Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Making the most of your seminary experience can help you draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and become more like Them. As you study the scriptures and the words of the prophets, you will learn how to progress toward eternal life.
Begin your study with prayer.
Do you know someone who is casual about listening to and following the counsel of living prophets? Listen to the important counsel President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave to the young people of the Church. You can read the text for this video here: “His Word Ye Shall Receive,” Ensign, May 2001, 66–67.
Ezekiel was a prophet who was carried away captive into Babylon with other Jews by King Nebuchadnezzar. As recorded in Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel was shown a vision of heavenly beings and of “the glory of the Lord” (verse 28) on His throne. By the power of the Spirit, Ezekiel was able to hear and understand the words of the Lord (see Ezekiel 2:1–2). It might be helpful to know that the phrase “Son of man” in these verses is used throughout the book of Ezekiel and refers to the prophet Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 2:1, footnote a).
Read Ezekiel 2:3–7, looking for what the Lord called Ezekiel to do. The words impudent and stiffhearted in verse 4 mean disrespectful and stubborn. The word forbear in verse 5 means to ignore.
What do you learn from verse 7 about the role of a prophet?
The Word of the Lord
One truth we can learn from Ezekiel 2:7 is that prophets speak and teach the words the Lord has given them whether people choose to listen or not.
Consider the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Why do prophets speak and teach the Lord’s words?
Image
Dale G. Renlund
“God is clear about what is right and acceptable to Him and what is wrong and sinful. … Our Heavenly Father desires that His children knowingly and willingly choose to become like Him and qualify for the kind of life He enjoys. In doing so, His children fulfill their divine destiny and become heirs to all that He has. For this reason, Church leaders cannot alter God’s commandments or doctrine contrary to His will, to be convenient or popular” (Dale G. Renlund, “Our Good Shepherd,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 30–31).
How might understanding that prophets teach the words the Lord has given them help you follow their counsel and teachings?
How might understanding that Church leaders cannot change God’s commandments without His approval help you explain to others why we believe and teach the doctrine that we do?
Ezekiel 2:9–3:27 teaches that the Lord gave Ezekiel “a roll of a book” (Ezekiel 2:9), which was a scroll with writing on both the front and back. This scroll contained the words the Lord wanted Ezekiel to speak to Israel, which included “lamentations, and mourning, and woe” (Ezekiel 2:10) for the people’s rebelliousness. The Lord commanded Ezekiel to warn the people of the dangers they faced.
As recorded in Ezekiel 3:16–19, the Lord compared the prophet Ezekiel to a watchman. As you learned in a previous lesson, a watchman is a guard placed on a high tower or wall to watch for approaching dangers and warn the people.
How is a prophet like a watchman?
Read Ezekiel 3:16–19, looking for a principle that teaches us the blessings of heeding, or paying attention to, and following the prophet’s warnings.
From the similarities between a prophet and a watchman we can identify the following principle: If we heed the warnings of prophets, we can be prepared to face challenges and dangers that threaten us. You may want to record this principle next to Ezekiel 3:16–17.
Ezekiel 3:16–17 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking this passage in a distinctive way so you can locate it more easily.
If possible, watch the video “Watchman on the Tower,” and listen for warnings given to us by one of the Lord’s watchmen. This video is also available on LDS.org.
Watch the video “Watchman on the Tower,” and listen for warnings given to us by one of the Lord’s watchmen. This video is available on LDS.org.
Ezekiel 4–17, 19–32 records that the Lord showed Ezekiel in a vision how the children of Israel had separated themselves from Him through their idolatry and wickedness. Ezekiel also prophesied about the future gathering of scattered Israel, when the Lord would reestablish His covenants with His people (see Ezekiel 16:60–63).
The Lord explained to Ezekiel that when Israel is gathered again, the Israelites will remember their sins and humble themselves. They will know that the Lord is the only true God and will serve Him (see Ezekiel 20:40–44). Ezekiel also prophesied of the destruction of the wicked nations that surrounded Israel (see Ezekiel 25–32).
We learn from Ezekiel 18:1–18 that the Israelites believed the Lord was unfairly punishing them for their forefathers’ sins, when in reality they were suffering the consequences of their own sins. The Lord taught Ezekiel that all people will experience the consequences of their own choices.
As recorded in these verses, the Lord used a scenario involving a man, his son, and his grandson to illustrate why the Israelites could not blame the consequences of their sins on their forefathers’ choices. As recorded in Ezekiel 18:4–8, the Lord described a just and righteous man. Referring to this righteous man, the Lord said, “He shall surely live” (verse 9). To “live” in this verse means to eventually dwell in God’s presence.
Read Ezekiel 18:10–13, looking for a description of the righteous man’s son.
Referring to the righteous man’s son, who was wicked, the Lord said, “He shall surely die” (verse 13). To “die” in this verse means to be shut out of God’s presence. The phrase “his blood shall be upon him” (verse 13) means that the wicked son would suffer for his own sins.
Read Ezekiel 18:14–17, looking for a description of the wicked man’s son, who was the righteous man’s grandson.
What truth can we learn from reading the account of the wicked man’s son?
One truth we can identify from Ezekiel 18:14–17 is that we can choose to live righteously regardless of our circumstances and the choices of those around us.
Consider the experience of President Russell M. Nelson, whose parents were not active members of the Church. How did he apply this principle? How did his choices affect his parents? You can read the text for this video here: “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93–94.
Consider the experience of President Russell M. Nelson, whose parents were not active members of the Church. How did he apply this principle? How did his choices affect his parents?
Image
Russell M. Nelson
“All eight of my great-grandparents were converts to the Church in Europe. Each of these stalwart souls sacrificed everything to come to Zion. During subsequent generations, however, not all my ancestors remained so committed. As a result, I was not raised in a gospel-centered home.
“I adored my parents. They meant the world to me and taught me crucial lessons. I cannot thank them enough for the happy homelife they created for me and my siblings. And yet, even as a boy, I knew I was missing something. One day I jumped on the streetcar and went to an LDS bookstore to find a book about the Church. I loved learning about the gospel.
“As I came to understand the Word of Wisdom, I wanted my parents to live that law. So, one day when I was very young, I went to our basement and smashed on the concrete floor every bottle of liquor! I expected my father to punish me, but he never said a word.
“As I matured and began to understand the magnificence of Heavenly Father’s plan, I often said to myself, ‘I don’t want one more Christmas present! I just want to be sealed to my parents.’ That longed-for event did not happen until my parents were past 80, and then it did happen. I cannot fully express the joy that I felt that day [see Alma 26:16], and each day I feel that joy of their sealing and my being sealed to them” (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93–94).
After reading about our ability to choose to live righteously despite our circumstances, what encouragement could you give your friend whose parents are not concerned with him or her living all of the Lord’s standards?
Agency and Moral Courage
Read the following statement from For the Strength of Youth, looking for what it means to be responsible for your own choices.
“Heavenly Father has given you agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for yourself. Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct your life is one of God’s greatest gifts to you. While here on earth, you are being proven to see if you will use your agency to show your love for God by keeping His commandments. …
“You are responsible for the choices you make. God is mindful of you and will help you make good choices, even if your family and friends use their agency in ways that are not right. Have the moral courage to stand firm in obeying God’s will, even if you have to stand alone. As you do this, you set an example for others to follow” (For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 2).
2. Answer the following questions:
How does God help you make good choices?
What choices can you make in your life now that will help you live righteously even when those around you do not?
As recorded in Ezekiel 18:21–32, the Lord taught that the wicked who repent and keep His commandments “shall surely live, [they] shall not die” (verse 21). However, the righteous who turn away from Him and who sin and do not repent will not be saved. The Lord called on His people to “cast away” their sins and to “make … a new heart and a new spirit” (verse 31).
Many of the teachings recorded in Ezekiel 18:21–32 are repeated in Ezekiel 33:10–20 and will be studied in more detail in the next lesson.
The Prophets’ God-Given Duty
Prophets help us come to know, love, understand, and rely upon the Lord.
Listen to President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as he teaches us about an important duty given to prophets. You can read the text for this video here: “God Is at the Helm,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 25.
President M. Russell Ballard taught us how prophets fulfill their God-given duty:
Image
M. Russell Ballard
“Through the centuries, prophets have fulfilled their duty when they have warned people of the dangers before them. The Lord’s Apostles are duty bound to watch, warn, and reach out to help those seeking answers to life’s questions” (M. Russell Ballard, “God Is at the Helm,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 25).
Take a few minutes now and think of ways you can strengthen your commitment to follow the prophets.
