Old Testament LESSON 30
Teaching Sunday School or Seminary, Come Follow Me just got easier with our activities for JULY (week #4)
Theme: “I Am Doing a Great Work”
Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8
YOU WILL FIND:
• SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS to get them reading.
• Then scroll down to find Lesson-Match Interactive Activities to match the CFM curriculum
SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS is not only for SUNDAY SCHOOL youth but also for Primary, and for Individuals and Families.
Lesson 30 Scripture Scholars
Week’s Scripture Scholars BOOKMARKS & scripture POP-UP Includes:
• BOOKMARKS with Come, Follow Me scriptures to read and discuss topics for Primary and Individuals and Families. Also, for Sunday School (teens).
• POP-UP to glue in scripture binding next to scripture you underline.
EXTRA ITEMS (not included) … THERE’S MORE:
• STAMP. Award readers with a STAMP for the week’s scripture reading. See below to find matching STAMPS.
• STAMP KEEPER. These can be placed on the STAMP KEEPER (see below) where you can collect 50 stamps for the year
Lessons 27-31 Scripture Scholars
July’s BUNDLE of BOOKMARKS, POP-UPs, and STAMPS. Glue STAMPS onto the STAMP KEEPER (to download separately, below).
Click on the weekly lesson posters (below) to find interactive activities:
. . . 3 LESSONS & 15 ACTIVITIES . . .
Step 1 CHOOSE LESSON
Step 2 CHOOSE ACTIVITY
Step 3 CLICK ON POSTER
Step 4 DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY
. . . TEMPLES OPEN WINDOWS OF HEAVEN & BRING JOY . . .
Temples can bring us joy.
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Reading about the joy the Jews felt as their temple was rebuilt could help class members feel a greater appreciation for temples in our day. Perhaps you could invite class members to review Ezra 3:8–13 and 6:16–22 and then discuss some of the ways the Jews celebrated the rebuilding and dedication of the temple. Why is the building of a temple a cause to celebrate? You could invite class members to share how temples, and the work we do there, bring them joy. The statement in “Additional Resources” BELOW* can encourage class members to experience the joy of temple work.
*Additional Resources – Experience the joy of the temple.
President Russell M. Nelson taught:
“We can be inspired all day long about temple and family history experiences others have had. But we must do something to actually experience the joy ourselves. I would like to extend a challenge to each one of us so that the wonderful feeling of this work can continue and even increase. I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice—preferably a sacrifice of time—you can make in order to do more temple and family history work this year.
“We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. He lives. Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church. We are His covenant children. He can count on us” (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Open the Heavens through Temple and Family History Work,” Ensign, Oct. 2017, 39). See VIDEO and presentation notes (HERE)
Sister Wendy W. Nelson said, “I entreat you to make a sacrifice of time to the Lord by increasing the time you spend doing temple and family history work, and then watch what happens. It is my testimony that when we show the Lord we are serious about helping our ancestors, the heavens will open and we will receive all that we need.”
ColorQuote (download HERE or above)
“Celestial marriage is a pivotal part of preparation for eternal life. It requires one to be married to the right person, in the right place, by the right authority, and to obey that sacred covenant faithfully.” – Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (1966), 118
. . . ACT AS AGENTS, “SERVING OUR HEAVENLY KING”* . . .
Ezra 4–5; Nehemiah 2; 4; 6
We can help the work of God advance despite opposition.
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The books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe people accomplishing important work despite opposition from their enemies. To begin a discussion, you might ask class members what Nehemiah’s “great work” (Nehemiah 6:3) could be compared to in our lives. What important work has God given us to do? Then you could read Ezra 4:4 and discuss how Satan tries to weaken our hands and trouble us in doing God’s work. What do we learn from Nehemiah and his fellow workers in Nehemiah 2:18–20; 4:6–9; and 6:1–3? What does it mean to have “a mind to work” in the service of the Savior? (Nehemiah 4:6).
- . . . VIDEO . . .
Consider sharing part of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s message “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down” (VIDEO HERE) (Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 59–62), especially the last two sections.
You may feel inspired to lead a discussion comparing Zerubbabel’s efforts to rebuild the temple to our efforts to attend the temple and do saving work there. For example, you could write two headings on the board: Zerubbabel and Us. Under Zerubbabel, class members could write what “the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin” (Ezra 4:1) did to try to stop Zerubbabel and the Jewish people from rebuilding the temple (see Ezra 4). Under Us, class members could list ways the adversary tries to stop us from attending the temple. They could then share advice with each other about how we can seek the Lord’s help in overcoming that opposition.
ColorQuote (download HERE or above): “In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan. . . . We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes.”– L. Tom Perry, Apostle, “The Importance of the Family”
ColorQuote (download HERE or above)
“As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary, we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified.” President Thomas S. Monson, “The Holy Temple–a Beacon to the World”
. . . SCRIPTURE BLESSINGS . . .
We are blessed when we study the scriptures.
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Perhaps class members could read Nehemiah 8:1–12 together and discuss how Ezra and his people felt about God and His word. Encourage class members to refer to specific verses that show how they felt. Invite class members to express how they feel about the word of God. How can we improve our efforts to study the word of God?
ColorQuote (download HERE or above)
“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give guidance and inspiration from on high.” – Elder Richard G. Scott
