Amos; Obadiah; Jonah: Lesson 151
Jonah
“Thou Art a Gracious God, and Merciful”
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
The Lord extended His arms of mercy toward Jonah and the people of Nineveh, despite the great mistakes they made. As we recognize that this same love and mercy is extended toward us, we too can exclaim that the Lord is “a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Jonah 4:2). This lesson can help you feel the Lord’s love and mercy for you and for others.
Study the Scriptures
Imagine this scale represents how someone could see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Why may some people see Them as loving, merciful, and kind while others do not? Where on the line would you place your view of Them?
Look at the scale again. This time, imagine it represents how you treat others. What are reasons we might treat some people one way and other people in a completely different way?
As you study the story of Jonah, seek the Holy Ghost to help you see the true nature of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Consider how what you learn about Them can affect the way you see, think about, or treat others.
Jonah lived in Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam II (see 2 Kings 13–15, especially 14:23–25). The prophets Amos and Hosea also prophesied around this time. You may have heard about Jonah. He is the one who was swallowed by a great fish!
Learning the background. Knowing background information can help you appreciate stories better and learn valuable truths. As you study about Jonah, it might be helpful to know:
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Nineveh was a major city of the Assyrians.
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The Assyrian kings and soldiers were known for their brutality, which included torturing and murdering the people they conquered.
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Tarshish, where Jonah was fleeing to, might be in present-day Spain.
Read Jonah 1:1–3, marking the Lord’s instructions to Jonah and how Jonah responded.
What does Jonah’s response indicate to you about how he felt about the Lord’s instructions to preach to the people of Nineveh?
Complete the following handout in your notebook. You could also watch the video “Jonah the Prophet” (2:30) to help you visualize Jonah’s experience.
The Story of Jonah
Imagine you are teaching the story of Jonah to someone else. Read the verses and summarize each part of the story in your own words.
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Jonah 3:1–5, 10 (Sackcloth refers to clothing that symbolized mourning, repentance, or humility.) |
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Jonah 4:1–11 (A gourd is a large plant.) |
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In your notebook, complete the bolded truths based on your reading:
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The Lord is …
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To become like the Lord, we must …
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Why can it be difficult for us at times to love or be merciful toward others?
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How can learning about the Lord’s mercy and love affect the way we see, think about, or treat others?
Review the following study options. Complete one or more. Then complete the “Now What?” section at the end of the lesson.
Option A
What if someone doesn’t understand the true nature of God?
Consider the following scenario:
Imagine you have a friend who feels Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are cruel, unmerciful, or unforgiving.
Study two or more of the following six resources. Look for things you would share with your friend.
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Isaiah 1:18 – Isaiah speaking about Jesus Christ
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Ether 12:27 – Jesus Christ speaking to the prophet Ether
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Luke 23:33–34 – Jesus Christ on the cross
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Elder Robert M. Daines of the Seventy testified:
10:22As President Nelson taught, “The more you learn about the Savior, the easier it will be to trust in His mercy, His infinite love.” And the more you will trust and love your Heavenly Father.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught us that Jesus came to show “us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation.”
Paul says God is “the Father of [all] mercies, and the God of all comfort.”
If you see Him differently, please keep trying. (“Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 14)
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“Moving On from Past Mistakes“ (3:43)
3:43
Option B
How can I be more merciful and loving, like the Lord?
Imagine you have a friend who struggles to be merciful, kind, or forgiving toward someone else.
What are some reasons we sometimes might struggle to be merciful, kind, and forgiving toward others?
Jonah struggled to understand why the Lord was merciful to the people of Nineveh. He might have even felt envious of how the Lord had forgiven them (see Jonah 4:1–4).
Study two or more of the following sources, looking for truths that could help Jonah forgive the people of Nineveh as the Lord had.
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Moroni 7:45–48 – The prophet Mormon teaches about the pure love of Christ
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Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–11 – The Lord speaking about forgiveness
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President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency – “The Merciful Obtain Mercy”
0:43The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other. (“The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 76)
Now What?
In your notebook, write a brief message to your friend or the person you thought about. Include (1) a passage from Jonah, (2) a truth from sources you studied, and (3) details of a time when the Lord has shown love and mercy toward you or someone you know.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you feel the Lord’s love and mercy for you and for others.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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What you learned from Jonah’s story about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s mercy.
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Your response to your friend.
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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?