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

Amos 3; 7: The Lord Reveals Truth through His Prophets

“Amos 3; 7: The Lord Reveals Truth through His Prophets,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Amos 3; 7: The Lord Reveals Truth through His Prophets,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Amos; Obadiah; Jonah: Lesson 149

Amos 3; 7

The Lord Reveals Truth through His Prophets

In a world with many persuasive voices, it can be difficult to know which voices to trust. Fortunately, our loving Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ, reveal Their plans to us through Their living prophets. This lesson can help students understand that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reveal counsel and truth through Their prophets.

Possible Learning Activities

Responses to prophetic counsel

The following activity is designed to help students ponder their attitude toward prophets. It may be helpful to write the following three social media responses on the board.

As an alternative to the following activity, you could invite students to imagine that the responses were shared by their friends after listening to the prophet speak at general conference or a youth devotional. You could then skip the accompanying question.

Imagine seeing the following as responses to a social media post:

“He has no business talking about this. He doesn’t understand.”

“He’s out of touch with what’s really happening.”

“With everything else I need to do, I don’t see how I could possibly apply this counsel to my very busy life.”

Who could these responses be referring to?

You could display a picture of the living prophet and invite students to imagine that these comments were responses to something the prophet said. Students could share why someone may have one of the above attitudes.

Consider displaying the following questions to help students assess their feelings about following prophetic counsel.

Take a moment to reflect on your view of the Lord’s prophet on the earth today. You could consider your answers to the following questions:

How do I feel about the prophet’s counsel? Do my feelings change depending on what counsel he gives?
What reasons might I give for following prophetic counsel? Are there any ways I struggle to follow prophetic counsel?

As we study in the book of Amos today, the Holy Ghost can help you learn more about the importance of God’s words given to us through His prophets. You may want to write down insights or questions you have while you study today.

The Lord reveals His plans through His prophets

By the time of Amos’s prophetic ministry to the northern kingdom of Israel, many of God’s covenant people had forsaken Him and His prophets and followed the wicked ways of neighboring nations (see Amos 2:6–12). The Lord chose Amos to call them to repentance. Amos prophesied the destruction and captivity of King Jeroboam II and His people (see Amos 7:8–9; 11, 17).

Read Amos 7:10–15, looking for how Amaziah, the priest of King Jeroboam II, responded to Amos’s prophetic counsel.

What did you find?
Why do you think the people thought they could not “bear all [Amos’s] words” (Amos 7:10) and wanted him to go prophesy somewhere else (see Amos 7:12)?
Why do you think God’s prophets continue to teach even when some people see them as being unpopular, out of touch, or not needed?

If students do not mention it, you can ask what Amos did before being called to be prophet (see Amos 7:14) and what the Lord did in verse 15 to call Amos to become a prophet. Explain that, like with Joseph Smith and others, the Lord does not require His prophets to hold high status or accomplishments before He calls them to be prophets. If students need help answering this question, you may want to share the statement from President Nelson in “Additional Resources” of this lesson in Gospel Library.

A few chapters earlier, the Lord revealed a powerful truth about Himself and His prophets through Amos.

Amos 3:7 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Amos 3:7–8, looking for what the Lord will always do through His prophets.

It may be helpful for students to know that other terms for secret include counsel or plan.

What can we learn from these verses about the Lord?

Students may use different words to identify that the Lord reveals His plans through His prophets. You might share, as an example of this truth, that before Judah and Israel were eventually destroyed because of the wickedness of the people, the Lord revealed what would happen if the people did not repent (see Amos 2:4–6, 8:11–12).

As the lesson continues, look for ways to emphasize that the Lord loves us and wants to guide us.
What can this truth teach you about why it’s important for you to listen to the prophet regardless of how others respond to his words?

Following the Lord’s prophets

The following activity is one way to help students deepen their understanding that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reveal truth through Their prophets. Consider organizing students in small groups and displaying the steps of the activity one at a time.

Recall the social media comments at the beginning of the lesson and select one. The following activity can help you prepare to write a response.

Reread Amos 3:7 and ponder how it may help the person who made that comment. Also read the following doctrinal mastery passages, looking for how they may help. (Consider linking or cross-referencing these scriptures with Amos 3:7.)
Include at least two blessings that can come when you listen to God’s prophet. You can find examples in the scriptures, stories from Church history, or teachings from prophets today. Try to share one example where a prophet’s words made a positive difference in your life.

You could share some of the following examples with students, as needed:

Through His prophet Noah, the Lord warned the people that if they didn’t repent, they would be destroyed by a flood (see Moses 8:22–30; Genesis 7:17–24).
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about what the Savior would experience through His Atonement (see Isaiah 53:3–5).
Home-centered and Church-supported church “prepared us … before any hint of a pandemic, enabling us to endure the challenges that have come” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Highly Favored of the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 103).

My response

Using what you have learned and felt today, write a helpful response to one of the negative comments from the beginning of the lesson. Be sure to include at least one scripture and one example, which could be a personal experience.

Invite a few willing students to share their responses. Consider sharing what the Holy Ghost has taught you about God’s love and guidance through His prophets.

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 Amos 3:7 is “The Lord God … revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Why do God’s prophets continue to teach truth even when some people see them as unpopular, out of touch, or not needed?

President Russel M. Nelson explained:

Sometimes we as leaders of the Church are criticized for holding firm to the laws of God, defending the Savior’s doctrine, and resisting the social pressures of our day. But our commission as ordained apostles is “to go into all the world to preach [His] gospel unto every creature.” That means we are commanded to teach truth.

In doing so, sometimes we are accused of being uncaring as we teach the Father’s requirements for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. But wouldn’t it be far more uncaring for us not to tell the truth—not to teach what God has revealed?

It is precisely because we do care deeply about all of God’s children that we proclaim His truth. We may not always tell people what they want to hear. Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth! (“The Love and Laws of God,” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 17, 2019], 3, speeches.byu.edu)

Why is there safety in following the counsel of the Lord’s prophets?

Elder Allen D. Haynie of the Seventy explained:

11:22

Knowing by revelation that there is a living prophet on the earth changes everything. It causes one to be uninterested in the debate about when is a prophet speaking as a prophet or whether one is ever justified in selective rejection of prophetic counsel. Such revealed knowledge invites one to trust the counsel of a living prophet, even if we do not fully understand it. After all, a perfect and loving Father in Heaven has chosen the pattern of revealing truth to His children through a prophet, someone who never sought such a sacred calling and who has no need of our help to be aware of his own imperfections. A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified, and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel. (“A Living Prophet for the Latter Days,” Liahona, May 2023, 25)

What can prophetic guidance teach us about God?

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

The scriptures tell us that the first thing God did after creating man and woman was speak to them. He had vital information and precious instructions to give them. His purpose was not to burden or worry them but to guide them to happiness and eternal glory.

And that was just the beginning. From that day to this, God has continued to communicate with His children. His words have been preserved, treasured, and studied by disciples of every generation. They are revered by those who seek to know the will of God, and they bear witness to the truth that “the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

This has been the pattern since the beginning of time, and the pattern continues today. It is not just a nice Bible story; it is God’s established way of communicating essential messages to His children. …

This is one of the most glorious, encouraging, and hopeful messages of the Restoration—God is not silent! He loves His children. He has not left us to wander in darkness. (“The Word of God to His Children,” Ensign or Liahona, Mar. 2018, 4)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Following God’s prophet when dealing with disagreement or confusion

Some students may struggle or disagree with prophetic counsel. To help students learn what they can do in these situations, you could watch “Face to Face with Elder and Sister Rasband” from time code 18:26 to 21:34.

83:59

After students have watched the video, you could discuss questions like the following:

How are we blessed today to have more frequent access to God’s guidance through His prophets?
What do you think it looks like to listen to a prophet with “patience and faith”?
What are some things we can do to follow God’s living prophets?

The wisdom of God

One way to help students increase their trust in prophetic counsel is by helping them understand more about the character of God. You could do the following as part of helping students identify the quoted truth in Amos 3:7.

Invite students to read the following scripture passages and the statement by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:

There is one source of truth that is complete, correct, and incorruptible. That source is our infinitely wise and all-knowing Heavenly Father. He knows truth as it was, as it is, and as it yet will be (see Doctrine and Covenants 93:24). “He comprehendeth all things, … and he is above all things, … and all things are by him, and of him” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:41).

Our loving Heavenly Father offers His truth to us, His mortal children. (“Our Search for Truth,” New Era, Aug. 2020, 5)

Students could then discuss how understanding that God is all-knowing can help them trust His prophets.