CLASSROOM PREP
Post on the board:
How do you typically respond when something bad happens to you?
How might you respond if something bad happened to you and you had done nothing to deserve it?
How might you respond if something bad happened to you and you had done nothing to deserve it?
OPENING
(Show a pencil) -- this part is graphite, which is a form of carbon!
What do you think the value of the graphite is in this pencil?
(Show a diamond ring) - diamonds are formed when carbon is subjected to great heat and pressure
Why are diamonds valuable? (they are the hardest natural substance, can be used for cutting and grinding, jewelry)
What do you think the value of this diamond is?
The graphite in this pencil and this diamond are made from the same substance (carbon)
But the diamond is much more valuable - why? What happened to it?
Heat and pressure that the carbon has to go through is what makes it more valuable
Same as with us - we can become strong like diamonds if we remain faithful to Heavenly Father through the “heat” and “pressure” of our trials
(Show a pencil) -- this part is graphite, which is a form of carbon!
What do you think the value of the graphite is in this pencil?
(Show a diamond ring) - diamonds are formed when carbon is subjected to great heat and pressure
Why are diamonds valuable? (they are the hardest natural substance, can be used for cutting and grinding, jewelry)
What do you think the value of this diamond is?
The graphite in this pencil and this diamond are made from the same substance (carbon)
But the diamond is much more valuable - why? What happened to it?
Heat and pressure that the carbon has to go through is what makes it more valuable
Same as with us - we can become strong like diamonds if we remain faithful to Heavenly Father through the “heat” and “pressure” of our trials
LESSON
So let’s think about those questions up on the board.
How do you typically respond etc.? (give time to answer)
The book of Job tells about a man who experienced severe trials and afflictions.
Today we’re going to learn about a man - and his name is Job (write it on the board)
Raise your hand if you’ve heard of him.
What do you know about him? (see what they know, it might be a lot and that’s okay)
Job had a very very difficult life with a lot of challenges and trials.
And we’re going to learn about what happened to him and what his response was to his trials.
So it says in verse 1 that there was a man who lived in the land of Uz and his name was Job.
How is he described in verse 1? (point out that “perfect” doesn’t mean without sin, but that he was faithful in keeping the commandments of God)
And in verse 2, who was in his family?
In verse 3 it says that he had a lot of animals! 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and so on.
In fact it verse 3 it says he was what? (the greatest of all the men of the east)
So he had a lot - he was very blessed.
In verse 5, Job was described as a man who offered burnt offerings - he had faith!
Because what it says is that those burnt offerings were done why? “It may be that my sons have sinned”
So he was offering them in case his sons had sinned and cursed God in their hearts.
He wanted to be sure he and his family were right with the Lord.
(Explain that verses 6-12 is a poetic rendition of a conversation between the Lord and Satan.)
The Lord doesn’t make agreements or bargains with Satan.
These verses emphasize Satan’s role as our adversary, but the Lord has full power over Satan.
Satan thought Job was only righteous because of what he had.
The Lord said Job was righteous.
Satan was allowed to afflict all that Job had, but not allowed to take Job’s life)
*thoughts from the Seminary Old Testament manual
So in verse 13, one day Job’s sons and daughters were essentially having a meal together.
vs 14-15 A messenger came with some bad news! His oxen and asses were taken! The servants killed!
vs 16 Another messenger - fire fell from heaven and his sheep and servants are killed!
vs 17 Another messenger - Camels and servants killed!
vs 18-19 Another messenger - his sons and daughters were killed
Wow, what do you think you would do?
What feelings would you have if you experienced these losses?
What did Job do? (vs 20-21 → worshipped, showed humility and faith, did not curse God)
How is Job demonstrating faith in God?
What principle can we learn from Job’s example? (we can choose to have faith in God even in the midst of our trials)
Job 2
Again Satan comes to the Lord, in a poetic rendition, to discuss Job.
The Lord says that Job has been afflicted but “still he holdeth fast his integrity” (vs 3)
Satan recommends in verse 5 what? To “touch his bone and his flesh” and insists Job will turn from God as a result.
Uh-oh, are we a little worried for poor Job?
So verse 7 what happens? (sore boils)
Do you know what boils are? (a very painful skin infection that becomes red and swollen)
A potsherd is broken pottery and he was trying to scrape off the diseased skin (vs 8)
What does his wife say? (vs 9)
But what is his response? (vs 10, calls her foolish and points out that the Lord brings good but also evil is part of life)
So let’s skip to chapter 19 and see where Job’s at with his thinking.
Vs 13-19 My friends and family and servants want nothing to do with me and I’m ignored, my wife doesn’t want to be around me, young children don’t want to be around me, “and they whom I loved are turned against me” (vs 19)
His face was so disfigured from the boils that no one recognized him.
His breath and body odor was so bad that no one wanted to be around him!
He sought to live outside the city where outcasts and lepers lived.
He was in pain all the time!
Even his body is hard for him (vs 20)
And yet in verse 25, he still proclaims “I know that my redeemer liveth”
What can we do to show faith in God during our trials?
Is there someone you admire for choosing to have faith in God during trials?
So his friends also turned against him
You know how sometimes you look to your friends for support or understanding?
Like, hey friend, I’m really having a hard time with something that happened to me.
What if your friend was like, “Well, it’s your fault that happened because of how you live your life.”
How would that make you feel?
Job had that happen to him - a friend named Eliphaz came to him and said haven’t you sinned a lot?
Aren’t you really wicked? And then he lists things he thinks Job had done to bring this upon himself.
He accuses him of not giving water or food to the hungry, sending widows away empty, taken clothing etc.
And therefore he has been punished.
But we know trials and difficulties come upon the righteous as well.
Well, let’s skip to chapter 42.
In verse 6, Job says that he is recognizing he is weak and can sin and he has limitations as we all do.
The Lord speaks to Job’s friends who hadn’t been very nice to Job (vs 7).
He tells them to repent and to go to Job and the Lord says Job will pray for them.
The Lord blesses Job with twice as much as he had before (vs 10-13)
Job lived the rest of his life very happily and with his family!
DISCUSSION
So let’s think about those questions up on the board.
How do you typically respond etc.? (give time to answer)
The book of Job tells about a man who experienced severe trials and afflictions.
Today we’re going to learn about a man - and his name is Job (write it on the board)
Raise your hand if you’ve heard of him.
What do you know about him? (see what they know, it might be a lot and that’s okay)
Job had a very very difficult life with a lot of challenges and trials.
And we’re going to learn about what happened to him and what his response was to his trials.
So it says in verse 1 that there was a man who lived in the land of Uz and his name was Job.
How is he described in verse 1? (point out that “perfect” doesn’t mean without sin, but that he was faithful in keeping the commandments of God)
And in verse 2, who was in his family?
In verse 3 it says that he had a lot of animals! 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and so on.
In fact it verse 3 it says he was what? (the greatest of all the men of the east)
So he had a lot - he was very blessed.
In verse 5, Job was described as a man who offered burnt offerings - he had faith!
Because what it says is that those burnt offerings were done why? “It may be that my sons have sinned”
So he was offering them in case his sons had sinned and cursed God in their hearts.
He wanted to be sure he and his family were right with the Lord.
(Explain that verses 6-12 is a poetic rendition of a conversation between the Lord and Satan.)
The Lord doesn’t make agreements or bargains with Satan.
These verses emphasize Satan’s role as our adversary, but the Lord has full power over Satan.
Satan thought Job was only righteous because of what he had.
The Lord said Job was righteous.
Satan was allowed to afflict all that Job had, but not allowed to take Job’s life)
*thoughts from the Seminary Old Testament manual
So in verse 13, one day Job’s sons and daughters were essentially having a meal together.
vs 14-15 A messenger came with some bad news! His oxen and asses were taken! The servants killed!
vs 16 Another messenger - fire fell from heaven and his sheep and servants are killed!
vs 17 Another messenger - Camels and servants killed!
vs 18-19 Another messenger - his sons and daughters were killed
Wow, what do you think you would do?
What feelings would you have if you experienced these losses?
What did Job do? (vs 20-21 → worshipped, showed humility and faith, did not curse God)
How is Job demonstrating faith in God?
What principle can we learn from Job’s example? (we can choose to have faith in God even in the midst of our trials)
Job 2
Again Satan comes to the Lord, in a poetic rendition, to discuss Job.
The Lord says that Job has been afflicted but “still he holdeth fast his integrity” (vs 3)
Satan recommends in verse 5 what? To “touch his bone and his flesh” and insists Job will turn from God as a result.
Uh-oh, are we a little worried for poor Job?
So verse 7 what happens? (sore boils)
Do you know what boils are? (a very painful skin infection that becomes red and swollen)
A potsherd is broken pottery and he was trying to scrape off the diseased skin (vs 8)
What does his wife say? (vs 9)
But what is his response? (vs 10, calls her foolish and points out that the Lord brings good but also evil is part of life)
So let’s skip to chapter 19 and see where Job’s at with his thinking.
Vs 13-19 My friends and family and servants want nothing to do with me and I’m ignored, my wife doesn’t want to be around me, young children don’t want to be around me, “and they whom I loved are turned against me” (vs 19)
His face was so disfigured from the boils that no one recognized him.
His breath and body odor was so bad that no one wanted to be around him!
He sought to live outside the city where outcasts and lepers lived.
He was in pain all the time!
Even his body is hard for him (vs 20)
And yet in verse 25, he still proclaims “I know that my redeemer liveth”
What can we do to show faith in God during our trials?
Is there someone you admire for choosing to have faith in God during trials?
So his friends also turned against him
You know how sometimes you look to your friends for support or understanding?
Like, hey friend, I’m really having a hard time with something that happened to me.
What if your friend was like, “Well, it’s your fault that happened because of how you live your life.”
How would that make you feel?
Job had that happen to him - a friend named Eliphaz came to him and said haven’t you sinned a lot?
Aren’t you really wicked? And then he lists things he thinks Job had done to bring this upon himself.
He accuses him of not giving water or food to the hungry, sending widows away empty, taken clothing etc.
And therefore he has been punished.
But we know trials and difficulties come upon the righteous as well.
Well, let’s skip to chapter 42.
In verse 6, Job says that he is recognizing he is weak and can sin and he has limitations as we all do.
The Lord speaks to Job’s friends who hadn’t been very nice to Job (vs 7).
He tells them to repent and to go to Job and the Lord says Job will pray for them.
The Lord blesses Job with twice as much as he had before (vs 10-13)
Job lived the rest of his life very happily and with his family!
DISCUSSION
(Post a list of what Job had before and what he had after)
What would be the hardest for you to lose from this list?
And why?
How has Job's responses to his trials inspired you? What about the next time you're faced with a hard trial - will you remember Job?
VIDEO: THE WILL OF GOD
What would be the hardest for you to lose from this list?
And why?
How has Job's responses to his trials inspired you? What about the next time you're faced with a hard trial - will you remember Job?
VIDEO: THE WILL OF GOD
This is a great video from Elder Christofferson’s talk regarding a currant bush.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-014-the-will-of-god?category=topics/faith&lang=eng
POST-VIDEO DISCUSSION
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-014-the-will-of-god?category=topics/faith&lang=eng
POST-VIDEO DISCUSSION
What were some of the feelings of the currant bush? (how could you do this to me?)
What did the gardener tell the bush? He knew the true potential of the bush and knew how to help it fulfill its potential
How was Elder Brown’s experience with rejection like the bush? (how could you do this to me?)
What was the reply? (I am the gardener here, I know what I want you to do)
ACTIVITY/DISCUSSION TWENTY QUESTIONS FROM MANUAL AND HEATHER STORY
TESTIMONY/TAKE HOME
What did the gardener tell the bush? He knew the true potential of the bush and knew how to help it fulfill its potential
How was Elder Brown’s experience with rejection like the bush? (how could you do this to me?)
What was the reply? (I am the gardener here, I know what I want you to do)
ACTIVITY/DISCUSSION TWENTY QUESTIONS FROM MANUAL AND HEATHER STORY
TESTIMONY/TAKE HOME
The trials in my life may not feel really good when I’m going through them, and sometimes they last a really long time.
And sometimes it’s only after the hardest part of the trial is over that I can even focus on what blessings might be attached, what lessons I may have learned, what character growth may have been happening. I try hard to find those blessings during the trial! And I try to stay as faithful as I can so I can feel the Spirit and know the peace that comes through knowing that Christ is not only in charge but that he loves us!
Take home idea
And sometimes it’s only after the hardest part of the trial is over that I can even focus on what blessings might be attached, what lessons I may have learned, what character growth may have been happening. I try hard to find those blessings during the trial! And I try to stay as faithful as I can so I can feel the Spirit and know the peace that comes through knowing that Christ is not only in charge but that he loves us!
Take home idea
Fun fake jewels or something else related to the opening discussion to take home.
Include one of the scriptures that stood out to you, such as "I know that my redeemer liveth" or something else
LIST TO PRINT IF NEEDED
JOB BEFORE
Include one of the scriptures that stood out to you, such as "I know that my redeemer liveth" or something else
LIST TO PRINT IF NEEDED
JOB BEFORE
7 SONS
3 DAUGHTERS
7,000 SHEEP
3,000 CAMELS
500 YOKE OF OXEN
500 DONKEYS
JOB AFTER
3 DAUGHTERS
7,000 SHEEP
3,000 CAMELS
500 YOKE OF OXEN
500 DONKEYS
JOB AFTER
7 SONS
3 DAUGHTERS
14,000 SHEEP
6,000 CAMELS
1,000 YOKE OF OXEN
1,000 DONKEYS
3 DAUGHTERS
14,000 SHEEP
6,000 CAMELS
1,000 YOKE OF OXEN
1,000 DONKEYS
