Amos; Obadiah; Jonah

Amos; Obadiah; Jonah

Overview

Though he was not well received by his people, Amos testified of the role of prophets (see Amos 3:7) and prophesied of the coming apostasy (see Amos 8:11–12). Jonah fled from the Lord’s merciful call to warn the people of Ninevah. Jonah was cast into the sea, was miraculously saved by a whale, and eventually did what the Lord asked. The people of Ninevah repented and changed, while the Lord taught Jonah why he should be merciful to them.

Encourage learners to come to know the Savior by studying the gospel daily. Consistent study of the scriptures can help us come to know the Savior and feel of His love. Encourage students develop a daily habit of scripture study. Ask questions that help learners connect what they have learned in their personal and family scripture study to the classroom experience. An example of how to do this can be found in the student preparation for Lesson 151: “Jonah.” (See the details below for this lesson.)

For more on how to do this, see “The Savior Encouraged Others to Come to Know Him by Studying His Word” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25).

Prepare to teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson.

Amos 3; 7

Lesson purpose: To help students understand that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reveal counsel and truth through Their prophets.

• Material to display:

  • On the board, write the social media responses that begin the lesson

  • A picture of the living prophet

  • The instructions to respond to a social media comment, they are labeled “1” and “2” under the heading “Following the Lord’s Prophets”

Amos 8

Lesson purpose: To help students increase their confidence that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can satisfy their own spiritual hunger through the Restoration of the gospel.

• Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how their lives would be different if they didn’t have the scriptures or words of prophets. Students could come to class ready to share what they thought of.

• Material to display: Picture of some food or bring a simple food

• Video: “Dispensations: The Pattern of Apostasy and Restoration” (6:52)

Jonah

Lesson purpose: To help students feel the Lord’s love and mercy for them and for others.

• Student preparation: Invite students to study the story of Jonah with their family or review it on their own and ponder what they feel is its main message. They could also come up with questions or insights from their study.

  This invitation is an example of helping students connect what they are learning at home with their study in class. This can help students deepen their learning about the scripture and the Savior. For additional training on connecting what students are learning at home with their experience in the classroom see “Develop and ask questions that help learners connect what they have learned in their personal and family scripture study to the classroom experience” in Teacher Development Skills.

• Material to display:

  • On the board, draw a scale that ranges from “cruel, unmerciful, unkind” to “loving, merciful, kind”

  • An Old Testament Overview

  • A map that includes Ninevah and Tarshish

• Handout: “The Story of Jonah”

• Video: “Moving On from Past Mistakes” (3:43)