Lesson 2: My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord

Purpose: To help class members develop greater faith in Jesus Christ through a study of the lives of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph.

Background: Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, were Jews who lived near Jerusalem. They obeyed God’s commandments. They were old and had no children. They prayed for a baby. Luke 1:5–7, 13

Zacharias was a priest in the temple. One day an angel named Gabriel came to him and said that God would bless Zacharias and his wife. God would answer their prayers—Elisabeth would have a baby, whom they should name John. Luke 1:8–13, 19

God had work for John to do: He was to tell people about Jesus Christ. John would be a righteous prophet of God. Luke 1:15–17

Zacharias did not believe the angel and said that Elisabeth was too old to have a baby. Gabriel said that she would have a child and that because Zacharias did not believe it, he would not be able to talk until John was born. Luke 1:18–20

• What do you learn about Mary from her conversations with the angel Gabriel and with Elisabeth? (See Luke 1:26–38, 45–49; see also Alma 7:10.) What can you do to follow her example?


• How do the examples of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph help you see the Savior’s greatness and increase your faith in him? How can you help others increase their faith in Jesus Christ?

Suggestion for Family Discussion
Read Luke 1:16, and discuss the importance of helping people “turn to the Lord” by sharing the gospel with them. Make a list of family members or friends who are not members of the Church or who are less-active members of the Church. Pray as a family for guidance in deciding whom you can share the gospel with and how to go about it.

Scripture Chain: Prophecies about John the Baptist
Isaiah 40:3
1 Nephi 10:7–10
Luke 1:13–17

Luke 1:67, 76–79

Lesson 1: “That Ye Might Believe That Jesus Is the Christ”

Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas and found time to reflect on the Savior's birth. I am posting a nice video that will extend the true Christmas spirit and will help set the stage for our study in the New Testament this year.

Purpose: To encourage class members to strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ by studying the New Testament.

• What do you learn about Jesus Christ from John 1:1–3, 14? (Note that “the Word” in John 1:1, 14 refers to the Savior. Use the Joseph Smith Translation of these verses if it is available.)
• The Apostle John said that “in [Jesus] was life” (John 1:4). He also testified that Jesus is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). How has the Savior given you life and light?
• What accounts or teachings in the New Testament have particularly inspired or helped you? How might studying the New Testament this year help strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ?

Suggestion for Family Discussion
Read John 1:1–3 or Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:1–3. Explain that Jesus (“the Word” in John 1:1–3) created the earth under Heavenly Father’s direction. Take a walk as a family, giving close attention to the many beauties of creation.

Scripture Chain: Jesus Christ’s Foreordained Mission
John 1:1–5
John 1:9–17
Abraham 3:22–27
Mosiah 3:5–10
Isaiah 61:1–2
Luke 4:16–21

Conclusion: I can assure you that your testimony of the Savior will increase as you seek the Spirit’s guidance in your study of the New Testament and as you come prepared to participate in class discussions.

I am including another video that is worth watching. May the Lord continue to bless you and attend to your individual needs this New Year!

Lesson 44: Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh

Purpose: To encourage class members to partake of the life-giving, healing powers that are available in the temple.

Have you ever been excited while watching a sporting event or some other kind of entertainment? Have you ever been so excited at such an event that you stood and shouted or cheered? There are several sacred events that have been or will be accompanied by enthusiastic expressions of joy and gratitude. Some of these events include:

a. The creation of the earth (Job 38:4–7).

b. The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (John 12:12–16).

c. The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

While the excitement of sporting events or other entertainment is temporary, the joy associated with sacred events is eternal. During the dedication of a temple, the congregation participates in a great expression of joy called the Hosanna Shout. They show their joy and gratitude by standing, shouting, and waving.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT - Study the following scriptures:
**It is helpful to keep in mind what we talked about today, that Ezekiel was called as a prophet to the Jews who had been taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar. He served the exiled Jews in captivity for 22 years. When Ezekial was called by the Lord he said, "I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 3:17).

a. Ezekiel 43:1–12; 44:6–9, 23. Ezekiel is shown a vision of the temple in Jerusalem.

b. Ezekiel 47:1, 6–12. Ezekiel sees a river flowing from the temple that gives life to the desert and heals the Dead Sea.

c. Ezekiel 47:2–5. Ezekiel measures the river’s depth and discovers that the water gets deeper each time he wades into it.

What do you learn about the temple from Ezekiel 43:1–12 and 44:6–9, 23?

According to Ezekiel’s vision, what changes will take place in the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea, which are east of Jerusalem, because of the river flowing from the temple? (See Ezekiel 47:6–12.) How does the water of life available in the temple heal and give life to marriages? families? our ancestors? the Church?

The TAKE AWAY: The Lord has called the temple “a place of thanksgiving” (D&C 97:13). I am thankful for the blessings that come because of the temple. I hope you will take time this week to reflect on how the temple has impacted your life.

Lesson 43: The Shepherds of Israel

Our lesson this week is so so good! I hope to do this beautiful message justice and pray that you will come prepared to share the spirit. It is a truly remarkable lesson about shepherds. This little video is a nice prelude to our discussion. Watch it!!


PURPOSE: To encourage class members to fulfill their responsibilities as "shepherds of Israel"

Study the following scriptures:

a. Ezekiel 34. The Lord reproves those shepherds who do not feed the flock. He will seek all the lost sheep and be their Shepherd.

b. Ezekiel 18:21–32. Ezekiel teaches that the wicked who repent will be saved and that the righteous who turn to wickedness will be cast out.

c. Ezekiel 37:1–14. Ezekiel sees a vision in which many dry bones are given life.

d. Ezekiel 37:15–28. Ezekiel prophesies that the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph will become one in the Lord’s hand.

In 597 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carried into captivity many people from the kingdom of Judah. Among these captives was Ezekiel, whom the Lord called as a prophet five years later. Ezekiel ministered to his exiled people until 570 B.C. UAdd a Note

Ezekiel’s writings include rebukes and promises that apply not only to the ancient kingdom of Judah but to all Israel, including Church members today. Although Jerusalem had been destroyed, Ezekiel foresaw a day when Israel would be gathered and restored. UAdd a Note

Who are the “shepherds of Israel” spoken of in Ezekiel 34? In what ways can each of us be considered a shepherd of Israel?

How is the Savior like a shepherd to us? (See Ezekiel 34:11–16; Psalm 23.)

What does it mean to “make … a new heart and a new spirit”? (Ezekiel 18:31). How can we experience this change of heart? (See Alma 5:7–14.)

In the prophecy recorded in Ezekiel 37:15–28, one of the things the stick of Judah represents is the Bible. One of the things the stick of Joseph represents is the Book of Mormon. What blessings have come from having the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible?

Lesson 42: I Will Write It in Their Hearts

Study Jeremiah 16; 23; 29; 31

Purpose: To encourage class members to participate in God’s great latter-day work and to have his law written in their hearts.

Background: Did you know that Jeremiah was a contemporary of Lehi? He was! You'll remember that Lehi and his family fled Jerusalem in 600 B.C. and journeyed to the promised land of America. After the fall of Jerusalem, the Jews who escaped into Egypt took Jeremiah with them (Jer 43:5-7). In 1 Nephi 1:4, Nephi mentions "many prophets" who prophesied at the time Lehi, his father, was prophesying and preaching.

"Jeremiah was one of the few ancient prophets who prophesied destruction for the people and then saw the fulfillment of his prophecies during his own lifetime. In a way, he was a lot like Mormon in the Book of Mormon, who was called by the Lord to work with a people for whom there was no hope, because of their extreme wickedness." [The Old Testament Made Easier, pg. 216]

The Old Testament Student Manual, describes the conditions under which Jeremiah served as a prophet: "With the exception of Josiah, all of the kings of Judah during Jeremiah's ministry were unworthy men under whom the country suffered severely. Even during the reign of an earlier king, the wicked Manasseh, the Baal cult was restored among the Jews, and there was introduced the worship of the heavenly planets...Jeremiah therefore found idolatry, Hill-worship, and heathen religious practices rampant among his people Heathen idols stood in the temple, children were scarified to Ball-Moloch, and Ball was especially involved as the usual heathen deity. The worship of the 'queen of Heaven' ought also to be mentioned. The corruption of the nation's religious worship was, of course, accompanied by all manner of immorality and unrighteousness against which the prophet had continually to testify. The poor were forgotten. Jeremiah was surrounded on all sides by almost total apostasy. He was surrounded by plenty of professional prophets, who were smooth, easy-going, popular preachers whose words awakened no conscience, and who assured the people that the nation was safe in the protecting care of God. This was a true message in Isaiah's day, but the time was long since past, and Jerusalem was destined for captivity. Thus Jeremiah was doomed to preach an unwelcome message, while the false prophets persuaded the people that he was unpatriotic, uninspired, and pessimistic.

Elder Jean A. Tefan, Area Authority Seventy wrote a nice article titled, "Jeremiah: As Potter's Clay" that I would highly recommend. It is about how the Lord's tender sculpting of the Prophet Jeremiah's life is a reminder that He can shape each of our lives.

Points to Ponder:

• As recorded in Jeremiah 31:31–34, what did the Lord promise to do in the latter days? (See also Ezekiel 11:17–20; 36:24–28; 2 Corinthians 3:2–3.)
• What does it mean to have God’s law written in our hearts? What must we do to have God’s law written in our hearts? How is our behavior affected when we have God’s law written in our hearts?
• According to Jeremiah 29:12–14, what can we do to draw close to God?

Conclusion: We live in a time that Jeremiah and many other prophets have looked forward to with rejoicing. We can participate in the gathering of Israel and have the law of God written in our hearts.

Lesson 39: How Beautiful upon the Mountains

PURPOSE: To strengthen each class member’s testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Study Isaiah 50–53.

• What does Isaiah 53:2–5 tell us about the life of the Savior? Why can he understand our sorrows and our grief? (See Alma 7:11–13; Hebrews 2:16–18; 4:15.) How have you sensed that he understands your sorrows and grief? Why was the Savior willing to suffer the pain of being wounded, bruised, and scourged? (See 1 Nephi 19:9.)

• Isaiah prophesied about a number of events that were connected with the Atonement of the Savior. What do the following verses teach about the Savior’s love and his atoning sacrifice?

Isaiah 50:5–7 (see also Matthew 26:39; Philippians 2:8)

Isaiah 51:6 (see also Mosiah 16:9; Alma 34:10)

Isaiah 53:2–4 (see also Alma 7:11–13; Hebrews 2:16–18)

Isaiah 53:8–11 (see also Mosiah 15:10–13)



Conclusion
Review Mosiah 15:18, in which the prophet Abinadi describes the Savior as a messenger whose feet are beautiful upon the mountains. One reason his feet are beautiful is that they bear the prints of the nails, the tokens of his atoning love. The teachings of Isaiah have strengthened my love for the Savior and my desire to be worthy of the blessings of his atoning sacrifice. How has your testimony been strengthened?

Lesson 38: Beside Me There Is No Saviour

Purpose: To help class members understand that Jesus Christ is incomparable in his devotion to his people and that he has a great work for them to do.

Study Isaiah 40–49

• Review Isaiah 40:28–31; 42:16; 43:1–4; 44:21–23; and 49:14–16. As you read each passage, look for answers to the following questions: Which attribute of the Savior is mentioned in this passage? How does knowing of this attribute help increase our faith in the Savior?

• Babylon is often used in the scriptures as a symbol for the wickedness of the world. What are the results of seeking after the ways of the world? (See Isaiah 47:1, 5, 7–11.) What has the Lord promised to those who seek him rather than the world? (See Isaiah 48:17–18.)

• Many of the prophecies in Isaiah 49 apply both to the work of the Savior and to the work of his servants. What does Isaiah 49:1–6 teach about our responsibilities in the latter days?

**Isaiah’s writings can help us develop greater love for the Savior and greater understanding of the work he wants us to do.