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 8: Overcoming Spiritual Hunger

“Amos 8: Overcoming Spiritual Hunger,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Amos 8: Overcoming Spiritual Hunger,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Amos; Obadiah; Jonah: Lesson 150

Amos 8

Overcoming Spiritual Hunger

191st Semiannual General Conference: Russell M. Nelson

We have all felt hunger. Imagine what it might be like to suffer from spiritual hunger. The Lord taught the Israelites through Amos using this imagery. Amos prophesied that his people would no longer be given His word because they had rejected it. Losing the Lord’s word would lead to a spiritual famine. This lesson can help students increase their confidence that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can satisfy their spiritual hunger through the Restoration of the gospel.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how their lives would be different if they didn’t have the scriptures or words of prophets. Students could come to class ready to share what they thought of.

Possible Learning Activities

Spiritual hunger

Consider beginning class by displaying a picture of food or bringing a simple food item and asking the following questions.

When is a time you have felt particularly hungry?
How might we act when we are hungry?

Answers could include feeling irritated, having low energy, or being desperate for any kind of food.

Write the phrase Spiritual Hunger on the board.
What might people hunger for spiritually and struggle to find?

Consider writing student responses on the board. Students might say things like God’s love, purpose in their lives, knowing truth, direction in difficult decisions, etc.

Take a moment to write in your study journal ways in which you or someone you know might currently feel spiritual hunger.

Encourage students to seek the Holy Ghost today as they consider what they can do to receive the spiritual nourishment Jesus Christ offers.

A famine of hearing the words of the Lord

The prophet Amos prophesied of spiritual hunger. He revealed the Lord’s words to the people of Israel, but they did not want to hear them (see Amos 2:12; 7:11–16).

If you feel it would be helpful, invite students to read Amos 7:12–13 to understand how the Israelites responded to the Lord’s words through Amos.

Read Amos 8:11–12 looking for the consequences of the people rejecting the Lord’s word.

If necessary, explain that a famine is an extreme shortage of food.

What consequences did you see?

If students do not point them out, share truths like the following: When people reject the Lord’s prophets, they lose the blessings of the word of the Lord. Without the word of God, we starve spiritually.
Why do you think famine is a good comparison for living without the word of the Lord?
In what ways has Amos’s prophecy been fulfilled?

If needed, share with students that these verses refer to a period of time known as an apostasy. An apostasy is when individuals or groups of people reject the principles of the gospel and the Lord no longer sends prophets to them. One fulfillment of Amos’s prophecy occurred following the death of Christ’s apostles and is known as the Great Apostasy. The Great Apostasy lasted until the Lord restored His gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith.

Satisfying spiritual hunger

In the Lord’s lovingkindness, He made clear to His people through His prophets that He would save His people from the effects of apostasy and bless His people. The Lord prophesied through Amos that He will gather His people again in a future day and He will bless them in many ways (see Amos 9:14–15).

Read the following verses looking for what else the Lord revealed through His prophets He would do in the final dispensation before His Second Coming:

Daniel 2:44–45

Acts 3:19–21

Ephesians 1:3, 10

Doctrine and Covenants 27:13; 112:30; 128:18

Invite students to share what they learned and ask questions they have about these verses. For additional help, you may want to direct them to “Restoration of the Gospel,” in Topics and Questions.

What blessings have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ made available to a spiritually famished world through the Restoration?

Students may list priesthood keys and authority, prophets, revelations, scriptures, Church organizations, ordinances, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Think of how you can help students see how these blessings can meet their needs and those of the people they care about. The following is one way you could do this.

Invite students to create a scenario of an individual that hungers for one of the topics listed on the board under Spiritual Hunger. You could have students add details so that the scenario feels more relatable. You could share the following about Marta as an example. Students could then work together, individually, or as small groups to respond to the scenario.

Scenario: Marta is 15 years old and wants nothing more than to find purpose for her life. She struggles with self-confidence, and she isn’t sure what direction she should take.

What could you share that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done as part of the Restoration of the gospel that could help satisfy Marta’s spiritual hunger?

As part of your response, be sure to include scriptures; quotes from Church leaders; and, if possible, your own personal experience.

If students struggle to respond, you could have them look through the For the Strength of Youth Guide or some of the doctrinal mastery passages.

If students are responding to the scenario with Marta, you could point them to the heading “Make inspired choices” section of the For the Strength of Youth Guide or Moses 1:39: “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Students might ponder how knowing that the Lord cares for them and is actively working toward their return to His presence might fill the spiritual hunger for feeling God’s love or feeling purpose in their life.

When students have had sufficient time, invite them to share what they prepared. They can also share what they learned from the experience.

Personal reflection

To conclude, consider inviting students to respond to the following questions in their journal.

What have you learned today that increases your confidence that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can satisfy our spiritual hunger?
What is one way you would like to act on what you have learned or felt?

Additional Resources

Why is regular study of the scriptures so important?

Elder Michael John U. Teh of the Seventy taught:

I believe that neglecting to study the scriptures on a regular basis is a form of hardening our hearts. I fear that if we persist in that course, we will be given a lesser portion of the word and eventually know nothing of God’s mysteries. Drinking daily from the scriptures, on the other hand, will help us build spiritual strength and knowledge, unmask the deceptions of the devil, and discover the snares he has laid to catch us. (“The Power of the Word of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Mar. 2013, 23)

What truly satisfies our spiritual hunger?

President Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

I pray this morning that all who are hungering and thirsting, and sometimes wandering, will hear this invitation from Him who is the Bread of Life, the Fountain of Living Water, the Good Shepherd of us all, the Son of God: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, … and ye shall find rest unto your souls” [Matthew 11:28–29]. Truly He does fill “the hungry with good things” [Luke 1:53], as His own mother Mary testified. (“He Hath Filled the Hungry with Good Things,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 66)

What if I don’t feel like I have time to study the scriptures?

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

Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it! (“Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 93)

How did the spiritual famine of the great apostasy end?

President Spencer W. Kimball shared:

After centuries of spiritual darkness, … we solemnly announce to all the world that the spiritual famine is ended, the spiritual drought is spent, the word of the Lord in its purity and totalness is available to all men. One needs not wander from sea to sea nor from the north to the east, seeking the true gospel as Amos predicted, for the everlasting truth is available.” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1964, 93–94; see also Old Testament Student Manual, 3rd ed. [2003], 94)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Satisfying spiritual hunger

If desired, to help students better understand how God’s word can satisfy spiritual hunger, you might show the video “Daily Bread: Pattern” and invite students to look for additional truths about responding to spiritual hunger.

2:52

Apostasy in the Old Testament

Another truth that can be learned from Amos 8:11–12 is that apostasy results from rejecting the Lord’s word. You might ask students to discuss what they think the differences and similarities are between the following:

Individual apostasy

Group apostasy

General apostasy

Invite students to consider how a restoration of Jesus Christ’s gospel can help repair the conditions of each type of apostasy.

The video “The Great Apostasy” demonstrates how Wilford Woodruff’s search for the true Church helped him understand the Apostasy and the need for the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s church.

16:36

Prophets point to Christ

To help students better understand the significance of the words of prophets, consider reading Amos 7:11–16 and Amos 8:11–12, looking for how one led to the other. Invite students to ponder how their lives would be different without hearing the word of the Lord through prophets. You could show the video “Why Do We Have Prophets?” to demonstrate how the Lord’s word through prophets teaches us to come to Him. You could invite students to look for the role of prophets as they watch.

1:37

What is the main role of prophets?

You might share the following from Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

The most important role of the Lord’s prophet is to teach us of the Savior and lead us to Him. …

A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior. (“The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 25, 27)

How can following prophets help satisfy spiritual hunger?

The blessing of scripture

In contrast to the famine of the word of God (see Amos 8:11–12), in our day we have a large amount of the word of God in scripture. If it would be useful for students to better understand the blessing of having scriptures, you might show the video “The Blessing of Scripture” and invite students to look for different reasons people may not have God’s word in their life.

3:4

Students could be asked what they learned from the video about the consequences of not having God’s word in their lives or the reasons some people value the scriptures more than others.