures

The following scriptures can help students identify prophecies in the Old Testament about the Restoration. You could use these along with the Restoration proclamation in the section of the lesson titled “The stone rolls forth.” Students could pick one reference to study and identify a truth or event of the Restoration they find in it.

Jeremiah 16:14–16 (the gathering of Israel through missionary work)
Ezekiel 37:15–19 (the Bible and Book of Mormon come together as witnesses of Jesus Christ)
Amos 3:7 (prophets)

Additionally, you might add Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17 (the First Vision) to the options for students to study.

The gospel of Jesus Christ fills the earth

After students have discovered that the stone in Daniel 2 represents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you could help them see its growth throughout the world. To do this, you could display a chart like the following on the board:

	Church Members	Stakes	Dedicated Temples
April 6, 1830	Church Members 6	Stakes 0	Dedicated Temples 0
1880	Church Members 133,628	Stakes 23	Dedicated Temples 1
1930	Church Members 670,017	Stakes 104	Dedicated Temples 7
1980	Church Members 4,639,822	Stakes 1,218	Dedicated Temples 19
Today	Church Members	Stakes	Dedicated Temples

Each year, the May edition of the Liahona contains a statistical report of the previous year. Students could use this to fill out the “Church Members” and “Stakes” columns in the last row. Students can find the number of dedicated temples on the temple list on ChurchofJesusChrist.org by clicking on the down arrow on “Status.” You could then have students share the information they find for the “Today” row.

Alternatively, you could show students the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ through the year 2017 by playing “The Gospel Shall Roll Forth” (2:47).

2:48

Receiving God’s help

Before students read the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, they could read about how Daniel received the wisdom to interpret it. Invite students to read Daniel 2:17–23, looking for what Daniel did to receive revelation from Heavenly Father. You could invite students to think of what they can do to follow Daniel’s example. They could also consider what circumstances they face where they would need revelation from Heavenly Father.