I am so sorry for the delay in posting this. I drafted it earlier this week, but forgot to post it. My bad. SORRY! Hopefully with 1 o'clock church you'll still set aside a little time to review the lesson.
Purpose: To encourage class members to develop good leadership qualities so they can influence others to live righteously.
Last week we talked about King Solomon...Author, David Ridges, said the following:
"As you can imagine, Solomon's lifestyle was expensive. Thus, the tax burden on the citizens of Israel was very heavy. After the death of Solomon, the people approached his son, Rehoboam, the next king, and petitioned him to lighten the tax burden. However, his young friends told him to increase taxes in order to show the people who was boss. He listened to his peers and caused a rebellion and split the kingdom.
A man by the name of Jeroboam led the opposition, and Israel split into the northern ten tribes, hereafter referred to as Israel, and the southern two tribes--Judah and part of Benjamin--hereafter known as Judah. Both Rehoboam and Jeroboam led their people into wickedness and idolatry."
The student manual (included below) provides a good outline of the lesson. Please prepare for our discussion by reading the scriptures listed and thinking about the questions provided.
The main message/purpose of the lesson is to recognize the influence that we can have on others by living righteously. You all know how much I enjoy Mormon Messages; this clip of Elder Christopherson's talk is a good reminder of the important leadership role we have within our own home and family. I feel confident in saying that I think you will enjoy it, too.
Preparation: 1 Kings 12–14; 2 Chronicles 17; 20
a. 1 Kings 12:1–20. Rehoboam succeeds his father, Solomon, as king over the twelve tribes of Israel. He rejects the counsel of wise men to serve his people, seeking instead to impose greater burdens on them (12:1–15). The kingdom is divided as ten tribes revolt (12:16–19; the ten tribes retain the title kingdom of Israel, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remain under Rehoboam’s rule and are called the kingdom of Judah). The kingdom of Israel selects Jeroboam as king (12:20).
b. 1 Kings 12:25–33; 13:33–34; 14:14–16, 21–24. Jeroboam leads his people into idolatry (12:25–33; 13:33–34). A prophet foretells the destruction of Jeroboam’s family and the scattering of Israel (14:14–16). Rehoboam leads the kingdom of Judah into idolatry (14:21–24).
c. 2 Chronicles 17:1–10; 20:1–30. Jehoshaphat, Rehoboam’s great-grandson, reigns righteously in the kingdom of Judah (17:1–10). As Judah’s enemies come against them, Jehoshaphat and his people fast and pray. The Lord tells them the battle is not theirs, but his. Their attackers war among themselves and destroy each other (20:1–30).
• What counsel did the older men give Rehoboam about ruling successfully? (See 1 Kings 12:6–7; 2 Chronicles 10:7.) How can we apply this counsel at home, at work, at school, and in the Church?
• Jehoshaphat influenced the people of Judah to humble themselves before the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:3–4). What examples have you seen of righteous leadership?
Conclusion: Leaders have the power to guide people to wickedness or righteousness. It is our responsibility to lead in our Church callings, in our communities, at work, and at home. May we be good leaders by giving service, trusting and obeying the Lord, having faith in him, teaching from the scriptures, and following the prophets.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Lesson 26: King Solomon: Man of Wisdom, Man of Foolishness
Purpose: To encourage class members to use their blessings wisely and to enter the temple worthily.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks counseled us, “We generally think of Satan attacking us at our weakest spot. … But weakness is not our only vulnerability. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong—in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses” (“Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, 12).
• What are some strengths that could become our downfall?
This lesson is about King Solomon, (David's son, who succeeded his father), a man who received great gifts from God but eventually used those gifts unrighteously. Let me suggest that each of us look for the incidents that show the gradual decline of Solomon. As we do so, we are not looking for flaws to judge him, but instead we look to learn from his mistakes.
Study the following scriptures:
a. 1 Kings 3:5–28. Solomon succeeds his father, David, as king, and follows the Lord. The Lord appears to Solomon and blesses him with wisdom, riches, and honor (3:5–15). Two women take a child to Solomon, who wisely determines which woman is the mother of the child (3:16–28).
b. 1 Kings 5–6; 7:1–12. King Solomon directs the construction of a great temple (5–6). He has a palace built for himself (7:1–12).
c. 1 Kings 8:22–66; 9:1–9. Solomon dedicates the temple and asks the Lord to bless the Israelites with spiritual and temporal prosperity (8:22–66). The Lord again appears to Solomon, promising to bless the Israelites if they serve him but to curse them if they turn to other gods (9:1–9).
d. 1 Kings 10–11. Solomon’s fame grows because of his wealth and wisdom (10:1–13, 24–25). He becomes excessively wealthy (10:14–23, 26). He marries many non-Israelite women who persuade him to worship false gods (11:1–10). The Lord stirs up adversaries against Solomon (11:11–25). A prophet foretells that the kingdom of Israel will be divided because of Solomon’s wickedness (11:26–40).
• What does it mean to have an “understanding heart”? (See 1 Kings 3:28; 4:29.) Why did Solomon feel a special need for that blessing? (See 1 Kings 3:7–8.) How would having “the wisdom of God” help us with our responsibilities at home, at work, at school, and in the Church? How can we receive this wisdom?
• What promise did the Lord give Solomon regarding the temple? (See 1 Kings 6:11–13.) What similar promise has the Lord given us today? (See D&C 97:15–17.) What can we do to keep the influence of the temple strong in our lives?
• How did Solomon’s riches and honor increase after the temple was built? (See 1 Kings 10:1–15, 24–25.) How did Solomon misuse these blessings? (See 1 Kings 10:16–23, 26–29.) How should wisdom, riches, and honor be used? (See Jacob 2:18–19.)
Elder Dallin H. Oaks counseled us, “We generally think of Satan attacking us at our weakest spot. … But weakness is not our only vulnerability. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong—in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses” (“Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, 12).
• What are some strengths that could become our downfall?
This lesson is about King Solomon, (David's son, who succeeded his father), a man who received great gifts from God but eventually used those gifts unrighteously. Let me suggest that each of us look for the incidents that show the gradual decline of Solomon. As we do so, we are not looking for flaws to judge him, but instead we look to learn from his mistakes.
Study the following scriptures:
a. 1 Kings 3:5–28. Solomon succeeds his father, David, as king, and follows the Lord. The Lord appears to Solomon and blesses him with wisdom, riches, and honor (3:5–15). Two women take a child to Solomon, who wisely determines which woman is the mother of the child (3:16–28).
b. 1 Kings 5–6; 7:1–12. King Solomon directs the construction of a great temple (5–6). He has a palace built for himself (7:1–12).
c. 1 Kings 8:22–66; 9:1–9. Solomon dedicates the temple and asks the Lord to bless the Israelites with spiritual and temporal prosperity (8:22–66). The Lord again appears to Solomon, promising to bless the Israelites if they serve him but to curse them if they turn to other gods (9:1–9).
d. 1 Kings 10–11. Solomon’s fame grows because of his wealth and wisdom (10:1–13, 24–25). He becomes excessively wealthy (10:14–23, 26). He marries many non-Israelite women who persuade him to worship false gods (11:1–10). The Lord stirs up adversaries against Solomon (11:11–25). A prophet foretells that the kingdom of Israel will be divided because of Solomon’s wickedness (11:26–40).
• What does it mean to have an “understanding heart”? (See 1 Kings 3:28; 4:29.) Why did Solomon feel a special need for that blessing? (See 1 Kings 3:7–8.) How would having “the wisdom of God” help us with our responsibilities at home, at work, at school, and in the Church? How can we receive this wisdom?
• What promise did the Lord give Solomon regarding the temple? (See 1 Kings 6:11–13.) What similar promise has the Lord given us today? (See D&C 97:15–17.) What can we do to keep the influence of the temple strong in our lives?
• How did Solomon’s riches and honor increase after the temple was built? (See 1 Kings 10:1–15, 24–25.) How did Solomon misuse these blessings? (See 1 Kings 10:16–23, 26–29.) How should wisdom, riches, and honor be used? (See Jacob 2:18–19.)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Lesson 25: “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord”
The book of Psalms is a collection of poems originally sung as praises or petitions to God. Many were written by David. This book is like a hymnal from ancient Israel. Many psalms prophesy of Christ’s mission as the Messiah.
The PURPOSE of our lesson this week is to help class members show their gratitude for the Savior and for the many blessings that he and our Heavenly Father have given us.
I found a Primary Sharing Time lesson in the Friend that I think is worth posting. There is something really beautiful about the simple message prepared to teach our little ones.
Sharing Time Lesson: David was a righteous shepherd boy who fought and killed the giant Goliath. By defeating Goliath, David saved his people, the Israelites, from war. David eventually became the king of Israel.
Besides being a good shepherd, warrior, and king, David was a good musician. His music brought peace to those who heard it. When King Saul was unhappy, he asked David to play his harp. The scriptures say that when David played, he helped bring peace to the king, that King Saul “was refreshed, and was well” (1 Sam. 16:23).
David also sang and played on his harp to bring peace to himself. He wrote his own songs—both words and music. He became famous for his Psalms, which are songs of praise to the Lord. Many of the Old Testament Psalms were composed by David. They are about times when he was happy, when he was discouraged, when he felt thankful, when he needed help, when he wanted to celebrate, or when he needed to feel peace.
In some ways we are like David. We sing certain songs when we are happy, are sad, feel thankful, or want to celebrate. And, like David, we can be blessed with peace when we sing gospel songs.
One reason gospel songs bring us peace is that they speak of spiritual things that have the power to make us happy. You can write a psalm, as David did! (Judy Edwards, “Sharing Time: The Songs of the Gospel Bring Peace,” Friend, Jul 1994, 12)"
The psalms bear powerful witness of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. They also remind us of the great blessings that he and our Heavenly Father have given us. And they suggest ways we can express gratitude for those blessings.
The PURPOSE of our lesson this week is to help class members show their gratitude for the Savior and for the many blessings that he and our Heavenly Father have given us.
I found a Primary Sharing Time lesson in the Friend that I think is worth posting. There is something really beautiful about the simple message prepared to teach our little ones.
Sharing Time Lesson: David was a righteous shepherd boy who fought and killed the giant Goliath. By defeating Goliath, David saved his people, the Israelites, from war. David eventually became the king of Israel.
Besides being a good shepherd, warrior, and king, David was a good musician. His music brought peace to those who heard it. When King Saul was unhappy, he asked David to play his harp. The scriptures say that when David played, he helped bring peace to the king, that King Saul “was refreshed, and was well” (1 Sam. 16:23).
David also sang and played on his harp to bring peace to himself. He wrote his own songs—both words and music. He became famous for his Psalms, which are songs of praise to the Lord. Many of the Old Testament Psalms were composed by David. They are about times when he was happy, when he was discouraged, when he felt thankful, when he needed help, when he wanted to celebrate, or when he needed to feel peace.
In some ways we are like David. We sing certain songs when we are happy, are sad, feel thankful, or want to celebrate. And, like David, we can be blessed with peace when we sing gospel songs.
One reason gospel songs bring us peace is that they speak of spiritual things that have the power to make us happy. You can write a psalm, as David did! (Judy Edwards, “Sharing Time: The Songs of the Gospel Bring Peace,” Friend, Jul 1994, 12)"
The psalms bear powerful witness of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. They also remind us of the great blessings that he and our Heavenly Father have given us. And they suggest ways we can express gratitude for those blessings.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Lesson 24: “Create in Me a Clean Heart”, Old Testament Class Study Guide, 16
Purpose: To encourage class members to be chaste in thought and action and to repent of their sins.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Of the Seventy gave a talk in which he referenced the scriptures that we are studying this week and the story of David and Bathsheba. He provides a quick synopsis of the story. It is worth posting here. Though I have to admit this story has me shaking my head. It makes me so sad, but it is an important reminder how closely we must safeguard our thoughts and actions. On our own, we are susceptible to foibles that can sink us.
Elder Clayton: "There’s an account in the Old Testament about someone who fell prey to a trap. That man was mighty King David, and what happened is one of the saddest stories in the scriptures.
“And it came to pass … at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they [fought against Ammon]. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
“And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (2 Samuel 11:1–2).
David learned the woman’s name was Bathsheba. Her husband, Uriah, a soldier, was away fighting the Ammonites with the rest of the army, where David, their king, should have been. David had Bathsheba brought to the palace. They committed adultery, she became pregnant, and David began to fear that their adultery would be discovered. Hoping to cover his sin, David ordered that Uriah be sent back to Jerusalem. Uriah returned, but refused on principle to go to his home to visit Bathsheba. David then arranged for Uriah to be slain in battle (see 2 Samuel 11:3–17). This series of dreadful decisions brought death to Uriah and misery to David, Bathsheba, and eventually the entire kingdom. With rich understatement, the Bible says, “The thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27).
Do you see how David got caught in this trap? He was on a rooftop courtyard of his palace, and looking below in a neighboring yard, he saw something he never should have seen. That was the adversary’s bait. Modesty, chastity, and good judgment required that David turn away immediately and not watch, but he didn’t do either thing. Instead, he allowed his mind to turn to forbidden fantasies, those thoughts led to actions, and things quickly spiraled downward from bad to worse to fatal. David was trapped, and for him the consequences were eternal."
(Whitney Clayton, “Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 51–53)
To read the entire article, which I highly recommend, go HERE! For another article with great insight and detail go HERE (Arthur R. Bassett, “The King Called David,” Ensign, Oct 1973, 63).
2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51
Study the following scriptures:
a. 2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).
b. 2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).
c. Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.
David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his personal life were marred by the consequences of his sinfulness.
• What did David do that led him to commit adultery? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.) What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?
• What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.) From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin? How do people try to cover up sins today? What happens when we try to cover our sins?
In a psalm to the Lord, David expressed a desire to help others repent, saying, “I [will] teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Even though David forfeited his exaltation because he arranged the death of Uriah, we can learn from his repentant attitude as he sought forgiveness for the sin of adultery. His words in Psalm 51 teach many aspects of true repentance. As you study the psalm, look for ways that you can apply David’s repentant example to your life.
No matter how successful or strong we may be, we are not above temptation. We should work now to make any necessary changes in our lives to help us remain chaste in thought and action. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It is because of the Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins.
Elder L. Whitney Clayton, Of the Seventy gave a talk in which he referenced the scriptures that we are studying this week and the story of David and Bathsheba. He provides a quick synopsis of the story. It is worth posting here. Though I have to admit this story has me shaking my head. It makes me so sad, but it is an important reminder how closely we must safeguard our thoughts and actions. On our own, we are susceptible to foibles that can sink us.
Elder Clayton: "There’s an account in the Old Testament about someone who fell prey to a trap. That man was mighty King David, and what happened is one of the saddest stories in the scriptures.
“And it came to pass … at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they [fought against Ammon]. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
“And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon” (2 Samuel 11:1–2).
David learned the woman’s name was Bathsheba. Her husband, Uriah, a soldier, was away fighting the Ammonites with the rest of the army, where David, their king, should have been. David had Bathsheba brought to the palace. They committed adultery, she became pregnant, and David began to fear that their adultery would be discovered. Hoping to cover his sin, David ordered that Uriah be sent back to Jerusalem. Uriah returned, but refused on principle to go to his home to visit Bathsheba. David then arranged for Uriah to be slain in battle (see 2 Samuel 11:3–17). This series of dreadful decisions brought death to Uriah and misery to David, Bathsheba, and eventually the entire kingdom. With rich understatement, the Bible says, “The thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27).
Do you see how David got caught in this trap? He was on a rooftop courtyard of his palace, and looking below in a neighboring yard, he saw something he never should have seen. That was the adversary’s bait. Modesty, chastity, and good judgment required that David turn away immediately and not watch, but he didn’t do either thing. Instead, he allowed his mind to turn to forbidden fantasies, those thoughts led to actions, and things quickly spiraled downward from bad to worse to fatal. David was trapped, and for him the consequences were eternal."
(Whitney Clayton, “Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart,” Liahona, Nov 2007, 51–53)
To read the entire article, which I highly recommend, go HERE! For another article with great insight and detail go HERE (Arthur R. Bassett, “The King Called David,” Ensign, Oct 1973, 63).
2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 51
Study the following scriptures:
a. 2 Samuel 11. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (11:1–5). David fails in his attempt to hide his sin (11:6–13). He arranges the death of Uriah (11:14–17). David marries Bathsheba, and they have a son (11:26–27).
b. 2 Samuel 12:1–23. The prophet Nathan teaches of the severity of David’s sins by telling David a parable (12:1–6). David is told that he will be punished because of his sins (12:7–14; note that in the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 13, Nathan states, “The Lord hath not put away thy sin that thou shalt not die”). The first son of David and Bathsheba dies in infancy (12:15–23).
c. Psalm 51. A repentant David seeks forgiveness.
David succeeded Saul as king and became one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. He united the tribes into one nation, secured possession of the land that had been promised to his people, and set up a government based on God’s law. However, the last 20 years of his personal life were marred by the consequences of his sinfulness.
• What did David do that led him to commit adultery? (See 2 Samuel 11:2–4.) What might lead people to be tempted to commit sexual sins? What can we do to avoid being tempted to commit sexual sins?
• What more serious sin did David commit in an attempt to hide his immorality? (See 2 Samuel 11:14–17.) From whom do you think David thought he could hide his sin? How do people try to cover up sins today? What happens when we try to cover our sins?
In a psalm to the Lord, David expressed a desire to help others repent, saying, “I [will] teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee” (Psalm 51:13). Even though David forfeited his exaltation because he arranged the death of Uriah, we can learn from his repentant attitude as he sought forgiveness for the sin of adultery. His words in Psalm 51 teach many aspects of true repentance. As you study the psalm, look for ways that you can apply David’s repentant example to your life.
No matter how successful or strong we may be, we are not above temptation. We should work now to make any necessary changes in our lives to help us remain chaste in thought and action. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It is because of the Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins.
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