Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–7: Lesson 69

1 Samuel 1

“The Lord Hath Given Me My Petition Which I Asked of Him”

Have you found yourself pleading to Heavenly Father for a blessing that seems to require your patience and faith? Hannah, a righteous Israelite woman, longed to have a child. Although her noble desires were unfulfilled “year by year” (1 Samuel 1:7), Hannah continued to act in faith and petition Heavenly Father for this blessing. Hannah’s humble prayers were answered as she received peace, joy, and a child she named Samuel. This lesson can help students understand that Heavenly Father will hear their humble prayers and bless them.

Student preparation: Invite students to think of an experience when they or someone they know received an answer to prayer. Students could prepare to share that experience as part of the study activity.

Possible Learning Activities

When prayers feel unanswered

Reverent music can invite the Holy Ghost into your classroom and prepare students’ hearts and minds for the learning experience. Consider beginning class by inviting students to select a favorite hymn that teaches the power of praying to Heavenly Father. Before the opening prayer, the class could sing or listen to the first verse of a song like “A Child’s Prayer,” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13) or “Did You Think to Pray,” (Hymns, no. 140). Students could also watch an appropriate video like “Are You Really There?” (3:46) or “Abide with Me,” (3:08) available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

As you begin the lesson, display the following scenario or something similar that best fits the needs of your class. Consider writing them on the board.

After a seminary lesson on prayer, a friend approaches you and admits, “I say my prayers, but I’m not sure if they are answered.” As you talk, she asks three questions.

1. How can I tell if Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers?

2. What are some of the ways Heavenly Father answers prayers?

3. What can I do to make my prayers to Heavenly Father more meaningful?

The following activity is a self-assessment. These opportunities allow students to evaluate their current understanding of truths they will study in class. It can also help students see what they may need or want to learn.

On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), rank how confidently you feel you could answer each question from the scenario.

Select one question you would like to learn more about today. Write that question in your study journal. As you study, seek the guidance of the Spirit to help answer the question you selected.

Hannah longs for a child

In the land of Ephraim, a righteous Israelite named Elkanah lived with his two wives, Peninnah and Hannah (plural marriages were not uncommon at this time and were acceptable to the Lord).

Read 1 Samuel 1:1–8 looking for the challenges Hannah was facing. (The “adversary” in verse 6 was possibly Peninnah.)

• What did you find?

• If you were struggling with personal challenges like Hannah, what might you think or feel?

Though their situations are very different, you might ask how students how they could relate to Hannah.

As students study the next passage, they might notice that initially Eli, the high priest, misunderstands Hannah’s humble prayer. Help students focus on Hannah, how she responds to Eli, and the blessing she receives from the Lord (see verse 20). If useful, point out that as they honestly spoke to one another, Eli quickly corrected his mistake.

Students could watch the video “Hannah’s Faith” (3:08) available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org and follow along in their scriptures. You might pause at time code 1:03 and invite students to share their thoughts about verses 9–13 and pause again at time code 1:30 to invite students to share their insights about verses 14–20.

Read 1 Samuel 1:9–20 and 2:1–2 looking for what Hannah did in response to her challenges.

• What did you discover?

• What can we learn about Heavenly Father and prayer from this account?

  Students may share a variety of thoughts. Thank them and ask why what they discovered is important to know. If students do not mention the following truth, write it on the board and ask how Hannah’s story is evidence of it: As we petition Heavenly Father in humble prayer, He hears and blesses us.

• What are some of the words or phrases in 1 Samuel 1:9–20 that show Hannah’s prayers were humble and meaningful?

• According to verses 17–18, what comfort did the Lord give Hannah while she was waiting to be blessed with a child?

It might be helpful to point out that we, like Hannah, may need to trust in the Lord and patiently wait for His blessings. He may not always respond in the way we would hope, but we can trust that He answers prayers according to His will and what is best for us.

You could share an example of a humble, meaningful prayer that was not answered in the way expected, like “How I #HearHim: Elder D. Todd Christofferson” (2:25) from ChurchofJesusChrist.org or “One–on–One (Ministering with Love)” (time code 7:24 to 9:00). Alternately, you could share an example from your life.

Heavenly Father hears our prayers and blesses us

You could use the following activity to deepen students’ understanding of the truth they identified above and answer the three questions from the beginning of the lesson. One way to do this is to provide or display the instructions below for each question (A, B, and C). You might give students the option to study individually or work in a small group with other students who selected the same question. You could also place students in groups of three, with each person having selected a different question to study. They could share what they find with the group.

Question A: How might the story of Hannah help someone believe that Heavenly Father hears their prayers and blesses them?

Use scripture study tools such as the Topical Guide, Guide to the Scriptures, and the Gospel Library to find a few scripture passages or a statement from a Church leader that could help someone understand that Heavenly Father answers prayers (for example, James 1:5–6; Enos 1:2–10; 3 Nephi 18:20; Doctrine and Covenants 90:24).

Question B:How might the story of Hannah help someone understand some of the ways Heavenly Father answers their prayers?

Use scripture study tools such as the Topical Guide, Guide to the Scriptures, and the Gospel Library to find a few scripture accounts or a statement from a Church leader that could help someone understand some of the ways Heavenly Father answers prayers (for example, Luke 22:39–44; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9; Mosiah 24:10–16; Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–23; 8:2–3).

Question C:How might the story of Hannah help someone try to make their prayers more humble and meaningful?

Use scripture study tools such as the Topical Guide, Guide to the Scriptures, and the Gospel Library to find a few scripture passages or a statement from a Church leader that could help someone who wants to make their prayers more humble and meaningful (for example, Enos 1:2–10; Alma 5:45–46; Ether 3:1–5; Doctrine and Covenants 46:30).

Demonstrate understanding

To help students share what they have learned and felt today, they could partner with someone who studied one of the other questions and teach each other. You might deepen the discussion by inviting students to share their thoughts with the class and encourage students who studied other questions to add additional insights.

As you conclude class, reassure students that, like Hannah, sometimes we must wait for Heavenly Father to answer our prayers. In His way and timing, Heavenly Father does hear their prayers and will bless them.

Additional Resources

How can we make our prayers more meaningful?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”

Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

When we consider the goodness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our trust in Them increases. Our prayers change because we know God is our Father and we are His children. We seek not to change His will but to align our will with His and secure for ourselves blessings that He wants to grant, conditioned on our asking for them. We yearn to be more meek, more pure, more steadfast, more Christlike. These changes qualify us for additional heavenly blessings. (“Consider the Goodness and Greatness of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 43)

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

Never, ever doubt [God’s love for you], and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead. (“Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 40–41)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Feel the power of prayer

The video “I Pray When … #didyouthinktopray” (1:56) can help students ponder the times they think to pray. Consider providing paper and markers and invite students to create their own #didyouthinktopray sign. Students could make a video compilation of the class and post it on social media.

The video “God Wants You to Pray” (3:28) could help students understand that there is never anything they can do that would make them unworthy to pray to Heavenly Father.

Hannah consecrates Samuel to the Lord

It might seem odd to students that Hannah promises to give her child, Samuel, to the Lord. Help students understand the principle of consecration, which is our promise to give everything that Heavenly Father has blessed us with to Him for His purposes (see “Consecration,” in Topics and Questions). You might invite students to make a list on the board of the blessings the Lord has given them. Then invite students to discuss how they could give or consecrate each item to the Lord to fulfill His purposes. Students could then study 1 Samuel 2:18–21, looking for how the Lord blessed Hannah and Elkanah for their willingness to give Samuel to the Lord. Samuel would become the Lord’s prophet of Israel.

1 Samuel 2:1–10: Hannah’s psalm

To help students demonstrate their understanding that Heavenly Father answers prayers, you could invite students to study Hannah’s psalm in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. Students could look for words and phrases that show what Hannah learned about the Lord through her experience. Then invite students to create their own psalm in their study journals. Students could write what they have learned about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the power of prayer.