Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Old Testament Lessons
Title Page
Lessons 1–2
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
- 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

Malachi 3: Paying Tithing Opens the Windows of Heaven

“Malachi 3: Paying Tithing Opens the Windows of Heaven,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Malachi 3: Paying Tithing Opens the Windows of Heaven,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Malachi: Lesson 158

Malachi 3

Paying Tithing Opens the Windows of Heaven

Since ancient times, Heavenly Father has blessed His children for their willingness to obey His law of tithing. The Lord’s words through the prophet Malachi help us learn how He will bless us because of our obedience to His law. This lesson can help students feel a desire to obey the Lord’s law of tithing.

Student preparation: Invite students to prepare to share a story where someone was blessed by obeying the Lord’s commandment to pay tithing. If helpful, students could ask their parents or Church leaders or look for stories in Gospel Library.

Possible Learning Activities

Paying tithing

To begin the lesson, you might want to share part of a story that illustrates circumstances when it might be difficult to pay tithing. You could share Elder Cordón’s experience or one of your own.

If needed, explain that tithing is donating “one-tenth of our income to the Church” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ [2023], 85; see also Doctrine and Covenants 119:3–4).

Read the following experience from Elder Valeri V. Cordón of the Seventy, looking for why it might have been difficult for his parents to obey the Lord’s law of tithing.

12:28

After some events related to a civil war in Central America, my father’s business went bankrupt. He went from about 200 full-time employees to fewer than five sewing operators who worked as needed in the garage of our home. One day during those difficult times, I heard my parents discussing whether they should pay tithing or buy food for the children. (“The Language of the Gospel,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 56)

What are other circumstances we might face where paying tithing could be challenging?

The following graphic could help students organize their thoughts throughout this lesson. Invite students to draw the graphic, or something similar, on a blank page in their study journals. You might also draw something similar on the board.

Point to the “My Feelings” circle. Inform students that at the end of the lesson, they will have an opportunity to write how they feel about tithing. They might want to ponder now about any concerns or challenges they face to paying tithing. They could also ponder how they could benefit from identifying blessings the Lord has promised to people who pay tithing.

As you study the Lord’s law of tithing, the Holy Ghost can help you understand the blessings available to you and strengthen your desire to follow this law.

Pouring out blessings

To help students understand the context of Malachi 3, share in your own words the following summary of Malachi 1–2.

Although the people in Malachi’s day continued to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they dishonored Him by offering “polluted bread” and blind, lame, and sick animals (see Malachi 1:7–8, 13) as sacrifices that were supposed to symbolize Jesus Christ. The Lord rebuked the priests, who had “departed out of the [Lord’s] way” and “caused many to stumble” (Malachi 2:8) because of their bad examples. In Malachi 3, the Lord taught one way we can make a willing sacrifice to Him.

Malachi 3:8–10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Malachi 3:7–12, looking for the Lord’s promised blessings for people who offer Him their tithing. Write the blessings you find around “The Lord’s Blessings” on your graphic.

It might help for students to know that the phrase “prove me now herewith” could mean that the Lord is saying, “Test Me in this.”

What truths do you learn about tithing from the Lord’s words in Malachi 3:7–12?

Allow students to share truths they identified. Invite students to write a truth like As we obey the Lord’s law of tithing, He will generously bless us as a note in their scriptures next to these verses.

To help students understand this truth, consider bringing a pan, a cup, and pitcher of water to class. Place the cup in the pan. Explain that the water represents the blessings the Lord will give us as we pay tithing. Invite a student to pour the water from the pitcher into the cup until the water overflows into the pan. Relate this to what the Lord promised in Malachi 3:10.

The Lord’s law of tithing

2026 Old Testament Seminary Teacher Materials

What can we learn about Heavenly Father as He blesses us for paying tithing?

After discussing the blessings of paying tithing, you might want to point out that some people who pay tithing might not receive the blessings they hope for and might still struggle financially. They might wonder why they should continue to pay their tithing. You could read Malachi 3:14, 16–17, looking for what the Lord promised people who continue faithfully in their obedience to Him.

Obeying the Lord’s law of tithing

Next to “My Feelings” on your graphic, write about:

How you feel about obeying the Lord’s law of tithing.
Anything you studied or felt today that increases your desire to pay tithing. This could include promised blessings from the Lord you want to receive.

Invite a few willing students to share their feelings about the Lord and His law of tithing. You might also share blessings you have received by obeying this law.

Memorize

You might 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 Malachi 3:8–10 is “The blessings of paying tithing.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Why should I prioritize paying my tithing before other expenses?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency shared:

17:24

During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: “Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.” (“Tithing,” Ensign, May 1994, 33)

Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy taught:

9:30

When serving a meal, it is much easier to set one more plate at the beginning of the meal than it is to find food for a latecomer once the meal is over and the food has been served. Likewise, isn’t it actually easier to give the Lord the firstlings or the firstfruits than it is to hope that there are sufficient “leftovers” for Him? As the founder of our feast, shouldn’t He be the guest of honor, the first to be served? (“Tithing—a Commandment Even for the Destitute,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2005, 36)

How are tithing funds used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

16:55

These sacred funds are used in a rapidly growing church to spiritually bless individuals and families by constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, supporting missionary work, translating and publishing scriptures, fostering family history research, funding schools and religious education, and accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed by the Lord’s ordained servants. (“The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 19)

See also “How the Church of Jesus Christ Uses Tithes and Donations” (newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and “Where Tithing Money Goes” (Ensign, Oct. 2018, 10–11).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Paying tithing

Some students might have questions about how to calculate tithing, how to donate their tithing, who to give their tithing to, or other specifics about paying tithing. To help, you could read the article “Where Do Tithing and Fast Offerings Go?” (For the Strength of Youth, Dec. 2023, 18–19). Students could then share what they learned.

Experiences with the Lord’s law of tithing

As you discuss the Lord’s law of tithing, students might benefit from hearing stories from other people about how paying tithing blessed them. As students discuss experiences they have had with obeying the Lord’s law of tithing, you could share one of the following stories:

Elder Yoon Hwan Choi of the Seventy shared how a recently returned missionary was strengthened by paying tithing. Watch “Do You Want to Be Happy?” from time code 1:52 to 3:12.

10:21

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared what Sister Bednar learned about paying tithing from her mother. Watch “The Windows of Heaven” from time code 0:39 to 2:21.

16:55

Toshiko and Tokichi Yanagida experienced blessings from paying tithing. Their story is found in Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 3, Boldly, Nobly, and Independent, 1893–1955 (2022), 543–45.

Remaining righteous

Some students might have seen friends or family members disobey the Lord’s commandments and standards yet appear to be happy and prosperous. Students could read Malachi 3:13–15, looking for how some people felt in Malachi’s day. You could compare verses 13–15 with Malachi 3:16–18, looking for what the Lord promised to people who remain righteous.

To help students study these verses from an eternal perspective, consider writing the following questions on the board:

What incorrect assumptions do you see in Malachi 3:13–15?
What do you see that could help people who might not see the immediate blessings of faithfulness?

You could organize students into two groups to discuss the questions.