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

Building Emotional Strength in the Lord: The Savior Can Help Us Increase Our Emotional Resilience

“Building Emotional Strength in the Lord: The Savior Can Help Us Increase Our Emotional Resilience,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Building Emotional Strength in the Lord: The Savior Can Help Us Increase Our Emotional Resilience,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Physical and Emotional Health: Lesson 181

Building Emotional Strength in the Lord

The Savior Can Help Us Increase Our Emotional Resilience

A young boy shielding himself from flying objects.

How well do you adapt to the emotional challenges you face? Difficult feelings are a normal part of life. Our ability to faithfully endure these feelings increases as we rely on the strength and power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This lesson can help students draw strength from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to cope with their emotional challenges.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about or ask someone they know about experiences they have had dealing with difficult feelings. As appropriate, they could prepare to share the experience with the class.

Possible Learning Activities

The whirlwinds in our lives

Fallen tree and rootball in yard after tornado destruction in Albany, Georgia, USA, January 2017. (horiz)

Cutaway showing the roots of a tree growing in windy conditions.

To begin class, consider displaying an image of a tree that has been uprooted by storms and an image of one that has remained firmly planted in the ground. You could also invite a student to draw a tree on the board while the rest of the class members draw a similar tree in their study journals. On the left side of the tree, consider asking students to list some of the difficult emotions that teenagers face.

Emotions are the body’s normal response to daily experiences. Sometimes, these feelings are light and easy to manage, like a summer breeze. Sometimes, we experience difficult emotions that may feel like whirlwinds.

Trees hit by whirlwinds often have roots that grow faster, thicker, and spread out farther, strengthening the tree’s ability to endure. As the wind batters it, the tree also creates cell structures that make the trunk and branches thicker. In the same way, learning to respond to powerful emotional moments by following the Savior will strengthen our ability to endure.

In your study journal, write some of the emotional whirlwinds you have faced in the past or are facing today.

In speaking of life’s whirlwinds, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

15:54

You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree. You are His son or His daughter. He made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds in your youth, like the wind against a young tree, can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead. (“Spiritual Whirlwinds,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18)

How could Elder Andersen’s message help a teenager who feels the strain of emotional whirlwinds?

Consider sharing that the ability to endure these whirlwinds is called emotional resilience. You could share that throughout the year, students will learn skills that can help them increase their emotional resilience.

Increasing our emotional resilience helps us develop appropriate ways to deal with the difficult thoughts and feelings we experience. We can learn to recognize how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are strengthening us when we feel this way and when they are prompting us to seek additional help.

As you study, invite the Holy Ghost to help you identify ways you can seek the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when you experience emotional whirlwinds.

The Savior promises to be with and strengthen us

To help students see an example of the Lord’s strengthening power, consider sharing the story of Joshua. Students may have studied the account of Joshua called by the Lord to lead Israel after Moses in Lesson 61: “Joshua 1.”

Joshua was in a difficult position as he assumed the roles of prophet and military leader responsible for establishing a new nation following the leadership of Moses.

What emotions do you think you would have felt if you were in Joshua’s situation?

Read Joshua 1:1, 5–9, looking for what the Lord promised Joshua as he faced these challenges.

What can we learn that could help us face life’s challenges?

Complete the following prompts in your study journal under your drawing of the tree.

Describe your ability to cope with emotional challenges. What emotions do you think you navigate well? What still feels difficult?
Describe your ability to receive help from the Lord for these emotions. What successes have you had? What have you tried that did not work as well as you had hoped?

Pondering scripture can help us feel the Lord’s strength

Read Joshua 1:8, again looking for what would help Joshua follow the Lord.

What did you find?

You might point out that as Joshua faced his challenges, he was told by the Lord to meditate or ponder the scriptures (“book of the law”) day and night (see Joshua 1:8). Consider pointing out one way we can find emotional strength in the Lord is through pondering the scriptures.
How could pondering the Lord’s words help someone deal with emotional challenges?

Looking at the list of emotions on the board, find one or more scripture passages that might be able to help someone feeling these emotions.

Student could find scriptures by looking at doctrinal mastery passages or the Guide to the Scriptures, searching for words such as “comfort,” “peace,” “strength,” or “hope.” The article “12 Scriptures for When You Feel …” (For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024, 41) could also help. As students share scriptures, list the scripture on the right side of the tree next to the emotion they selected. The following are some examples students might share.

Overwhelmed: Isaiah 40:28–31.

Afraid: John 14:27

Sad: Revelation 21:3–5

Forgotten: Luke 12:6–7

Discouraged: Isaiah 43:1–2, 5

Lonely: Doctrine and Covenants 68:6

Ponder on His word

To help students practice pondering the scriptures when dealing with challenging emotions, display the following.

Select an emotion listed on the board that you are feeling or have felt in the past. Read the scripture next to the emotion and ponder the words of the verse by asking yourself questions such as these:

What words or phrases would be helpful when I am feeling this way?
What does this scripture help me understand about the Lord’s love and power?

After enough time, you might invite students to share the emotion they chose, the scripture they pondered, and why they feel reflecting on the words of the Lord can help them find more emotional strength in Him.
When have you or someone you know found the comfort or strength of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from pondering a scripture passage?

Consider ending class by sharing your own experience feeling the Lord’s comfort or strength from a scripture passage. Invite students to continue relying on the scriptures to help them feel the power of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they face emotional struggles.

Additional Resources

How can we prepare for life’s emotional whirlwinds?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

23:27

An understanding of our Heavenly Father’s plan of redemption—especially the key element of that plan, the Atonement of Jesus Christ—provides ultimate reassurance. It builds and preserves spiritual and emotional resilience—knowing the why of our existence and our purpose in mortal life. We teach, by precept and example, to whom they may look for deliverance and support. Let the Savior’s words live in their hearts: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Our covenants bind us to Him, and with Him we also overcome the world. (“Trust in God,” S&I Annual Broadcast, Jan. 26, 2024], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Why do we need to learn to rely on Jesus Christ for help with emotions?

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

On this journey, you will face times of hardship, personal trial, discouragement, and disappointment that can feel overwhelming. Perhaps you feel trapped in such a time right now.

During such times, please remember that your Heavenly Father loves you. He always has, and He always will. Because of His infinite and perfect love, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to strengthen you and help you move forward. And Jesus came because He loves you deeply too. (“Find Your Strength in Jesus Christ,” For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024, 4)

Sister Tracy Y. Browning of the Primary General Presidency explained:

I was baptized when I was 16 and living in New York City. At first I felt like I was spending a lot of time navigating between my newfound faith, with its covenant relationship with God, and my relationships with friends.

I was worried about not having friends at school I could connect with. But my friends were used to doing things that I came to realize were harmful to my spirit and were not in keeping with taking upon myself the name of Jesus Christ. I knew that Jesus Christ wanted me to make better choices.

What I didn’t know was whether the Savior understood how conflicted I was feeling. Each day got more difficult as I was invited to do things that I knew weren’t good. I sometimes justified them as harmless, but I knew I was compromising things I shouldn’t.

I needed to know that the Savior understood how lonely and guilty I felt when I would even consider lowering gospel standards so that I could feel a sense of belonging with my friends. I felt like I was drowning. I needed rescuing. I needed Jesus Christ.

My relationship with Jesus Christ deepened when I found out for myself why I needed Him. (“Why I Need Jesus Christ,” For the Strength of Youth,” Mar. 2024, 11)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Faithful stories of focusing on Christ

Students might benefit from seeing how other disciples of Christ relied on Him for emotional strength and support. Several stories for a variety of emotional challenges are available in “Receiving Deliverance from Our Struggles through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ” (Liahona, Oct. 2022, digital only). You could select one of the stories in the article that is relevant to your class. You might invite students to select a story that is similar to their personal struggles.

The video “Hear Him to Find Peace During Turbulent Times” (2:02) could help students feel the Savior’s power to strengthen them whatever the emotional challenges they face.

2:2

Recognize emotional experiences

Students might benefit from reviewing some of the resources available at MentalHealth.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The worksheet “Facing Challenges: A Self–Help Guide” could be used to help students better identify what emotions they are feeling. This might help them recognize the emotional challenges they are experiencing and how the Savior is strengthening them.