The Lord revealed to Jeremiah that He would gather the house of Israel and make a new covenant with them. Jeremiah prophesied to King Zedekiah and his predecessor King Jehoiakim about the coming Babylonian captivity. Both Jehoiakim and Zedekiah refused to hearken to Jeremiah, and Judah was conquered.
In the last days, the house of Israel will be gathered and enter into a new and everlasting covenant with the Lord
Ask students if the last book they read or movie they saw had a happy or a sad ending.
What would be a happy ending to your life? A sad ending?
Explain that the Lord sent the prophet Jeremiah to call Judah to repentance before Babylon conquered Jerusalem and carried many of the Jews to Babylon. As a result, his warnings and prophecies often have a tone of impending doom. However, Jeremiah also knew what the future held for Israel in the last days. Invite a student to read Jeremiah 31:17 aloud. Ask students to follow along, looking for what Jeremiah said the ending for the Jews in his day would be.
What does the phrase “there is hope in thine end” mean? (There is hope for you in the future [see verse 17, footnote a].)
Explain that when the Israelites kept their covenants, the Lord blessed them in many ways, including giving them a promised land. However, when they broke their covenants, the Lord took these blessings away, and the people were scattered.
What does the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse reveal about Israel’s condition? (While Israel’s condition of spiritual decay and physical bondage is grievous and difficult, it is not incurable or hopeless.)
Invite students to look for truths in Jeremiah 30–34 that can give them hope for their future even if they experience trouble or despair.
Write the following verses on the board: Jeremiah 30:3, 7, 8, 10, 17; 31:3, 8, 9, 13. Divide students into pairs. Invite them to alternate reading these verses aloud with their partners, looking for what the Lord would do that would give the Israelites hope for their future.
What would the Lord do for scattered Israel? (Gather them back to their lands of promise.)
Explain that while Jeremiah referred to a physical gathering in the land of promise after the Jews’ exile in Babylon, there is another, even more important component of the gathering that he taught. Invite a student to read Jeremiah 31:31–34 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord would do as part of the gathering of Israel.
According to verse 31, what did the Lord say He would make with the house of Israel? (“A new covenant.”)
Explain that the word new in this context means that God’s covenant—the fulness of the gospel—would be revealed anew to the house of Israel. While God had previously established His covenant with their fathers, the patriarchs, over time some of the components of this covenant had been lost, such as the Melchizedek Priesthood, the higher law, and the fulness of temple ordinances. Jeremiah foresaw the day when the house of Israel would at last accept God’s new and everlasting covenant (see Joseph Smith, in The Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Volume 2: July 1831–January 1833, ed. Matthew C. Godfrey and others [2013], 351–52).
According to verse 33, where will faithful latter-day Israelites have God’s law written?
Explain that when God’s law is written in our hearts, we obey God because we love Him, rather than for external reasons like wanting others to think we are righteous.
According to verse 33, what is a result of living the gospel with all our hearts? (After students respond, write the following principle on the board: When we keep our covenants and live the gospel with all our hearts, we become the Lord’s people.)
To help students understand this principle, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson. Ask the class to listen for what President Nelson taught about keeping our covenants and living the gospel.
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Russell M. Nelson
“When we realize that we are children of the covenant, we know who we are and what God expects of us [see 1 Nephi 15:13–14]. His law is written in our hearts [see Jeremiah 31:33]. He is our God and we are His people [see Jeremiah 31:33; 32:38]. Committed children of the covenant remain steadfast, even in the midst of adversity. …
“The greatest compliment that can be earned here in this life is to be known as a covenant keeper. The rewards for a covenant keeper will be realized both here and hereafter” (Russell M. Nelson, “Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 88).
What can we do to keep our covenants and live the gospel with all our hearts?
How has living the gospel of Jesus Christ helped you come to know Him better?
Ask students to ponder specific covenants and how they can better keep them and live the gospel with all their hearts. Invite them to think about challenges they may face in keeping those covenants and how living the gospel can help them overcome those challenges. Ask them to make specific corrections or adjustments that will help them live the gospel in this way.
Summarize Jeremiah 32–34 by explaining that King Zedekiah had Jeremiah put in prison because Jeremiah prophesied that the king would be taken captive and Jerusalem would be conquered by Babylon. While Jeremiah was in prison, the Lord directed him to purchase some land near Jerusalem as a symbolic witness that the Jews would someday return from captivity and possess the promised land once again.
Jeremiah prophesies of the captivity of Judah; Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah’s prophecies
Invite students to write down on a piece of paper what the current weather is. After they have written this down, pass around a garbage can and invite them to tear up the piece of paper and throw it away.
What effect will throwing the piece of paper away have on the weather conditions? (It will have no effect on the weather.)
Explain that Jeremiah 35–36 refers back to experiences Jeremiah had during the reign of Jehoiakim, who was king before Zedekiah. (Note: The chapters in Jeremiah are not in chronological order).
In Jeremiah 36:4–21 we read that Jeremiah instructed his scribe, Baruch, to write down words of warning from the Lord as Jeremiah dictated them and then to go to the temple and read the words to the people. News of the reading reached the royal palace. The king had the scroll brought and read to him. Invite a student to read Jeremiah 36:22–24 aloud. Ask students to follow along and look for how the king reacted. Invite students to report what they find.
What might the king have been trying to show by cutting up and burning Jeremiah’s prophecies?
What effect would doing this have had on the fulfillment of the prophecies?
Explain that the Lord also told Jeremiah to prophesy to King Jehoiakim that Babylon would attack Jerusalem and that the king’s dead body would be cast out of the city (see Jeremiah 22:18–19; 36:30–31). Following Jehoiakim’s death, the Babylonians eventually made Zedekiah king of Judah.
What can we learn about the Lord’s words from this account? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify a truth similar to the following: The Lord’s words will be fulfilled regardless of whether we believe in them.)
Consider inviting a student to read Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38 aloud and asking students to look for what the Lord teaches us about His words being fulfilled.
Jeremiah prophesies that if the Jews surrender to Babylon, they will not be destroyed; they disregard his counsel and are conquered by Babylon
Ask students the following question:
Why do people sometimes choose to do things that are contrary to what God wants them to do?
Explain that in Jeremiah 37–38 we read that the Babylonian army again besieged Jerusalem. Jeremiah prophesied that if the Jews surrendered to the Babylonians, they would not be destroyed. This prophecy angered the Jewish princes, who had Jeremiah thrown into a dungeon. Zedekiah had Jeremiah returned to the palace prison, where he secretly sought counsel from Jeremiah.
Invite students to read Jeremiah 38:17–20 and look for two sets of “if–then” statements in the counsel Jeremiah gave Zedekiah. Explain that the phrase “if thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes” (verse 17) refers to Zedekiah and the Jews submitting to the Babylonians rather than fighting against them.
What would the result be if Zedekiah hearkened to Jeremiah’s words? What would the result be if he didn’t?
Explain that Zedekiah chose to not hearken to the Lord’s prophet and hearkened instead to those who wanted to rebel against the Babylonians. Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from Jeremiah 39:4–7. Ask the class to follow along and look for what happened to Zedekiah.
What were the consequences of Zedekiah’s decision?
What principle can we learn from this account? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following principle: If we give in to fear and follow the world instead of the Lord’s prophet, we will perish spiritually. Write this principle on the board.)
In what ways will we perish if we follow the ways of the world rather than the Lord’s prophet?
How do you think fear can prevent someone from following the Lord’s prophet today?
What has helped you choose to follow the prophet even when others are pressuring you to do something else?
Consider sharing about a time when you chose to follow the words of a prophet and how you were blessed as a result. Invite students to follow the prophets’ words even when others do not.
Summarize Jeremiah 40–41 by explaining that after King Zedekiah and the majority of the Jews were carried away into Babylon, Jeremiah continued to reveal the word of the Lord to the Jews who still remained in Judah. You may also want to explain that we know from the Book of Mormon that one of King Zedekiah’s sons, Mulek, escaped and was led to the Americas. His people, called the Mulekites, eventually became the people of Zarahemla. They were later joined by the Nephites led by Mosiah. (See Omni 1:12–19; Helaman 6:10; 8:21.)
Commentary and Background Information
Jeremiah 30:7–12. The Lord will gather Judah and Israel in the last days
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that there is both a physical component (a gathering to a certain geographical location) and a spiritual component to the gathering of Israel. This spiritual component includes making covenants with God and living His gospel.
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Bruce R. McConkie
“Why was Israel scattered? … They were scattered because they turned from the Lord, worshipped false gods, and walked in all the ways of the heathen nations. They were scattered because they forsook the Abrahamic covenant, trampled under their feet the holy ordinances, and rejected the Lord Jehovah, who is the Lord Jesus, of whom all their prophets testified. Israel was scattered for apostasy. …
“What, then, is involved in the gathering of Israel? The gathering of Israel consists in believing and accepting and living in harmony with all that the Lord once offered his ancient chosen people. It consists of having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of repenting, of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of keeping the commandments of God. It consists of believing the gospel, joining the Church, and coming into the kingdom. It consists of receiving the holy priesthood, being endowed in holy places with power from on high, and receiving all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through the ordinance of celestial marriage. And it may also consist of assembling to an appointed place or land of worship” (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 515; see also Book of Mormon Student Manual [2009], 70–71).
The Bible Dictionary explains how Ephraim’s birthright applies to his descendants in the latter days:
“Ephraim was given the birthright in Israel (1 Chr. 5:1–2; Jer. 31:9), and in the last days it has been the tribe of Ephraim’s privilege first to bear the message of the Restoration of the gospel to the world and to gather scattered Israel (Deut. 33:13–17; D&C 64:36; 133:26–34)” (Bible Dictionary, “Ephraim”).
Jeremiah 30–41. Kings of Judah during Jeremiah’s ministry
After the righteous King Josiah was killed in battle by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, the tribe of Judah made Josiah’s son Jehoahaz the king of Judah (see 2 Kings 23:29–30). Necho deposed Jehoahaz and replaced him with Jehoahaz’s brother Jehoiakim (see 2 Kings 23:31–34). After reigning for three years, Jehoiakim was replaced by his son Jehoiachin (see 2 Kings 24:1–6). About this time, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Jerusalem and carried Jehoiachin back to Babylon and replaced him with his uncle (Jehoiakim’s brother) Zedekiah (see 2 Kings 24:10–17). (See Ellis T. Rasmussen, A Latter-day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament [1993], 363–64.)
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) quoted Presidents Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) as he taught about the importance of following the living prophet:
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Ezra Taft Benson
“The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know. …
“Said President Harold B. Lee:
“‘You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. … Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow. … Let’s keep our eye on the President of the Church.’ [Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152, 153.]
“But it is the living prophet who really upsets the world. ‘Even in the Church,’ said President Kimball, ‘many are prone to garnish the sepulchers of yesterday’s prophets and mentally stone the living ones’ (Instructor, 95:257).
“Why? Because the living prophet gets at what we need to know now, and the world prefers that prophets either be dead or mind their own business. Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on and on.
“How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet” [Brigham Young University devotional, Feb. 26, 1980], 3–4, speeches.byu.edu).