Seminary
Lesson 159: Malachi 1–3


“Lesson 159: Malachi 1–3,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)

“Lesson 159: Malachi 1–3”

Lesson 159

Malachi 1–3

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Showing love and respect for the Lord, others, and the word of God helps you prepare to be taught by the Holy Ghost.

Begin your study with prayer.

What does the law of tithing mean to you?

Listen as President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explains why the law of tithing is important.

A Scenario

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youth talking to friend

Imagine you have a close friend or family member who some time ago stopped keeping the commandments, including the commandment to attend church.

Think about what you might tell this person to help him or her return to the Lord.

Malachi

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The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah at a Glance diagram

Locate “Malachi” on the accompanying chart.

The prophet Malachi ministered among the children of Israel at a time when many of them were in apostasy—meaning that they had turned away from the Lord. Malachi was the last prophet we know of to minister in the land of Israel until John the Baptist began to preach more than 400 years later.

The book of Malachi contains messages the Lord sent to His people that would encourage them to return to Him. As you study Malachi 1–3, look for messages that might help someone who has turned from the Lord to return to Him.

Malachi’s Teachings

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the prophet Malachi

Malachi 1 records that although the people and priests in Malachi’s day had continued to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they dishonored Him by offering blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices. This was displeasing to the Lord because the sacrificial animals were supposed to symbolize Jesus Christ. These sacrifices were supposed to be the best they had to offer.

In Malachi 2 we read that the Lord rebuked the priests of Malachi’s day, who had “departed out of the [Lord’s] way” and “caused many to stumble” (verse 8) because of their bad examples. He also chastised the Israelites for marrying unbelievers, mistreating their spouses, and claiming that those who do evil are “good in the sight of the Lord” (verse 17).

Malachi 3 contains more of Malachi’s teachings that were intended to help the Lord’s people return to Him.

Read Malachi 3:1–2, looking for what event Malachi prophesied of.

Quiz 1

  1. According to verse 1, what future event was Malachi prophesying of?

    1. The birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah

    2. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world

    3. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the messenger of the covenant

  2. How might you restate the questions asked in verse 2? Select all that apply.

    1. Where will you be during the Second Coming?

    2. Who will be ready for the Second Coming?

    3. Are you physically fit to stand at the Second Coming?

    4. Who will be worthy at the Second Coming?

  3. Who do you think was the “messenger” (verse 1) who would prepare the way for the Second Coming?

    1. Malachi

    2. Joseph Smith

    3. John the Baptist

The Prophet Joseph Smith

We can identify the following truth from Malachi 3:1: The Lord sent Joseph Smith to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. You may want to write this truth in your scriptures.

Read the following statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

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Bruce R. McConkie

“It is with reference to the Second Coming that the ancient word promises: ‘Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.’ (Malachi 3:1.) John the Baptist did this very thing in the meridian of time, but it remained for Joseph Smith to perform the glorious work in our day. He is the latter-day messenger who was sent to restore the gospel, which itself prepares a people for the return of the Lord” (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 629).

1. Answer the following questions:

  • What did Joseph Smith do to prepare us for the return of Jesus Christ?

  • How could understanding the truth identified in Malachi 3:1 help someone who is turning away from the Lord?

A “Refiner’s Fire” and “Fullers’ Soap”

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two men refining metal in fire

Consider marking the phrases “refiner’s fire” and “fullers’ soap” in Malachi 3:2. A refiner uses fire to heat a metal like silver or gold until it reaches a liquid state. The heating process allows dross, or impurities, to rise to the surface of the liquid metal, where the refiner can remove them. This rids the metal of its impurities. A fuller is someone who cleans or whitens fabrics using soap.

What are some ways Jesus Christ is like a refiner’s fire or fullers’ soap?

The Lord’s Power

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the Savior teaching group of people

Malachi 3:3–6 describes how the Savior will, like a refiner’s fire, “purify the sons of Levi” (verse 3) and destroy the wicked at His Second Coming. The “sons of Levi” were priesthood holders in ancient Israel. In a future day they will once again be righteous and will make an offering to the Lord (see D&C 13:1).

Today, “the sons of Levi” can also refer to modern-day priesthood holders (see D&C 84:33–34). This idea of purifying also applies to all of God’s children, as the Lord has the power to purify all who turn to Him.

When have you felt Jesus Christ’s power to cleanse you from sin?

Another Scenario

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two youth talking

Imagine that a close friend or family member who has strayed from the Lord has recently expressed a desire to return to Him but does not feel worthy to do so.

What would you do to help this person return to the Lord?

Malachi 3:7–12 records what the Lord said to the Israelites who had broken their covenants and turned from Him.

Read Malachi 3:7, looking for the Lord’s counsel to those who were not keeping their covenants.

Our Return to the Lord

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Savior

We can identify the following principle in Malachi 3:7: If we will return to the Lord, He will return to us.

Reflect on what it means to return to the Lord and what this principle teaches you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Look in verse 7 for a question that the people asked the Lord.

Doctrinal Mastery Passage: Malachi 3:8–10

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scriptures

Malachi 3:8–10 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them more easily.

In Malachi 3:8–12 we learn of one way the Lord indicated that the people could return to Him.

Read Malachi 3:8–9, looking for a question the Lord asked the people.

Tithes and Offerings

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youth giving tithing envelope to bishop

Consider marking the phrase “tithes and offerings” in Malachi 3:8.

The way tithes and offerings have been paid has changed throughout the years. For example, Abraham gave one-tenth of all his possessions to the high priest Melchizedek as tithing (see Genesis 14:18–20; Alma 13:15). In ancient Israel, offerings were animals that were offered as sacrifices to Jehovah. Today we pay one-tenth of our increase (income) as tithing and contribute at least the value of two meals as fast offerings (see D&C 119:4; True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 67–68181).

Think about how paying tithes and offerings has helped you (or could help you) stay close to the Lord.

2. How do you think paying tithes and offerings might help someone who has strayed from the Lord to return to Him?

The Lord’s Promise

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Savior

Malachi 3:10–12 records that the Lord invited the Israelites to return to Him by paying tithes and offerings.

Read Malachi 3:10–12, looking for the blessings the Lord promised to give the Israelites if they paid tithes and offerings. The word prove in verse 10 means to test or try something or someone (see verse 10, footnote c), and the term devourer in verse 11 could refer to someone or something that destroys a person’s crops, such as locusts.

Blessings of Paying an Honest Tithe

Malachi 3:10–12 teaches us the following principle: If we return to God and pay our tithes and offerings, then the Lord will pour out blessings upon us.

Listen as Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains the types of blessings that may come from keeping the law of tithing. You can read the text for this video here: “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 17, 18.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the types of blessings that may come from keeping the law of tithing.

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David A. Bednar

“Often as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the immediate, dramatic, and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are significant but subtle. …

“Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience.

“I promise that as you and I observe and keep the law of tithing, indeed the windows of heaven will be opened and spiritual and temporal blessings will be poured out such that there shall not be room enough to receive them (see Malachi 3:10)” (David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 17, 18).

3. Answer one or both of the following questions:

  • What are some of the “significant but subtle” blessings Elder Bednar mentioned that may come from keeping the law of tithing?

  • In what ways have you or your family or someone you know been blessed for faithfully paying tithing?

The Lord’s Reply

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youth reading scriptures

Have you ever felt that people who were not righteous were succeeding and that you were not receiving blessings even though you were trying to be righteous?

In Malachi 3:13–15, we read that the Jews in Malachi’s day complained that those who broke the commandments were happy and prosperous and that there was no benefit to keeping the commandments.

Read Malachi 3:16–18, looking for how the Lord addressed the people’s complaint. The phrase “that day when I make up my jewels” (verse 17) refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (see Bruce R. McConkie, “The Seven Christs,” Ensign, Nov. 1982, 34).

What are some blessings that the righteous receive during this life that those who break God’s commandments do not receive? (See Mosiah 2:41 and D&C 59:23.)

The Windows of Heaven

If possible, watch the video “Windows of Heaven—the Growth of the Church” (1:25), looking for how tithing is used in the building of the kingdom of God on earth. This video is also available on LDS.org.

If possible, watch the video “Windows of Heaven—the Growth of the Church” (1:25), looking for how tithing is used in the building of the kingdom of God on earth. This video is available on LDS.org.

Make a commitment today to always pay your tithes and offerings.

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) c; (2) b, d; (3) b