GOD WILL HONOR THOSE

WHO HONOR HIM  

“Lesson 21: God Will Honor Those Who Honor Him,”

Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 96

1 Samuel 2–3; 8

1. THE SONS OF ELI HONOR

THEMSELVES ABOVE THE LORD.

1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25

The sons of Eli commit transgressions and are counseled by their father about…

…serious transgressions of God’s laws, equivalent to robbing God.

The sons of Eli reject the Lord.By their actions, they choose ‘themselves’ rather than choosing to please God.

these standards

apply to adults as well as

youth…Live these

standards yourself!

2. ELI HONORS HIS SONS

ABOVE THE LORD

1 Samuel 2:27–36; 3:12–14

VALUE OF THE THINGS WE CHOOSE

Sometimes we exchange things of great value for things of lesser value.

We allow our peers to persuade us to do something we know is wrong.

We act dishonestly because we are afraid of what

other people might think of us.

We fail to correct family

members or friends in their wrongdoing because we want to maintain good relations with them.

PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH TAUGHT: “THERE SHOULD [NOT]

BE ANY OF US SO UNWISELY INDULGENT, SO

THOUGHTLESS AND SO SHALLOW IN OUR AFFECTION FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT WE DARE NOT CHECK THEM IN A WAYWARD COURSE, IN WRONG-

DOING AND IN THEIR FOOLISH LOVE FOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD MORE THAN FOR THE THINGS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR FEAR OF

OFFENDING THEM.” (GOSPEL DOCTRINE, 5TH ED. [1939], 286).

Eli honored his sonsMore than he honored God;His actions showed that he chose ‘others’ rather than choosing to please God.

Your example will

do much to help your children

honor God…Live these

standards yourself!

3. SAMUEL HONORS THE LORD

1 Samuel 3

The Lord called Samuel at a young age

to become a Prophet (1 Sam. 3) “I will raise me up a faithful priest, thatshall do according tothat which is in mineheart and in my mind” (1 Samuel 2:35).

“The Lord called Samuel:and he answered,

Here am I”(1 Samuel 3:4)

“Then Samuel answered,

Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10)

“WHOM THE LORD CALLS, THE LORD QUALIFIES”

“Some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It iss the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the

Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies”

(Pres. Thomas S. Monson, CR, Apr.1996,)

Eli knew he had sinned and that the fate of his sons was certain. Eli also now

knew the Lord had chosen Samuel, not one of his sons, as the new

prophet for Israel. (see 1 Sam. 3:19–21).

TRAGEDY FOR ELI, HIS SONS, AND ISRAEL

Israel severely beaten, losing “about four thousand men” (1 Sam. 4:2)

Israel fled in defeat, death of 30,000, Eli’s two sons, and capture of the ARK (4:10-11)

Eli heard that ARK had been lost, “he fell from off the seat backward,” breaking his neck, and died (4:16-18)

Samuel had the desire to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God” (D&C 84:44)

Samuel understood that the ARK of the Covenant was a symbol for the presence of the Lord among the Israelites of old; the Holy Ghost will be with us as an evidence that God is near.

Samuel acknowledged God and said: “Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I’ve come… Here's my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above.”

4. THE ISRAELITES

HONOR THE WORLD

1 Samuel 8

GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT

The standards the Lord has set for us so we will not participate in the wicked ways of the world… Live these standards yourself!

MESSAGE FROM THE FIRST PRESIDENCY

OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

We pray that you will be worthy to carry on the responsibilities of building the kingdom of God and preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our true King, just as he was the true King of the Israelites

All of us must choose each day whom we will honor.