Daniel 1–7: Lesson 144

Daniel 3

“Our God … Is Able to Deliver Us. … But If Not”

Sometimes the Lord might miraculously deliver us from our trials. Other times He might not deliver us in the way or with the timing we hope. Either way, we can strive to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and trust in the Lord, regardless of how and when He chooses to bless us. This lesson can help students feel a desire to trust in Jesus Christ regardless of the outcome.

Student preparation: Invite students to think of faithful disciples of Christ who were miraculously delivered from their trials. Then have them think of other faithful disciples who were not delivered. They could ponder what these accounts teach them about trusting in the Lord.

Possible Learning Activities

Exercising faith in Jesus Christ

Consider beginning class by sharing the following story about Elder Bowen’s son, Tyson.

Note: The video version of the statement includes additional information that is not included in the written statement.

Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the Seventy shared the following personal experience:

When [my son] Tyson was eight months old, he aspirated [or inhaled] a piece of chalk that he had found on the carpet. The chalk lodged in Tyson’s throat, and he quit breathing. His older brother brought Tyson upstairs, frantically calling, “The baby won’t breathe. The baby won’t breathe.” We began to administer CPR and called 911.

The paramedics arrived and rushed Tyson to the hospital. In the waiting room we continued in fervent prayer as we pled to God for a miracle. (“Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 16)

• How might different potential outcomes of this situation affect the family’s faith in God?

Elder Bowen continued:

After what seemed a lifetime, the doctor came into the room and said, “I am so sorry. There is nothing more we can do. Take all the time you need.” She then left.

As we entered the room where Tyson lay, we saw our lifeless little bundle of joy. …

At that moment it felt as if our world had come to an end. (“Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 16)

Like the Bowens, you might have experiences where God does not bless you in the way that you had hoped. Ponder experiences you or your family have had where you felt the Lord either blessed you or did not bless you with the outcome you wanted.

It might help to display the following questions.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How have your experiences influenced your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• Do you feel you can trust in Them, regardless of the blessings you do or do not receive? Why or why not?

As you study Daniel 3 today, pay attention to any impressions from the Holy Ghost that can help strengthen your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ no matter the outcome.

A difficult decision

Consider writing the following names on the board: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Display the image of a golden idol and invite students to share what they know about this account. You might want to summarize the context below in your own words.

The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, made a large golden image, or statue. It was approximately 90 feet (27.4 meters) high and 9 feet (2.74 meters) wide (see Daniel 3:1). The king commanded everyone to fall down and worship the image when certain music was played (see Daniel 3:4–5). People who did not worship the golden image would be thrown into “a burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:6).

Considering the consequences for not worshipping this image, ponder what you think you would have done if you were there.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego chose to honor God by not worshipping the image (see Daniel 3:12).

To help students study the following verses, you could invite five willing students to read the roles of Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, and a narrator. The students who read for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego could each read one verse in Daniel 3:16–18.

Read Daniel 3:13–18, looking for what you learn from these men about faith in Jesus Christ.

• What lessons do you learn about faith in Jesus Christ?

  Help students see that we can show our faith in Jesus Christ by trusting in Him, regardless of the outcome.

  Consider inviting students to mark the phrase “is able to deliver us” (verse 17). Point out that knowing God can bless us with what we hope for shows faith in Him.

  Then invite students to mark the phrase “but if not” (verse 18). Ask students what they learn about faith in God from these men’s willingness to accept that God might not choose to bless them with what they hoped for.

• What is the difference between having faith in Jesus Christ versus faith in an outcome?

• What are modern situations where someone would need to show faith in Jesus Christ rather than faith in an outcome?

The outcome of our faith

Consider displaying the picture of the fiery furnace from the beginning of the lesson. Students could study the following verses and discuss the questions below in pairs or small groups.

Read Daniel 3:19–28, marking words or phrases that impress you from what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego experienced.

To help students visualize these verses, you could show the video “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego” (1:39), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• What impressed you from this story?

• What do you learn about God from this account?

It might help to explain that even though God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, He might not always deliver us from negative outcomes. To demonstrate this, students could complete the following activity.

Think of scriptural accounts where people exercised faith in Jesus Christ and still experienced negative outcomes.

Consider writing But if not … on the board. Students could then list underneath this phrase the people they thought of. If time allows, they could search the accounts of these people in the scriptures, looking for evidence that these people trusted in God. The following are examples you could refer students to as needed: Nephi (see 1 Nephi 18:10–16), Abinadi (see Mosiah 17:9–20), Joseph and Hyrum Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 135:1), or various righteous individuals (see Hebrews 11:36–40).

• How do these accounts help you trust in the Lord regardless of the outcome?

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that helps you want to trust in Them regardless of the outcome?

Depending on Christ

Consider reminding students of Elder Bowen’s experience. The following statement can help them see how he trusted in the Lord despite the outcome he experienced.

Elder Bowen continued sharing his experience:

As I felt the guilt, anger, and self-pity trying to consume me, I prayed that my heart could change. Through very personal sacred experiences, the Lord gave me a new heart, and even though it was still lonely and painful, my whole outlook changed. I was given to know that I had not been robbed but rather that there was a great blessing awaiting me if I would prove faithful.

My life started to change, and I was able to look forward with hope, rather than look backward with despair. …

I testify that because of Him, even our Savior, Jesus Christ, those feelings of sorrow, loneliness, and despair will one day be swallowed up in a fulness of joy. I testify that we can depend on Him. (“Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 17)

• How can Elder Bowen’s experience help you?

• When have you or someone you know shown faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by trusting in Them regardless of the outcome?

In your study journal, write what helps you want to trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ regardless of the outcome. You could include how the lessons you learned from Daniel 3 can help you in the trials you face or what you hope to remember in the future.

You could invite willing students to share. Consider concluding with your own testimony or feelings about trusting in the Lord.

Additional Resources

Why do I sometimes experience negative results after exercising faith?

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf. That can be difficult in our modern world when many have come to believe that the highest good in life is to avoid all suffering, that no one should ever anguish over anything. But that belief will never lead us to “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” [Ephesians 4:13]. …

… Christianity is comforting, but it is often not comfortable. The path to holiness and happiness here and hereafter is a long and sometimes rocky one. It takes time and tenacity to walk it. But, of course, the reward for doing so is monumental. (“Waiting on the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 116–17)

What does it mean to exercise faith in Jesus Christ when I face trials?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted. (“That We Might ‘Not … Shrink’ (D&C 19:18)” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, March 3, 2013], Gospel Library)

Daniel 3:18. What can I learn about faith from the phrase “but if not”?

Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy shared:

We must have the same faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not. … He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not. … He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not, … we will trust in the Lord.

Our God will see that we receive justice and fairness, but if not. … He will make sure that we are loved and recognized, but if not. … We will receive a perfect companion and righteous and obedient children, but if not, … we will have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that if we do all we can do, we will, in His time and in His way, be delivered and receive all that He has. (“But If Not …,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 75)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternative beginning

For another way to begin the lesson, consider writing the following phrases on the board:

I’ll trust in God as long as I never have to suffer.

I’ll trust in God as long as He answers my prayers in the way that I hope.

• Why might people be tempted to think this way?

• How could this thinking affect someone’s relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

To help students assess their trust in God, consider inviting them to ponder the following self-assessment questions:

• How would you describe your trust in God? Why?

• How well do you trust Him when things don’t go as you hope?

A modern-day example

To help students see a modern-day example of the truths taught in Daniel 3, consider showing the video “I Was Waiting for God to Answer Me | His Grace” from time code 0:00 to 3:26. Students could look for how the woman in the video exercised faith in the Lord, even though she was not delivered from her suffering. You could show this video before you finish Elder Bowen’s story at the end of the lesson.

“Do What Is Right”

To help students want to trust in the Lord regardless of consequences, you could invite them to sing or listen to the hymn “Do What Is Right” (4:12). They could choose words or phrases that help them want to trust in the Savior regardless of the consequences.

Standing firm in our faith of Jesus Christ

To emphasize the importance of standing firm in our faith of Christ, invite students to explain how our world today is similar to Babylon in Daniel’s day. For example, they could share what temptations they see around them or how they might feel pressure to compromise their standards. You could invite them to ponder if they have ever felt pressure to compromise their standards or beliefs.

After studying Daniel 3, you could ask the following:

• What do you learn from these men that can help you trust in the Lord when you face opposition, temptation, or pressure to compromise your standards?