Old Testament Lesson 1

I love the Old Testament. Many of the first scripture stories we learned as children came from the Old Testament. Noah’s Ark. Joseph and his coat of many colors. Adam and Eve. Moses parting the Red Sea. Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Jonah and the whale. {Although, except for Daniel and Jonah, all of these stories are recorded in the first 100 pages of the Old Testament.}

Why is a study of the Old Testament important for us today, several thousand years from when many of the events took place?

• It is a commandment of God. In the New Testament, Christ said “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)”. The scriptures he was referring to books – many of which are now in the Old Testament – most likely the prophetic books, such as Isaiah, which indeed testified of the Messiah.
• It is the “original testament of Jesus Christ”. As with all scripture, it persuades people to believe in Christ. Testament = testify = covenant
• It contains principles of salvation and provides examples of righteousness. Those examples will help us solve many of the problems of today. What are some of the stories of the Old Testament that you find especially inspiring and meaningful? For me, the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt, and then his reunion with his brothers always brings me to tears. Joseph’s ability to withstand the tribulations of the betrayal, the imprisonment, and then becoming the second-most powerful person in Egypt is amazing – and his strength of character to avoid the seducing of Potiphar’s wife.
• It is the foundation for all scripture. It set the path and direction for other books of scripture that would follow it.
• It tells of God’s dealings with his covenant people. We learn of agency, laws, blessings, punishments, covenants – or in other words, the plan of happiness.
• It foretells of the last days in which we live. It prophesies of both the first and second comings of the Savior.
• Many prophets of the Old Testament are connected to our own day and were key players in the restoration (Moses, Elias and Elijah restored priesthood keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland temple; many were seen in the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead by Joseph F. Smith)

Joseph Smith, in the Lectures on Faith, stated that there are at least 19 noted men between the time of Adam and Abraham (a span of 2000 years) who had direct communication with the Lord, either seeing Him, hearing his voice, or both.

Elder Harold G. Hillam, First Quorum of the Seventy: Many struggle with the concept that the Old Testament is an exciting or interesting book. But, when we realize that the Savior quoted from the Old Testament both to teach and to defend Himself, we can understand its great significance. By studying the book and following Christ’s example it will bless us also.