SETUP
Pass out cards 1-32, pencils, white paper, and quotes
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
“God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future
Jeremiah 29:10
INTRODUCTION
Quote 1 - Elder Dallin H. Oaks: “We may find that a specific verse of scripture that was spoken for quite a different purpose in an entirely different age will, under the interpretive influence of the Holy Ghost, give us a very personal message adapted to our personal needs today. … If we seek to liken the scriptures to our own circumstances, ‘that it might be for our profit and learning’, a loving Father in heaven can use them to bless us in highly individual ways”
Have you ever been reading the scriptures and felt that a particular passage spoke directly to you?
The events discussed in this lesson were set in motion by a man who found that a passage of scripture written 150 years before his birth spoke to him personally—in fact, it mentioned him by name.
BACKGROUND
In 721 B.C., when the kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom, or ten tribes) was taken captive by Assyria, the Assyrian empire was the greatest in the world. By 612 B.C., however, the Assyrian empire had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Under King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon ruled most of the lands that had been conquered by the Assyrians. The Babylonian conquest of the kingdom of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) extended from about 605 B.C., when they took many Jews captive, to 587 B.C., when they destroyed Jerusalem.
While in captivity the faithful Jews wept by the rivers of Babylon. Because of sorrow, they could not bear to sing the songs of Zion, for their hearts yearned to be back in their land of promise and in their holy city. But how could they go back? They were captive to the powerful nation of Babylon. Yet the Lord rules in the heavens and watches over His chosen people. He would provide a way for the faithful of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city.
After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C., Babylon declined rapidly in power. In 539 B.C., Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians, united under the leadership of Cyrus. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, who treated those he conquered with cruelty, Cyrus was a benevolent ruler. By treating conquered peoples kindly and respecting their religions, Cyrus won the loyalty of those he ruled. The Lord had foreordained Cyrus to make possible the return of the Jews. Cyrus was not of the house of Israel, but the Lord nonetheless had chosen him before he was born to bless the house of Israel.
Quote 2 - Elder Ezra Taft Benson spoke of the contributions of Cyrus: “King Cyrus lived more than five hundred years before Christ and figured in prophecies of the Old Testament mentioned in 2 Chronicles and the book of Ezra, and by the prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel. The Bible states how ‘the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia.’ Cyrus restored certain political and social rights to the captive Hebrews, gave them permission to return to Jerusalem, and directed that Jehovah’s temple should be rebuilt.
Quote 3 - “Parley P. Pratt, in describing the Prophet Joseph Smith, said that he had ‘the boldness, courage, temperance, perseverance and generosity of a Cyrus.’
Quote 4 - President Wilford Woodruff said: “‘Now I have thought many times that some of those ancient kings that were raised up, had in some respects more regard for the carrying out of some of these principles and laws, than even the Latter-day Saints have in our day. I will take as an ensample Cyrus. … To trace the life of Cyrus from his birth to his death, whether he knew it or not, it looked as though he lived by inspiration in all his movements. He began with that temperance and virtue which would sustain any Christian country or any Christian king. … Many of these principles followed him, and I have thought many of them were worthy, in many respects, the attention of men who have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’ “God, the Father of us all, uses the men of the earth, especially good men, to accomplish his purposes. It has been true in the past, it is true today, it will be true in the future.”
Ezra 1
Read v.1
The prophecy referred to by Jeremiah can be found in Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10
Read v.2-3,7 (Cyrus decreed that the temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt. He invited the Jews in his empire to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, and he returned the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar’s troops had stolen from the temple)
How did Cyrus know the Lord wanted him to do this?
see Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5
Note: How did Cyrus learn about this if Ezra is before the book of Isaiah?
Where Do the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah Fit in the Old Testament?
The books of the Bible do not fall into chronological order. Their position is determined usually by whether they are historical or prophetic books. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally part of a compilation that included 1 and 2 Chronicles. Ezra 1:1–3 and 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 are almost identical. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are actually the last two historical books of the Old Testament. Zechariah and Haggai were prophets during this same period. Malachi is the only prophet known to have served in Israel between the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the beginning of the New Testament. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of Israel’s history from the first return to Jerusalem until the end of Nehemiah’s second term as governor of Judah.
***How would you feel if you were reading the scriptures and read a prophecy that gave your name and described specific things you would do?
Ezra 2-3
Zerubbabel and Jeshua lead approximately 50,000 people back to Jerusalem, and they begin to rebuild the temple.
Ezra 4
When Zerubbabel and Jeshua led the first group of Jews back to Jerusalem, they found the Samaritans there.
The Samaritans were descendants of Israelites who had escaped at the time of captivity and had intermarried with Assyrian and Babylonian colonists whom the kings had sent to occupy the land.
v.1,2 - The Samaritans wanted to help build the temple
v.3 - The Jews refused to let the Samaritans help rebuild the temple because they felt the Samaritans were not true Israelites
v.4-7 - The Samaritans tried to stop the rebuilding of the temple by complaining to the kings who succeeded Cyrus and also tried to frustrate their purpose.
The work of rebuilding the temple ceases
Ezra 5
Several years later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah exhort the Jews to finish the temple; the Samaritans continue to oppose it.
Ezra 6
King Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to rebuild the temple, and it is finished and dedicated in about 515 B.C
Ezra 7-8
Ezra leads another group of Jews back to Jerusalem
Read 7:27-28
What are some examples of the Lord softening the hearts of government leaders toward the Church in the latter days?
What can we do to encourage government leaders’ hearts to be softened toward the Church? (Obey the laws of the land, do good, prepare to teach the gospel to all the world, and pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of the leaders)
v. 8:21–23, 31- Ezra fasted and prayed to ensure that the group of Jews he was taking to Jerusalem was protected
***How have you, your family, or others you know been blessed by fasting?
Nehemiah 1,2,4,6
Nehemiah was the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia. This was a position of great trust and responsibility, requiring Nehemiah to ensure that the king’s food and drink were safe. Even though Nehemiah was in a position of importance in Persia, he cared about his people in Jerusalem and sought to help them when he heard of their difficulties.
v. 1:4 - Nehemia prayed and fasted upon hearing the difficulties of his people in Jerusalem?
v. 2:2-5 - The king granted Nehemiah permission to go, provided him guards and an escort for safety, and authorized him to use timber from the forest to rebuild the city walls
***What can we learn from Nehemiah that can guide us when we are troubled by the suffering of others?
v. 2:17-18 - Nehemiah encourages his people to rebuild the walls around the city by testifying
Why do you think testifying of the truth and sharing spiritual experiences have such power to inspire others to do good?
***How have the testimonies and spiritual experiences of others inspired you?
Sanballat was the governor of Samaria, and he and his people were enemies of the Jews who had returned with Zerubbabel.
v. 2:10 - Sanballat was grieved
v. 2:19 - They laughed and despised the Jews
v. 4:7-8 - They conspired to fight against Jerusalem
v. 4:11 - They shall slay them and cause their work to cease
v. 4:9 - The Jews prayed unto God and watched against them at night
v. 4:13-15 - The Jews armed themselves and continued working on the wall
v. 6:1-4 - Sanballat asked Nehemia to stop working and meet with him
How do some people try to distract Church members from the Lord’s work today?
How should we respond to such distractions?
Quote 5 - Elder Marvin J. Ashton counseled: “Certain people and organizations are trying to provoke us into contention with slander, innuendos, and improper classifications. How unwise we are in today’s society to allow ourselves to become irritated, dismayed, or offended because others seem to enjoy the role of misstating our position or involvement. Our principles or standards will not be less than they are because of the statements of the contentious. Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and accurate facts. Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles of the gospel, but to contend with no man or organization. … Ours is to be heard and teach. Ours is not only to avoid contention, but to see that such things are done away”
TEAMWORK ACTIVITY
v.4:19 - The work is great and large, and we are separated
At times they were far apart, but they were all working toward the same goal, and by working together they were able to complete the wall.
The Church is divided into different units (such as families, wards, branches, stakes, districts, and quorums) throughout the world. Sometimes a unit may seem far from other units. But all the Saints are working toward the same goals, and if each individual and each unit works diligently, the entire Church will continue to grow.
Nehemiah 8
v. 1-2 - After finishing the wall, the Jews requested Ezra to read the scriptures to them
Note : Most of the Jews had been in captivity so long that they had never heard or read the scriptures
v. 3 - He read to them from morning until midday and all ears were attentive
v. 6 - The people lifted up their hands and bowed their heads to worship the Lord
v. 9 - The people wept when they heard the words of the law
How can we be more attentive as we read the scriptures?
***How can we develop the kind of excitement for the scriptures that these people had?
v. 8 - Ezra gave sense and caused them to understand the reading
What has helped you in your efforts to understand the scriptures and to help your family understand them?
CONCLUSION
Quote 6 - Nehemiah’s energy, ability, unselfish patriotism, and personal integrity brought a new, exuberant Judah into existence once again. The restoration of Jerusalem, which had lain in ruins for a century and a half, was begun. Ezra, a righteous, dedicated priest, joined Nehemiah in this work, and together they succeeded in restoring a Jewish community in Jerusalem once again”
Just as the Jews had the responsibility to rebuild Jerusalem, Latter-day Saints have the responsibility to build Zion throughout the world. To help us do this, we need to follow the teachings in the scriptures and participate in temple work. Let us rise up and build the kingdom of God on Earth by doing our own part for the betterment of the overall goal we are all striving for.
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