Old Testament Lesson 35

1. Lesson 35:
God Reveals His Secrets to His
Prophets

2. Purpose
To teach us that in the latter days, the Lord
reveals his secrets to his prophets and pours out
his Spirit on all people.

3. Janette Hales Beckham
“When I was a young wife and
mother, my husband spent two years
in the air force. We lived in military
housing on Long Island, New York.
While tending our young children, I
often visited with neighbors who had
come from all over the country. One
day as a neighbor and I were talking
about our beliefs, she became
curious about what was different
about The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.

4. Janette Hales Beckham
“I told her briefly about the Restoration, and I
explained that the restored Church of Jesus
Christ has a living prophet today. This really
seemed to pique her interest, and she wanted to
know what the prophet had said. As I started to
tell her about the Doctrine and Covenants and
modern revelation, she said, ‘But what has he
said lately?’ I told her about general conference
and that the Church had a monthly publication
with a message from the prophet. Then she got
really interested. I was so embarrassed to admit
that I hadn’t read the current message. She
concluded our conversation by saying, ‘You
mean you have a living prophet and you don’t
know what he said?’” “Sustaining the Living
Prophets,” Ensign, May 1996, 84

5. Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa.
He ministered to the people of the kingdom of
Israel from about 800 to 750 B.C.
Most were apostate.
They loved riches and oppressed the poor
so hardened that not even famine or
pestilence humbled them.
Amos prophesied even more dire penalties.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that God was
eager to cleanse anyone who would repent,
exhorting, “Seek the Lord, and ye shall live”
(Amos 5:6). Amos also prophesied about the
latter days.

6. Amos 6:1
1 Woe to them that are at ease in
Zion, and trust in the mountain of
Samaria, which are named chief of
the nations, to whom the house of
Israel came!
Amos warns the people about
becoming “at ease in Zion”.
What does it mean to become
at ease in Zion?

7. Becoming at ease in Zion
2 Nephi 28:19–24, 27, 29–30
19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it
must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devilwill grasp them
with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of
men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security,
that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—
and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully
down to hell.

8. LULL
verb
calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds
or movements.
rock
noun
a temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity.
In what ways are we at ease in Zion today and How can
we guard against this?

9. Becoming at ease in Zion
2 Nephi 28:19–24, 27, 29–30
19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must
needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devilwill grasp them with his
everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and
stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will
say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus
the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and
he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their
ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no
deliverance.

10. Becoming at ease in Zion
23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all
that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and
be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for
them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we needno more!
29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no
more of the word of God, for we have enough!
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who
hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learnwisdom; for
unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from
them shall be taken away even that which they have.

11. Amos 3:6–7
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?
shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret
unto his servants the prophets.
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?
shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not known it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, until he revealeth his secret
unto his servants the prophets.
The Joseph Smith Translation itself is an example of the Lord’s
secrets being made known to a prophet for our benefit.

12. What respect should we have for the
messages of the prophets?

13. D & C 1:37–38
37 Search these commandments, for
they are true and faithful, and the
prophecies and promises which are in
them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I
have spoken, and I excuse not myself;
and though the heavens and the earth
pass away, my word shall not pass
away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether
by mine own voice or by the voice of
my servants, it is the same.

14. The prophet Joel ministered to the
people of the kingdom of Judah. We
do not know exactly when he lived, but
his prophecies are of particular
importance to us because many of them
concern the latter days.
Joel used the powerful image of a
devouring host of locusts to symbolize
the devastation that armies and God’s
judgments would bring in the latter
days.
Joel also prophesied great blessings in
the latter days, foreseeing that the
Lord would “pour out [his] spirit upon
all flesh” (Joel 2:28).

15. All the modern
inventions of travel
and communication
have come since the
gospel was restored.
How do these developments
help fulfill Joel’s prophecy
in Joel 2:28–29?
How do these developments
help further the work of the
Lord in our day?

16. What counsel and commandment did the Lord give
the Saints on the day the Church was organized?
Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5
4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt
give heed unto all his words
and commandments which he shall give unto you
as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before
me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine
own mouth, in all patience and faith.

17. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
“I maintain that had there been no restoration of the
gospel, and no organization of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, there would have been no
radio; there would have been no airplane, and there would
not have been the wonderful discoveries in medicine,
chemistry, electricity, and the many other things wherein
the world has been benefited by such discoveries. Under
such conditions these blessings would have been withheld,
for they belong to the Dispensation of the Fulness of
Times of which the restoration of the gospel and the
organization of the Church constitute the central point,
from which radiates the Spirit of the Lord throughout the
world. The inspiration of the Lord has gone out and takes
hold of the minds of men, though they know it not, and they
are directed by the Lord. In this manner he brings them
into his service that his purposes and his righteousness, in
due time, may be supreme on the earth.

18. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
“… I do not believe for one moment that
these discoveries have come by chance,
or that they have come because of
superior intelligence possessed by men
today over those who lived in ages that
are past. They have come and are
coming because the time is ripe,
because the Lord has willed it, and
because he has poured out his Spirit
on all flesh” (in Conference Report,
Oct. 1926, 117).

19. Joel 2:12–32 and Joel 3:16–17
What invitations has the Lord given to those living in the latter days?
Invitations
1. “Turn ye even to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12).
2. “Rend your heart” (Joel 2:13, meaning to break your heart or be
humble).
3. “Turn unto the Lord your God” (Joel 2:13).
4. “Sanctify the congregation” (Joel 2:16).
5. “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice” (Joel 2:21).
What do these invitations suggest about the importance of turning to
the Lord with all our hearts?

20. Joel 2:12–32 and Joel 3:16–17
What blessings has the Lord promised to those who follow him in the latter days?
Blessings
1.“He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and he will turn away the evil from you”
(Joseph Smith Translation, Joel 2:13; see footnote 13b).
2.The Lord will “pity his people” (Joel 2:18).
3.The Lord will drive the northern army (described in verses 1–11) into a barren place (Joel 2:20).
4.“Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied” (Joel 2:26).
5.“I am in the midst of Israel, … and my people shall never be ashamed” (Joel 2:27).
6.“I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28; see also verse29).
7.Young and old will prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions (Joel 2:28).
8.“Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered” (Joel 2:32).
9.“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem” (Joel 3:16).
10.“The Lord will be the hope of his people” (Joel 3:16).
11.“The Lord will be the … strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16).
12.“So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion” (Joel 3:17).

21. WE THANK THEE O GOD
FOR A PROPHET….
BUT DON’T TELL ME I CAN’T…WATCH A RATED R
MOVIE
BUTdon’t tell me I need to do home teaching
BUT don’t tell me I need to help my neighbor
BUT don’t tell me to take that calling
BUT don’t tell me to I can’t watch my favorite show on tv that is a little
questionable
BUT don’t tell me I need food storage
………