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.
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