Sunday School Old Testament: Lesson 20

13 March

old-testament-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual-355700001Lesson 20 tells the stories of Ruth, Naomi and Hannah.

While it’s true the lives of these amazing women show how faithful they were to God and His commands they have nothing to do with the gospel of Mormonism. Unfortunately that’s not how this lesson explains it.

The lesson asks:

“What did Ruth give up by going to Bethlehem with Naomi?”

Acceptable answers include: “her homeland, family, friends, and religion”.

Then the class is asked:

“What did Ruth gain by going with Naomi?”

The only acceptable answer listed, “the gospel of Jesus Christ”.

At this time “the gospel of Jesus Christ”, didn’t exist at least not in the way Mormonism portrays it. During this time in biblical history Naomi would have been under the Law, not under grace which is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. By choosing to stay with Naomi Ruth was making a vow to follow the one true God and leave behind the false gods of her homeland.

Later the lesson compares Hannah’s promise to the Lord to a “covenant”. Yes Hannah made a promise to God that if He blessed her with a son she would give him back to God. She honored this promise by taking him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh when he was weaned from her.

This promise Hannah made to God is in no way comparable to the covenants Mormons make to their god at baptism or in their temples.

While it’s true these women had amazing qualities their faith wasn’t rooted in anything having to do with the Mormon gospel, its god or its covenants. Each of these women placed her faith and trust in the one true God, and believed in His promises.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes (melissa@lifeafter.org)

Reference:

(Class Members Manual) https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-class-member-study-guide/lesson-20-all-the-city—doth-know-that-thou-art-a-virtuous-woman?lang=eng

(Teacher’s Manual) https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-20-all-the-city—doth-know-that-thou-art-a-virtuous-woman?lang=eng

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