Old Testament Seminary Student Manual (2026)

Contents
Introduction
Old Testament Lessons
- Welcome to the Old Testament
- Moses 1; Abraham 3
- Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
- Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5
- Genesis 5; Moses 6
- Moses 7
- Genesis 6–11; Moses 8
- Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2
- Genesis 18–23
- Genesis 24–33
- Genesis 37–41
- Genesis 42–50
- Exodus 1–6
- Easter
- Exodus 7–13
- Exodus 14–18
- Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34
- Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19
- Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27
- Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34
- Joshua 1–8; 23–24
- Judges 2–4; 6–8
- Ruth 1–4; 1 Samuel 1–7
- 1 Samuel 8–16
- 1 Samuel 17–26; 2 Samuel 5–7
- 2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 6–9; 11
- 1 Kings 12–22
- 2 Kings 2–7
- 2 Kings 16–25
- 2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30
- Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
- Esther
- Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42
- Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46
- Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86
- Psalms 102–3; 110; 116–19; 127–28; 135–39; 146–50
- Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12
- Isaiah 1–12
- Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35
- Isaiah 40–49
- Isaiah 50–57
- Isaiah 58–66
- Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
- Jeremiah 31–33; 36–38; Lamentations 1; 3
- Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47
- Daniel 1–7
- Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel
- Amos; Obadiah; Jonah
- Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah
- Haggai 1–2; Zechariah 1–4; 7–14
- Malachi
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
- Building Self-Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Future Education and Employment
- Succeed in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders

Lesson 111: Ecclesiastes—“God Shall Bring Every Work into Judgment”

Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12: Lesson 111

Ecclesiastes

“God Shall Bring Every Work into Judgment”

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

Sometimes it can be easy to focus on what happens in this life while forgetting to view our lives from an eternal perspective. In Ecclesiastes, we are reminded that the things of this world are temporary. This lesson can help you understand how keeping an eternal perspective can help you make better choices.

Study the Scriptures

President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about our choices.

Every righteous choice that you make here will pay huge dividends now. But righteous choices in mortality will pay unimaginable dividends eternally. …

The adversary, of course, does not want you even to think about tomorrow, let alone eternal life. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library)

How might failing to view our choices with an eternal perspective affect us? Think about a decision you are facing that could “pay unimaginable dividends eternally.” For example, the decision whether to continue spending time with a certain group of friends, or how to repent of a sin that has been on your mind.

Ponder why Heavenly Father might want you to think about the future as you make this decision. What might happen if you don’t? As you study Ecclesiastes today, seek to understand truths and receive personal revelation from the Lord that can help you with this decision.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author referred to himself as “the Preacher” (Ecclesiastes 1:1). The Preacher contrasted the emptiness of focusing our lives on temporal things with the importance of preparing to meet God.

Read the following passages, looking for what the Preacher discovered after pursuing certain things that some people think will make them happy and bring fulfillment. Mark what you find.

Substituting Words. It can be helpful to substitute challenging words or phrases with simpler words or phrases. Substitute the following words and phrases with their definitions as you read:

“Vanity” means empty or fleeting.
“Under heaven” or “under the sun” means in this mortal life.
“Vexation of spirit” means frustrating.

Ecclesiastes 2:4–11(Pursuing temporal pleasures and material possessions)
Ecclesiastes 2:13–16 (Pursuing the wisdom of the world)

In what ways might pursuing these things eventually leave us feeling empty or frustrated? Pursuing knowledge and material possessions are not inherently bad or wrong. But when these things become our focus, especially over pleasing God, they become spiritually dangerous.

possessions offered to Laban for the plates

After seeking temporal knowledge and possessions, the Preacher ends his book with the lessons he learned. Read Ecclesiastes 12:7, 13–14, looking for what he taught that can help us keep an eternal perspective.

Next to Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 create a note with the following truth: Our choices in this life will determine how prepared we are to stand before God at the Final Judgment.

Keeping an eternal perspective is so important that God has inspired many of His servants to teach this truth. Link Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 with Alma 34:32 and Mormon 3:20. Read these passages, looking for how Amulek and Mormon taught a similar message.

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you understand how keeping an eternal perspective can help you make better choices.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

Your note to yourself.
A gospel teaching that relates to or clarifies worldly assumptions.
Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?