Daniel 1–7: Lesson 145

Daniel 6

Finding Gospel Truths in the Scriptures

What story from the Old Testament has taught you a meaningful gospel principle? Jesus Christ Himself used the Old Testament to help His disciples understand His teachings (for example, see Luke 4:24–27). One powerful story that illustrates many gospel truths is the account of Daniel’s faith and trust in the Lord, even when facing the lions’ den. This lesson can help students identify and share gospel truths from Daniel 6.

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on the scripture stories they have learned from the Old Testament in their study this year. They could select a story that has been meaningful to them and prepare to share a gospel truth that story helped them understand.

Possible Learning Activities

The moral of the story

To help students practice identifying the moral of a story, select a local fable or popular folktale. For example, you could use a story like “The Ugly Duckling.” As an alternative, you could show the video “Things That Matter Most” from time code 0:00 to 0:22, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Then ask the following questions:

• What message could this story teach?

• How could that message illustrate a truth about Jesus Christ or His gospel?

Just as we can find truths in common fables and stories, we can learn to find important gospel truths in the inspired scripture accounts that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have preserved for us.

To help us understand how scripture stories teach gospel truths, Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Seventy taught:

As you read and study [scripture] stories, you will see a word, a phrase, or a principle that seems as applicable today as it was in the past. As you continue your prayerful study, other principles will become apparent. As you put the principles together, you will begin to bridge the gap between the prophets and people who lived in the past—they-there-then—and us in our day—I-here-now. (“Scripture Stories as Patterns for Our Lives,” Ensign, July 2009, 21)

• What stands out to you from Elder Jensen’s message?

• What Old Testament story helped you understand Jesus Christ or His gospel better?

The following self-assessment could help students select the part of the identifying truths in scripture stories skill they could practice today.

On a scale of 1 to 5, rate your confidence in using the following scripture study skills:

• I can identify gospel truths in a scripture story.

• I can easily see how a scripture story teaches about Jesus Christ.

• I can apply scripture stories to my life.

• I can effectively share what I learn from scripture stories with others.

Today you will study a story in the book of Daniel and explain what you learn from it. You might focus your efforts on the skill you feel the least confident about. Invite the Holy Ghost to help increase your ability to identify truths in scripture stories and to teach others what you learn about Jesus Christ, His life, and His gospel.

Daniel cast into the lions’ den

Many years after Daniel and his friends were taken captive into Babylon, the nation was conquered by the Medes and the Persians. Darius, a Mede, was made king of Babylon (see Daniel 5:30–31).

The following activity can help students practice identifying gospel truths in scripture stories by studying the account of Daniel being cast into the lions’ den (see Daniel 6). It might be helpful for students to have a brief overview of the story before they search for gospel truths in it. The following are some ways you could summarize the story:

1. You could have students share the story, organizing them into groups to read a section. Each group could then summarize their part of the story for the class. One way to divide the reading would be:

   Daniel 6:1–5

   Daniel 6:6–11

   Daniel 6:12–17

   Daniel 6:18–23

   Daniel 6:24–28

2. You could summarize the entire story for the class. If available, you could use the images found in the article “Daniel and the Lions” (Friend, Nov. 2018, FJ4–FJ6) or the video “Daniel and the Lions’ Den” (1:46), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to help you summarize the story.

To help students practice identifying gospel principles from scripture stories, use the handout “Scripture Stories Teach Gospel Truths.” Because students will present what they learn to the class, it might be best to have them work with a partner or in small groups. Consider pairing students who might feel more anxious about presenting with students who might feel more comfortable.

As students use the handout to prepare their lessons, you might walk around the room to see what gospel truths they are finding. If they are struggling, consider how you could help them learn to identify truths in the account. Examples of truths they might identify are:

• As disciples of Christ, we will face opposition because of our beliefs (Daniel 6:1–5).

• The Lord will bless our efforts when we stand up to worldly pressure. (Daniel 6:6–16).

• As we do what is right and trust the Lord, our righteous example can influence others (Daniel 6:16–28).

Share what you have learned

After students have completed the handout, invite them to share the lesson they prepared with another group or with the class. If students don’t share parts of the story that remind them of Jesus Christ, you might point out some comparisons such as the following:

• Daniel and Jesus both did Heavenly Father’s will, even when facing death (see Daniel 6:7, 10; John 6:38).

• Daniel and Jesus both miraculously emerged alive from a pit that was covered by a stone (see Daniel 6:17, 23; Mark 15:46; 16:4–6).

You could encourage students to take the lessons they prepared home and share them with a family member or friend.

To conclude class, consider sharing how you have been blessed by messages of Jesus Christ or His gospel from scripture stories. Invite students to continue to look for impressions from the Holy Ghost to help them see gospel truths in their personal scripture study.

Additional Resources

How can we show the courage of Daniel today?

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) shared:

Courage comes in many forms. Wrote the Christian author Charles Swindoll: “Courage is not limited to the battlefield … or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are inner tests, like remaining faithful when no one’s looking, … like standing alone when you’re misunderstood” [Hal Urban, Choices That Change Lives (2006), 122]. I would add that this inner courage also includes doing the right thing even though we may be afraid, defending our beliefs at the risk of being ridiculed, and maintaining those beliefs even when threatened with a loss of friends or of social status. He who stands steadfastly for that which is right must risk becoming at times disapproved and unpopular.

While serving in the United States Navy in World War II, I learned of brave deeds, instances of valor, and examples of courage. One which I shall never forget was the quiet courage of an 18-year-old seaman—not of our faith—who was not too proud to pray. Of 250 men in the company, he was the only one who each night knelt down by the side of his bunk, at times amidst the jeers of bullies and the jests of unbelievers. With bowed head, he prayed to God. He never wavered. He never faltered. He had courage. (“Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 67)

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

[Y]ou will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Such moments will require both courage and courtesy on your part. …

… You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it. …

… Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them. (“The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 6, 7, 9)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Jesus taught with scripture stories from the Old Testament

Before preparing their lessons from Daniel 6, students might benefit from seeing that Jesus Christ often used stories from the Old Testament to teach gospel truths to His listeners. Invite students to study one of the following scripture passages, looking for how Jesus used Old Testament stories to teach important truths:

• Matthew 12:38–40 (Jonah; see Jonah 1:17)

• Matthew 24:36–39 (Noah; see Genesis 6:13–22)

• Luke 4:24–27 (a woman in Zarephath; see 1 Kings 17:1, 8–16; and Naaman; see 2 Kings 5:1–14)

• Luke 17:28–33 (Lot’s wife; see Genesis 19:24–26)

• Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–10 (Job; see Job’s lament about how his friends treated him in Job 6:14–15)

After students have reviewed the passage they selected, you could invite a discussion using questions such as the following:

• What message could Jesus have been teaching with this story?

• How could this Old Testament story point the listener to the Savior and His gospel?

A personal “den of lions”

Consider placing students in small groups and drawing one lion on the board for each group. Invite each group to discuss different “dens of lions” (challenges) someone might face for choosing to be faithful today. After sufficient time, invite a student from each group to come to the board and label one lion with the challenges that their group discussed. Ask students to share a faithful action someone could do to respond to the challenges. Students could discuss questions like the following:

• Why would you choose to be faithful to the Lord if you knew you might experience some of these challenges as a result?

• When has the Lord helped you or someone you know endure or overcome a challenge that came as a result of being faithful to Him?

Invite students to ponder situations in their own lives where they might experience challenges for being faithful to the Lord. Encourage them to be faithful to the Lord in those situations, and testify that as they are faithful, the Lord will help them.

Examples of moral courage

To help students see how the Lord protects his servants in our time, you could share one of the examples listed below. If you do, be sure to clarify that although there are times that God does protect the righteous, Alma 60:13 reminds us that other times the Lord does allow even the righteous to suffer.

Two sister missionaries were miraculously protected from harm. Elder Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this story in “When Thou Art Converted” (time code 8:44 to 10:02).

A 19-year-old Joseph F. Smith faced a violent mob who asked if he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Preparation of Joseph F. Smith: True Blue, Through and Through” (1:31).

A stern military instructor asked Elder Larry Echo Hawk of the Seventy if he believed in the Book of Mormon: “Come unto Me, O Ye House of Israel,” (time code 0:00 to 3:05).