Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34: Lesson 60

Deuteronomy 15

“Open Your Hand Wide unto Him”

The Savior’s commandments to the Israelites in Deuteronomy include forgiving debtors, releasing people in servitude, and relieving the burden of the poor. As His people, we too have a covenant responsibility to freely share what the Savior has given us to relieve the burden of the poor. This lesson can help students feel a greater desire to follow the Savior’s commandment to share what He has given them.

Student preparation: Invite students to prayerfully sing or study the words to the hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much” (Hymns, no. 219) or Matthew 25:31–40. Students could ask Heavenly Father to help them see ways they can share with others what He has given them.

Possible Learning Activities

True followers of Jesus Christ

To begin class, consider displaying a favorite picture of Jesus Christ. You could write the following incomplete statement from President Nelson on the board. You may want to point out that there could be many correct ways to finish the statement.

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is . (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 98)

• What are some ways we could complete President Nelson’s statement?

After students respond, invite them to share why they feel their response completes the statement. You could compliment and validate what students share. Then display President Nelson’s completed statement.

One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people. (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 98)

• Why is this a good way to identify true followers of Jesus Christ?

• What are some ways disciples of Jesus Christ could treat people compassionately?

  To help students assess how well they currently treat others, you might share some or all of the following statements and invite students to ponder how well each statement applies to them.

• The way I treat others shows that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

• I have compassion for others and want to do what I can to help them.

• I feel willing to share what the Lord has given me with others.

As you study today, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you feel the importance of following the Savior’s commandment in the way you treat other people.

Caring for people in need

Before students read the following passage, you might explain that as part of the instructions given in Deuteronomy, the Lord commanded that all debts were to be forgiven every seventh year.

Read Deuteronomy 15:7–11, looking for how the Lord wants us to treat people around us.

• What did you discover?

  As students share, help them recognize a truth such as the Lord commands us to share the blessings He has given us.

  It might be helpful to use a simple object lesson to help students understand what it means to “open thine hand wide” to others (verses 8 and 11). To do this you might have a bowl of dry cereal, beans, or small candy at the front of the room. Invite two students to demonstrate this phrase. One student could grab a handful of the item and hold it over the other student’s hands. Ask the student to open their hand “a little,” then “a little more,” allowing small amounts of food to fall into the other student’s hands. Finally, invite students to read verse 8 again and have the student demonstrating the object lesson “open thine hand wide.”

• What do you think it means that we are to open our hands wide in caring for the poor?

• What could we learn about the Savior from His commandment? How does He open His hand wide to us?

• In what circumstances might we be tempted to shut our hand from the poor?

Before students read the following passage, you might explain that the Lord also commanded that every seventh year any servant who desired freedom was to be released from bondage.

Read Deuteronomy 15:12–15, looking for how the Lord told the Israelites they should treat a servant who desired to be freed from bondage.

• From what you’ve learned about the Israelites, how had they been in bondage physically and spiritually? How might someone be in spiritual bondage today?

• How could remembering how the Savior has delivered us from spiritual and physical bondage affect how we treat others?

“Are we not all beggars?”

Invite students to consider what it might look like for a teenager to be “poor” not only financially but also spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

• How could we open our hand wide to someone in need in each of these ways?

Use the scripture study tools to find a scripture passage or statement from a Church leader that could help someone follow the Savior’s commandment to care for the poor

If students need additional assistance, you might suggest passages such as Luke 6:30–38; Mosiah 4:16–27; Doctrine and Covenants 104:15–18; Moses 7:18. Students could also search Gospel Library for words like “poor.”

After students have had time to find a scripture or statement, invite them to share what they found with a partner or in a small group. Students could also discuss the following questions.

• How could this scripture or statement apply to how we care for someone who is “poor” financially, spiritually, physically, emotionally, or socially?

• When have you had an experience being blessed by the generosity of others?

To help students increase their desire to give generously to others, you could show the video “The Coat” (2:07) from Gospel Library. You might explain to students that this story depicts a childhood experience of President Heber J. Grant. Consider pausing the video after young Heber first sees the little boy with no coat. Invite students to review Deuteronomy 15:7–8 and share things Heber might do if he were to “open his hand wide” and how the Lord might bless him for his generosity. Then watch the remainder of the video.

Increase our desire to share with others

Read Matthew 25:31–40, looking for how the Savior feels about our efforts to care for people in need.

Consider inviting students to read the words or sing the hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much” (Hymns, no. 219). Invite them to look for words and phrases in the lyrics that help them feel the importance of the Savior’s commandment to share generously with others.

Before sharing the following questions, you might remind students of the statement from President Nelson from the beginning of the lesson. Reminding students of this statement could help them connect the truths they have learned and felt today to the words of prophets. (For additional training on invitations that help connect students to the words of prophets, see “Teach from the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets” in Teacher Development Skills.)

Students could answer the following questions in their study journals.

• What have you learned or felt today that has helped increase your desire to be a true follower of Jesus Christ by giving generously to others?

• What have you felt impressed to do?

Consider sharing a time when your life has been blessed by the generosity of others who sought to be true followers of Jesus Christ. You might invite students to seek Heavenly Father’s guidance to find someone to serve and how to do it.

Additional Resources

Why is it important to care for the poor?

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded us:

Down through history, poverty has been one of humankind’s greatest and most widespread challenges. Its obvious toll is usually physical, but the spiritual and emotional damage it can bring may be even more debilitating. In any case, the great Redeemer has issued no more persistent call than for us to join Him in lifting this burden from the people. …

In our day, the restored Church of Jesus Christ had not yet seen its first anniversary when the Lord commanded the members to “look to the poor and … needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:35]. Note the imperative tone of that passage—“they shall not suffer.” That is language God uses when He means business. …

I bear witness of the miracles, both spiritual and temporal, that come to those who live the law of the fast. … Cherish that sacred privilege at least monthly, and be as generous as circumstances permit in your fast offering and other humanitarian, educational, and missionary contributions. I promise that God will be generous to you, and those who find relief at your hand will call your name blessed forever. …

[A]lthough I may not be my brother’s keeper, I am my brother’s brother, and “because I have been given much, I too must give.” (“Are We Not All Beggars?.” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 40, 42)

How can we relieve the burden of others?

Sister Sharon Eubank, formerly of the Relief Society General Presidency, taught:

If we change our perspective so that caring for the poor and the needy is less about giving stuff away and more about filling the hunger for human contact, providing meaningful conversation, and creating rich and positive relationships, then the Lord can send us someplace. …

And remember that, in the same way as the Savior, you yourself are one of the best gifts that you can give to other people in need. (“Turning Enemies into Friends” [Brigham Young University forum, Jan. 23, 2018], 6–7, speeches.byu.edu)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Deuteronomy 14:22, 28–29: The Lord uses our offerings to bless the poor

Students may benefit from considering the many ways offerings are used to bless Heavenly Father’s children. Students could study Deuteronomy 14:22, 28–29, looking for the blessings the Lord promised to people who gave generously. It might be helpful to explain that, as part of the law of Moses, the Israelites were commanded to use all of their offered funds to bless the poor every third year (verses 28–29). In our day, fast offering contributions are dedicated to relieving the burden of the poor every month.

Deuteronomy 15:1–5, 12–15: The Lord’s release

Students may benefit from a better understanding of the Savior’s commandment to the Israelites to free any debtor and to give all servants the option of freedom every seventh year. Consider inviting students to discuss how the Savior releases us from the debt of sin and guilt. You could then watch “Handel’s Messiah: Debtor’s Prison” (3:35). In this video, President Nelson uses the release of these prisoners to symbolize our redemption through Jesus Christ.

Giving generously to people in need

To help students understand how they can bless people in need, you might invite them to review some of the opportunities to serve in your community. This list could include:

• Ministering assignments

• Fasting and contributing fast offerings

• Participating in Church humanitarian efforts

• Taking advantage of local opportunities found on the JustServe app, where available

Additional ideas can be found at Caring for Those in Need at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Students could identify a local opportunity to serve in your area and set a goal to do something to provide relief to people in need. If students would like to learn more about the Church’s humanitarian efforts, you might review the Caring for Those in Need annual report for the most recent calendar year.

Helping others in need

“Be the Someone” (4:18) shares the story of a woman whose life is changed by people who helped her as a refugee.

“Joseph Millett Story” (time code 2:36 to 6:08) recounts how Joseph Millett felt blessed by the Lord as he was trusted to help a family in need.

“That We Might Be One: The Story of the Dutch Potato Project” (time code 0:00 to 8:57) shares the story of Saints in the Netherlands who willingly sacrificed their food rations for their former enemies after World War II. You could invite students to look for how the Savior blessed the Dutch Saints for their Christlike efforts to serve.