1 Kings 12–13; 17–22: Lesson 82
1 Kings 18
“Choosing to Follow the Lord”
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
How committed are you to following God? To demonstrate that the God of Israel was the only true God, Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a contest. God was the source Elijah turned to for truth and power. As you turn to God, He can help you overcome any obstacle that might be keeping you from following Him. This lesson can help you increase your desire to follow God.
Study the Scriptures
Imagine you’re riding on a train and you see the tracks ahead begin to diverge. How long could the train take both paths?
Elder Larry W. Gibbons, emeritus General Authority Seventy, said:
We cannot keep one foot in the Church and one foot in the world. One reason is the world and the Church are rapidly diverging. We will lose our balance. (“Wherefore, Settle This in Your Hearts,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 102)
What are some ways we may try to follow the Lord and other influences at the same time? As you continue your study, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you know how you might overcome any obstacles that may prevent you from fully following Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Elijah challenges the priests of Baal to a contest
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah wanted the kingdom of Israel to fully commit to the Lord. It had been about three years since Elijah used his sealing power to bring a drought upon the land (see 1 Kings 17:1). But Israel continued worshipping false gods, including Baal (see 1 Kings 18:18). Elijah challenged the hundreds of false prophets of Baal and prophets of the grove to a contest on Mount Carmel to prove whether Baal or Jehovah was the true God (see 1 Kings 18:19). Before the contest began, Elijah spoke to the people.
Read 1 Kings 18:21, looking for Elijah’s words to the people. The word halt in this case means to hesitate or waver.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles rephrased Elijah’s statement this way:
Today Elijah might say:
Either God, our Heavenly Father, exists, or He does not, but if He exists, worship Him.
Either Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the resurrected Redeemer of mankind, or He is not, but if He is, follow Him. (“Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 30)
You might link 1 Kings 18:21 to Elder Christofferson’s statement.
Both Elijah and Elder Christofferson teach these two powerful truths:
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The Lord allows us to choose whether we will follow Him or the false gods and unrighteous ways of the world.
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When we know that Heavenly Father exists and Jesus is the Christ, we should commit to follow Them.
Taking time to reflect can increase desire for personal growth. Ponder your commitment and desire to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Respond to the following questions in your notebook:
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How strongly do I believe that I have a Father in Heaven and a Savior?
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How committed am I to following Them?
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What might keep me from committing to follow Them completely?
The contest between Baal and Jehovah
Read 1 Kings 18:23–24, looking for the conditions of the contest between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal.
Read 1 Kings 18:26–29. Mark any phrases that describe the response the priests of Baal received.
Read 1 Kings 18:30–39 to learn what happened when Elijah called upon God. In your notebook or on a piece of paper, draw a picture of what happened when Elijah called upon God with his sacrifice. What would you think and feel if you were there? How might it affect your testimony of the Lord and your willingness to follow Him?
To visualize the story, you might also watch, “Elijah and the Priests of Baal” (2:16).
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
What experiences have led me to follow God?
Review one or more of the following accounts, looking for how their experiences led them to know and follow God more deeply.
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1 Nephi 5:1–8 (Sariah gaining a testimony of the Lord’s commandments to Lehi)
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“His Grace: Choosing to Believe in God” (4:07)
4:7 -
“Faith Crisis: What Do We Do When We Feel Nothing?” (5:55)
5:55
Next to or beneath your drawing of Elijah’s sacrifice, draw a picture of or write about a time when you came to know more deeply that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real. It could be a time when you felt Their light or power in your life. You could also write about or draw a picture of how you have or could come to know They are real and why you should follow Them more completely.
Option B
Why do I want to follow the Lord?
Read or listen to the hymn “Lord, I Would Follow Thee” (Hymns, no. 220).
Write a new verse to “Lord, I Would Follow Thee” using what you learned and felt from this lesson. You might use words and phrases from 1 Kings 18 and Elder Christofferson. You could include why you want to follow the Lord and His prophets.
Create a note next to the hymn “Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” and copy the verse you wrote.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you increase your desire to follow God.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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The drawing you made or what you wrote about your experience coming to know the reality of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
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The new verse you wrote to “Lord, I Would Follow Thee.”
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?