Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
Lessons 1–2
Old Testament Lessons
- 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 161–165
Life Preparation Lessons
- Lessons 161–165
  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

Patriarchal Blessings: An Expression of God’s Love and Declaration of Lineage

“Patriarchal Blessings: An Expression of God’s Love and Declaration of Lineage,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Patriarchal Blessings: An Expression of God’s Love and Declaration of Lineage,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices: Lesson 175

Patriarchal Blessings

An Expression of God’s Love and Declaration of Lineage

A young man sits and looks over his Patriarchal blessing. He is on a couch and reads the blessing.

Receiving a patriarchal blessing can be one of the most significant events in our lives. Through our patriarchal blessings Heavenly Father reveals His will for us, helps us feel His love, and declares our lineage in the house of Israel. This lesson can help students understand how patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love and declare their lineage in the house of Israel.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to do one of the following before class: (1) read their patriarchal blessings or (2) ask people who have received their patriarchal blessings to share how their blessings have helped them.

Possible Learning Activities

Patriarchal blessings

Note: Some students have received a patriarchal blessing, while others may be preparing to receive one. This lesson addresses both groups of students. Seek help from the Holy Ghost to know how you can meet the various needs of your students. As students talk about their own patriarchal blessings, remind them not to share specific details of their blessing.

Before studying about Jacob blessing his family, you may want to begin the lesson by having students think about their current understanding of patriarchal blessings. One way you could do this is to write the phrase patriarchal blessings on the board, along with the three columns described below.

Invite students to reflect on what they know about patriarchal blessings and what questions they may have. One way to do this is to invite students to create three columns on a page in their study journal.

First column: What I know about patriarchal blessings
Second column: What I want to know about patriarchal blessings
Third column: What I am learning about patriarchal blessings

Students could fill in the first two columns now. Students will add to the third column throughout the lesson.

Preparatory sketch in casein on illustration board by artist Harry Anderson for his painting "Jacob Blessing Joseph." The sketch depicts the Old Testament Prophet Jacob (Israel) with his sons gathered around him. Jacob has his hand on the head of his son Joseph as he gives him a blessing. (Genesis 49:22)

Before his death, the prophet and patriarch Jacob gathered his family.

Read Genesis 48:8–9 and Genesis 49:1–2, looking for what he did for them. (Note: The word tell refers to what he would say in his blessings.)

What did you find?

The blessings Jacob gave to his sons were patriarchal blessings (see Genesis 48:9–22; 49:1–28). In our day, “Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from Heavenly Father” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 18.17, Gospel Library).

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared reasons we receive patriarchal blessings in our day:

Across the world, noble patriarchs prepare spiritually to give patriarchal blessings. As the patriarch lays his hands on your head, he feels and expresses God’s love for you. He pronounces your lineage in the house of Israel. He indicates blessings from the Lord. (“Covenant Belonging,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 82)

What do you learn about patriarchal blessings from this statement?

Students may respond with truths like the following:

Through my patriarchal blessing I can:

feel God’s love for me.
learn my lineage in the house of Israel.
discover blessings God has for me.

Remind students to add what they learned about patriarchal blessings in the “Learning” column. They can also write questions they may have in the “Want to know” column.

The rest of the lesson focuses on how patriarchal blessings help us feel God’s love and how they declare our lineage in the house of Israel. In the Supplemental Learning Activities for this lesson, in the Gospel Library, you will find material on how patriarchal blessings help us discover God’s blessings for us.

Patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita of the Seventy testified of how patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love:

Brothers and sisters, I bear my witness that Heavenly Father and His Beloved and Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, live. They love us. Patriarchal blessings are sacred gifts from Them. When you receive your blessing, you will realize and feel how They love you and how They focus on you individually. (“When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing,” Liahona, May 2023, 90)

How do you think patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love?

To help students see an example of how patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love, you could show “Bethany’s Story” from time code 7:02 to 8:55. Invite students to look for how studying her patriarchal blessing helped her to feel that God was aware of and loved her.

11:8
How have you felt God’s love through your patriarchal blessing?

Remind students to add what they learned about patriarchal blessings in the “Learning” column.

Patriarchal blessings declare our lineage

Before beginning this section, you could invite students to share what they know about the declaration of lineage and why it is important. Students could also write questions they have about the declaration of lineage in the “Want to know” column and look for answers as they study.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about the declaration of lineage:

One of the primary reasons we receive a patriarchal blessing is to help us more fully understand who we are as the posterity of Abraham and to recognize the responsibility that rests upon us. … We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the covenant and promise God made to Abraham. ( “Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 47)

What is something from this statement you could add to the “Learning” column?

Depending on what students share, you could read or summarize the following paragraph to help students understand the connection between Abraham and the lineage declared in their patriarchal blessings.

God made a covenant with the prophet Abraham called the Abrahamic covenant. God renewed this covenant with Isaac and Jacob—who is also called Israel (see Genesis 26:3–4; 28:12–15). Jacob’s sons are known as the tribes of Israel. Our patriarchal blessings show how we are descendants of Abraham and members of the house of Israel. Each member of the house of Israel, no matter their tribe, can receive the blessings and share responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.

If students studied Lesson 23: “Genesis 12:17;” or Lesson 24: “Abraham 2:9–11,” you could invite them to share what they remember about the Abrahamic covenant.

Consider inviting students to study the following verses in small groups and make a list on the board of what they find.

Read Abraham 2:9–11, looking for the blessings and responsibilities the Lord promised Abraham and his posterity.

What blessings and responsibilities do we have as the posterity of Abraham?
What can we learn from our patriarchal blessing to help us fulfill these responsibilities?

Consider inviting students who have received a patriarchal blessing to review what it teaches about talents or characteristics God has given them to fulfill these responsibilities. If possible, students could access their blessing in the Gospel Library.

Remind students to add what they learned about patriarchal blessings in the “Learning” column.

What I learned

Invite students to review what they wrote in the “Learning” column. They might even circle one or two things that impressed them the most. Students could share with the class or in small groups some of what they wrote.

Students could respond to one or more of the following questions in their study journals.

What have you learned or felt about Heavenly Father?
What have you learned that motivates you to study your patriarchal blessing?
What have you learned that motivates you to prepare to receive your patriarchal blessing?

Consider sharing your thoughts and feelings about patriarchal blessings. Invite students who have not received one to prayerfully consider when the time is right for them to receive one. Invite students who have received one to study it regularly.

If students still have questions about patriarchal blessings, encourage them to continue to search for answers. They could study Topics and Questions: Patriarchal Blessings or talk to a parent or Church leader.

Additional Resources

What is significant about the declaration of lineage in our patriarchal blessings?

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita of the Seventy taught:

10:47

As you receive a declaration of lineage, you will come to know that you are of the house of Israel and the seed of Abraham. To understand the significance of this, focus on the promises the Lord made to the house of Israel through Abraham.

Those promises include:

“His posterity would be numerous (see Genesis 17:5–6; Abraham 2:9; 3:14).

“His seed, or descendants, would receive the gospel and bear the priesthood (see Abraham 2:9).

“Through the ministry of his seed, ‘all the families of the earth [would] be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal’ (Abraham 2:11).”

As members of the Church, we are children of the covenant. We receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant as we obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel. (“When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing,” Liahona, May 2023, 89)

How does God bless us through patriarchal blessings?

Elder Randall K. Bennett of the Seventy testified:

9:28

My patriarchal blessing was critically important to me when I was young for numerous reasons. First, through the power of the Holy Ghost, my patriarchal blessing helped me understand my true eternal identity—who I really was and who I could become. It helped me know, as President Nelson has taught, that I was “a son of God,” “a [child] of the covenant,” and “a disciple of Jesus Christ.” I knew that I was known and loved by my Heavenly Father and my Savior and that They were personally involved in my life. This helped me desire to draw closer to Them and increase my faith and trust in Them. (“Your Patriarchal Blessing—Inspired Direction from Heavenly Father,” Liahona, May 2023, 42)

How do I receive a patriarchal blessing?

The following guidelines are described in the General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

The bishop or an assigned counselor interviews members who desire to receive a patriarchal blessing. If the member is worthy, the interviewer prepares a Patriarchal Blessing Recommend. …

After receiving a recommend, the member contacts the patriarch to set up an appointment to receive a patriarchal blessing. On the day of the appointment, the member should go to the patriarch with a prayerful attitude and in Sunday attire. Members may fast, but fasting is not required. (General Handbook, 18.17; 18.17.1, Gospel Library) .

Supplemental Learning Activities

Patriarchal blessings include promised blessings from God

This idea could be taught in addition to the sections of the lesson about ways patriarchal blessings are an expression of God’s love and declare our lineage.

Consider sharing the following statement by Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita of the Seventy before discussing the accompanying questions.

Your patriarchal blessing is a message from your Heavenly Father and will likely include promises and inspired counsel to guide you throughout your life. A patriarchal blessing is not going to map out your life or answer all your questions. If it doesn’t mention an important life event, do not take that to mean you won’t have that opportunity. Likewise, there is no guarantee everything in your blessing will come to pass in this life. A patriarchal blessing is eternal, and if you live worthy, promises that are not fulfilled in this life will be granted in the next. (“When to Receive Your Patriarchal Blessing,” Liahona, May 2023, 89)

What are different ways patriarchal blessings help us? (They can provide guidance, admonitions, warnings, comfort.)
How has your patriarchal blessing been a blessing in your life?

Encourage students to add what they learned about patriarchal blessings in the “Learning” column of their chart. You could invite students who have received their patriarchal blessing to dedicate time to study it and look for blessings Heavenly Father promised them.

How patriarchal blessings can help us discover God’s blessings for us

To help students see an example of how patriarchal blessings are a manifestation of God’s love or how they bless our lives, you could show the video “How the Priesthood Blesses Youth” (6:07) on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 2:33 to 3:35. In the video, a young woman shares how her patriarchal blessing has helped her identify promised blessings from God for her life.

6:7

How do I know when I am ready to receive a patriarchal blessing?

If students have questions about knowing when they are ready to receive a patriarchal blessing, you could study the article “Ready for My Patriarchal Blessing” (For the Strength of Youth, Aug. 2023, 6–7) In this article, various youth share how they knew when they were ready.