Lesson 113: Proverbs 1–9
Introduction
The book of Proverbs is a
collection of short sayings that express truths about life, human nature, and
the consequences of righteous and wicked behaviors. This lesson provides
teaching ideas for some of the proverbs contained in Proverbs 1–9 concerning the importance of seeking wisdom and
trusting in the Lord. Proverbs 10–31 teaches the
wisdom of choosing righteousness and virtue and the foolishness of following
after the world. The book of Proverbs concludes with a poem focusing on the
characteristics of a virtuous woman, whose value “is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10).
---Ask students to think
of a favorite quote or short phrase of wisdom that they know.
---Ask a few students to
share their phrase with the class.
---A proverb is a short
saying that is intended to teach a lesson about life. The book of Proverbs is a
collection of many sayings of wisdom collected by the Israelites. Many of the
proverbs are attributed to King Solomon.
---Read Proverbs 1:1–4 aloud and look for words and phrases that describe
the purposes of these proverbs.
---What is the purpose of the proverbs? (To provide
wisdom, instruction, and understanding.)
---Why do you think some passages in the Bible instruct us to love and trust the Lord with all our
hearts, but this passage tells us to fear the Lord?
---What
principle can you identify from this verse?
If we have
reverence for the Lord and His teachings, then He will bless us with knowledge
and wisdom.)
---To help students
understand how we can show reverence for the Lord and His teachings, invite a
student to read aloud the following statement by President David O. McKay.
---Ask students to listen
for what it means to have reverence for the Lord.
“Reverence is profound
respect mingled with love. … [One writer] says it is ‘the highest of human
feelings.’ …
“Reverence embraces
regard, deference, honor, and esteem” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:
David O. McKay [2003], 30).
---How
does this statement help us understand what it means to have reverence for the
Lord and His teachings?
---How can showing reverence for the Lord and His
teachings help us receive knowledge and wisdom?
---To help students
consider the value of wisdom, ask:
---Do you think it is possible to be knowledgeable or
well educated but not wise?
---What are some examples of this? (You might give an
example of a medical doctor who understands the detrimental health effects of
smoking cigarettes yet still chooses to smoke.)
---What do you think is the difference between
knowledge and wisdom?
---President McKay. Ask
students to listen for what it means to be wise.
“Gaining knowledge is one
thing, and applying it [is] quite another. Wisdom is the right application of
knowledge, and true education—the education for which the Church stands—is the
application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character”
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1968, 93–94).
---How would you summarize what it means to be wise?
Create the following chart
as a handout for students:
|
Scripture
reference
|
Blessings of seeking
wisdom
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
---Assign students to work
in pairs, and ask them to study the scripture references on the handout
together.
---As they study, ask them
to look for ways we can be blessed by seeking wisdom and to write down what
they find in the right-hand column of their handout.
---You may want to explain that to be “froward
in their paths” (verse 15) means to be wayward or to go in a direction opposite
of what is expected.
---After students have had
sufficient time to complete the handout, write the following incomplete
principle on the board:
If we seek wisdom, then …
---Based on what you learned in your study, how would
you complete this principle?
If we seek wisdom,
then we can avoid sin and enjoy happiness and peace.
---What are some examples you have seen of how
seeking wisdom can help us avoid sin and enjoy happiness and peace?
---You may want to testify
of the blessings that come from seeking wisdom.
---To prepare the class to
identify a principle in Proverbs 3, invite two students to each read aloud one of the following
scenarios.
---Ask the class to listen
for what the individuals in these scenarios have in common.
1.
A Latter-day Saint young man is attracted to a young woman who does not believe
in the Lord’s standards concerning the law of chastity. The young man’s parents
have asked him not to spend time with her anymore, explaining that in their
prayers and discussions together they have had uneasy feelings about his
relationship with her. The young man feels his parents are overreacting, and he
becomes upset with them.
2.
A Latter-day Saint young woman has prepared for years to try out for an
exclusive singing and dancing performance group. She prays and asks Heavenly
Father to help her perform well so she can become part of the group. Following
the tryouts she learns that she was not invited to join the group, and she
feels hurt and frustrated. She wonders why Heavenly Father did not answer her
prayers in the way she wanted Him to.
---In each of these scenarios, what kind of decision
is the person faced with?
In each case, the
person must decide whether he or she will trust in the Lord or in his or her
own reasoning.)
---What
are some other situations in which we might have to decide whether we will
trust in the Lord over our own reasoning?
---Read Proverbs 3:5–7 aloud and look for how we are to trust in the Lord and
why we should trust in Him.
---Invite a student to
read aloud the following statement by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles. Ask the class to listen for a way we can show the Lord
we trust in Him with all our heart.
“Our Father in Heaven has
invited you to express your needs, hopes, and desires unto Him. That should not
be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather as a willingness to obey His
will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation, ‘Ask, and ye shall
receive’ (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It
does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a
Father that loves you perfectly, who wants your eternal happiness even more
than do you” (“Trust in the Lord,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17).
---According to this statement, how can we show the
Lord that we trust Him with all our heart?
---Invite students to
again read aloud the two scenarios presented earlier.
---After each scenario is
read, ask the class to explain how the person in the scenario can place his or
her trust in the Lord and how the person may be directed to paths of happiness
as a result.
---Ask students to reflect
on a time in their lives when they trusted in the Lord and felt that He
directed their path.
---Invite students to
testify of the importance of trusting in the Lord and perhaps share the
experience they thought of.
---As students share
experiences, you may want to ask follow-up questions such as the following:
---As you trusted in the Lord, how did you know that
He was directing your path?
---How has this experience helped you to have greater
trust in the Lord?
---How might this experience influence the way you
respond in the future when you must decide between trusting in the Lord and
depending on your own reasoning?
---Summarize Proverbs 4–9 by explaining that these chapters encourage us to
seek wisdom, warn against associating with those who are immoral, and strongly
condemn a prideful heart, dishonesty, murder, hardheartedness, slander, gossip,
and contention (see Proverbs 6:16–19).
---If time permits, you
might want to suggest that students mark in Proverbs 6:16–19 the six things the Lord hates.
Proverbs 6:16–19. “These
six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him”
“Seven is a number that
symbolizes completeness; this list covers most abominable attitudes and acts,
including pride, lying, murder, malicious thought, eagerness for evil, false
testimony, and raising dissension. These generate most of the ills of society”
(Ellis T. Rasmussen, A Latter-Day Commentary On The Old Testament
[1993], 474).
---Conclude by sharing
your testimony of the principle that the Lord will direct our paths as we trust
in Him with all our heart.
---Invite students to
consider how they can show greater trust in the Lord, and encourage them to do
so.
Lesson 114: Proverbs 10–31
---Display a small amount
of money.
---What would you say is more valuable than riches?
---Who is more valuable than riches? (You may need to
explain that rubies are very valuable stones that are sometimes used in making
expensive jewelry.)
Virtue is more
valuable than worldly wealth
---How
would you explain what virtue is?
---As part of your
discussion on virtue, you may want to invite a student to read aloud the
following statement:
“Virtue originates in your
innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based
on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is
prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. What you choose to think and
do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of
your virtue.
“Virtuous people are clean
and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put
unworthy thoughts that lead to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They
obey God’s commandments and follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for
the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of
any sins or wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend” (Preach My
Gospel [2004], 118–19).
----Why do you think virtue is so valuable?
---Explain that Proverbs 31 includes a
description of the author’s ideal wife (see Bible Dictionary, “Proverbs, book of”).
---Take turns reading
aloud from Proverbs 31:11–31 and look for
qualities of a virtuous person and blessings we can receive for developing
these qualities. These qualities and blessings also apply to men.)
---As students identify
qualities and blessings, you may want to ask follow-up questions such as:
---What do you think that phrase means?
---Why would these same qualities be valuable for men
to cultivate? Why do you think that is an important quality to have?
---What is an example of how developing that quality
can lead to the blessing you identified?
---Divide the class into
small groups. Ask students to discuss the following question in their groups:
---What are some things we can do that will help us to
be virtuous in our thoughts and actions?
---After students have had
sufficient time to discuss this question, ask each group to choose someone to
report their ideas to the class.
---You may also want to
ask a student to read aloud the following statement:
“Your mind is like a stage
in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on
stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often
enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your
mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of
scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the
stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation
and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous” (Preach My Gospel
[2004], 119).
---Consider inviting
students to testify of the value of choosing to live a virtuous and righteous
life.
---Invite students to set
a goal of something they will do to help them have virtuous thoughts or develop
the qualities identified in Proverbs 31, and encourage
them to follow through with their goal.
---Write the following
proverb on the board:
How much better is it to get _________________________ than gold!
---Invite students to
explain how they would complete the statement and why.
---Remind students that a
primary purpose of the book of Proverbs is to impart wisdom (see Proverbs 1:1–4). Explain that
in their study of Proverbs 10–30, they will have
the opportunity to discover and “teach one another words of wisdom” (D&C 88:118).
WRITE A PROVERB
Pres. David O McKay
“Reverence is profound
respect mingled with love. … [One writer] says it is ‘the highest of human
feelings.’ …
“Reverence embraces
regard, deference, honor, and esteem”
Pres. David O McKay
“Gaining knowledge is one
thing, and applying it [is] quite another. Wisdom is the right application of
knowledge, and true education—the education for which the Church stands—is the
application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character”
1.
A Latter-day Saint young man is attracted to a young woman who does not believe
in the Lord’s standards concerning the law of chastity. The young man’s parents
have asked him not to spend time with her anymore, explaining that in their
prayers and discussions together they have had uneasy feelings about his
relationship with her. The young man feels his parents are overreacting, and he
becomes upset with them.
2.
A Latter-day Saint young woman has prepared for years to try out for an
exclusive singing and dancing performance group. She prays and asks Heavenly
Father to help her perform well so she can become part of the group. Following
the tryouts she learns that she was not invited to join the group, and she
feels hurt and frustrated. She wonders why Heavenly Father did not answer her
prayers in the way she wanted Him to.
Elder Richard G Scott:
“Our Father in Heaven has
invited you to express your needs, hopes, and desires unto Him. That should not
be done in a spirit of negotiation, but rather as a willingness to obey His
will no matter what direction that takes. His invitation, ‘Ask, and ye shall
receive’ (3 Ne. 27:29) does not assure that you will get what you want. It
does guarantee that, if worthy, you will get what you need, as judged by a
Father that loves you perfectly, who wants your eternal happiness even more
than do you”
Virtue (Preach My Gospel):
“Virtue originates in your
innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based
on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is
prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. What you choose to think and
do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of
your virtue.
“Virtuous people are clean
and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put
unworthy thoughts that lead to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They
obey God’s commandments and follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for
the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of
any sins or wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend”
“Your mind is like a stage
in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on
stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often
enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your
mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of
scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the
stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation
and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous”
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