Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord rebuked the Israelites for offering lame, blind, or maimed animals for their sacrifices. The Lord also reproved the priests for setting a poor example that caused many people to stumble. Malachi prophesied concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Lord commanded the Jews to return to Him by paying their tithes and offerings. He assured the righteous that their efforts to serve Him would be rewarded and that when He returned to earth, they would be His.
The Lord rebukes the Israelites for offering polluted sacrifices
Invite students to imagine that they have a close friend or family member who some time ago stopped keeping the commandments, including the commandment to attend church.
What are some things you might tell this person to help him or her return to the Lord?
Explain that Malachi ministered among the children of Israel at a time when many of them were in apostasy—meaning they had turned away from the Lord. (You may want to invite students to locate “Malachi” on the chart titled “The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah at a Glance” [see lesson 106].) Point out that 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. Invite students as they study Malachi 1–3 to look for messages that might help someone who has turned from the Lord to return to Him.
Summarize Malachi 1 by explaining that although the people and priests in Malachi’s day had continued to offer sacrifices to the Lord, they dishonored Him by offering “the blind … the lame and sick” (Malachi 1:8) animals as sacrifices that were supposed to symbolize Jesus Christ.
Summarize Malachi 2 by explaining that the Lord rebuked the priests of Malachi’s day, who had “departed out of the [Lord’s] way” and “caused many to stumble” (Malachi 2:8) because of their bad examples. He also chastised the Israelites for marrying unbelievers, mistreating their wives, and claiming that those who do evil are “good in the sight of the Lord” (Malachi 2:17).
Malachi prophesies concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Explain that Malachi 3 contains more of Malachi’s teachings that were intended to help the Lord’s people return to Him. Invite a student to read Malachi 3:1–2 aloud. Ask students to follow along, looking for what event Malachi prophesied of.
What future event was Malachi prophesying of? (The Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who is the “messenger of the covenant” [Malachi 3:1].)
What do Malachi’s questions in verse 2 mean? (Malachi was asking who will be ready and worthy for the Second Coming.)
Write the phrases refiner’s fire and fullers’ soap on the board. Explain that 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, thus purging 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?
Who do you think was the “messenger” (verse 1) who would prepare the way for the Second Coming?
To help students understand who this messenger was, invite a student to read aloud 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).
Who was sent to prepare the way for the Lord’s Second Coming? (Following students’ responses, write the following truth on the board: The Lord sent Joseph Smith to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Invite students to consider recording this truth in their scriptures.)
What did Joseph Smith do to prepare us for the return of Jesus Christ? (Joseph Smith restored and taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. By living the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be refined, purified, and prepared for the Second Coming.)
How could understanding this truth help someone who is turning from the Lord?
Summarize Malachi 3:3–6 by explaining that these verses describe 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. Today the phrase can refer to modern-day priesthood holders (see D&C 84:33–34).
The Israelites are admonished to return to the Lord by paying their tithes and offerings
Invite students to 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 try to help this person return to the Lord?
Explain that Malachi 3:7–12 records what the Lord said to the Israelites who had broken their covenants and turned from Him. Invite students to read Malachi 3:7 silently, looking for the Lord’s counsel to these people.
What principle did the Lord teach those who were not keeping their covenants? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following principle: If we will return to the Lord, He will return to us.)
Invite students to look in verse 7 for a question that the people asked the Lord. Ask students to report what they find.
Explain that in Malachi 3:8–12 we learn of one way the Lord indicated the people could return to Him.
Invite a student to read Malachi 3:8–9 aloud. Ask students to follow along, looking for a question the Lord asked the people.
What question did the Lord ask the Israelites?
How had the Israelites robbed the Lord?
Write the words tithes and offerings on the board. Explain that today we pay one-tenth of our income as tithing and contribute at least the value of two meals as fast offerings (see True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 67–68, 181).
How do you think paying tithes and offerings might help someone who has strayed from the Lord to return to Him?
Invite a student to read Malachi 3:10–12 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the blessings the Lord promised to give the Israelites if they paid tithes and offerings. You may need to explain that the word prove in verse 10 means to test or try something or someone (see verse 10, footnote c) and that the term devourer in verse 11 could refer to someone or something that destroys a person’s crops, such as locusts.
What does the Lord promise those who faithfully pay their tithes and offerings?
What do you think it means that the Lord will “open … the windows of heaven” (verse 10)?
What principle can we learn from these verses? (Although students may use different words, they should identify a principle similar to the following: If we return to God and pay our tithes and offerings, then the Lord will pour out blessings upon us.)
What are some ways the Lord could pour out blessings upon us as we pay our tithes and offerings?
Invite a student to read aloud the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Ask students to listen for the types of blessings Elder Bednar says 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).
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?
Invite students to ponder how they are doing at paying tithes and offerings. Invite them to qualify for the windows of heaven to be opened to them by deciding to faithfully pay tithes and offerings.
Summarize Malachi 3:13–15 by explaining 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.
Invite a student to read Malachi 3:16–18 aloud. Ask students to follow along, looking for how the Lord addressed the people’s complaint. Invite students to report what they find. Explain that the phrase “that day when I make up my jewels” (Malachi 3:17) refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (see Bruce R. McConkie, “The Seven Christs,” Ensign, Nov. 1982, 34).
Explain that in addition to receiving eternal blessings, the righteous enjoy blessings during this life that the wicked do not (see Mosiah 2:41).
What are some blessings that the righteous receive during this life that those who break God’s commandments do not receive?
How can these verses help us understand why it is important to be faithful even when it doesn’t appear to be worth it?
Conclude by inviting students to share their testimonies of the principles found in Malachi 3.
“The word hated in Hebrew means to be loved less than someone else, not to be disliked with bitter hostility (compare Genesis 29:31). Esau was the brother of Jacob, who became Israel, father of the twelve tribes. Students of the scriptures know that the Lord hates the sin rather than the sinner, but when people array themselves against the Lord as Esau and his descendants, the Edomites, had done for centuries, the Lord withdraws His blessings. In this sense, Jacob was loved and Esau hated. …
“Jacob stood as a symbol for Israel or the chosen people while Esau (Edom) symbolized the world. This gives the Lord’s statement much broader meaning” (Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 351).
Malachi 3:1. Who prepared the way for the Messiah’s first coming?
Although Malachi 3:1 refers to the Second Coming, Jesus Christ quoted this verse when referring to John the Baptist, who prepared the way for His first coming (see Matthew 11:7–11). John’s birth and mission were announced to John’s father by the angel Gabriel (see Luke 1:5–25) and prophesied of by Isaiah (see Isaiah 40:3) and Malachi (see Malachi 3:1). His mission was to prepare the Jews to receive the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about how the burning heat of the Second Coming will both destroy the wicked and cleanse the righteous:
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Bruce R. McConkie
“The fierce flames, the fervent heat, the burning fires of the Second Coming that destroy the wicked shall also cleanse the righteous. … All men fall short of divine standards; none attain the high state of excellence manifest in the life of the Lord Jesus; even the most faithful saints commit sin and live in some degree after the manner of the world. But such worldly works as remain with the righteous shall be burned so that the saints themselves may be saved. …
“… Thus the burning that destroys every corruptible thing is the same burning that cleanses the righteous. Evil and sin and dross will be burned out of their souls because they qualify to abide the day, even though all their works have not been as those of Enoch and Elijah. If only perfect people were saved, there would be only one saved soul—the Lord Jesus” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 543, 544).
Malachi 3:8–10. “Subtle but significant” blessings of paying tithing
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained “subtle but significant” blessings of faithfully observing the law of tithing:
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David A. Bednar
“A subtle but significant blessing we receive is the spiritual gift of gratitude that enables our appreciation for what we have to constrain desires for what we want. A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment (see Luke 12:15)” (David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 18).
Elder Bednar also suggested another significant but unexpected blessing of keeping the law of tithing: “an increased spiritual and temporal capacity (see Luke 2:52) to do more with less” (David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” 18).
President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught that paying tithing is a matter of faith:
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Gordon B. Hinckley
“It is not so much a matter of money as it is a matter of faith. I have yet to find a faithful tithe payer who cannot testify that in a very literal and wonderful way the windows of heaven have been opened and blessings have been poured out upon him or her” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Sacred Law of Tithing,” Ensign, Dec. 1989, 4).