Come, Follow Me
Old Testament Lesson 30:
July 18–24
“I Am Doing a Great Work”
Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
Illustration of the temple of Zerubbabel, by Sam Lawlor
President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “The word of God … has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 118).
Ezra 1: King Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple—Cyrus returns the vessels of the house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar.
Ezra 3: The altar is rebuilt—Regular sacrifices are reinstituted—The foundations of the temple are laid amid great rejoicing.
Ezra 4: The Samaritans offer help, then hinder the work—The building of the temple and of the walls of Jerusalem ceases.
Ezra 5: Haggai and Zechariah prophesy—Zerubbabel renews the building of the temple—The Samaritans challenge the Jews’ right to continue their building work.
Ezra 6: Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to build the temple—It is finished and dedicated, and sacrifices and feasts commence again.
Ezra 7: Ezra goes up to Jerusalem—Artaxerxes provides for beautifying the temple and sustains the Jews in their worship.
Nehemiah 2: Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem—Sanballat and others oppose Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah 4: The Jews’ enemies seek to prevent them from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem—Nehemiah arms the laborers and keeps the work progressing.
Nehemiah 5: Many Jews are in bondage to their fellow Jews—At Nehemiah’s direction they are freed, their lands are restored, and the taking of usury is discontinued.
Nehemiah 6: Sanballat engages in intrigue against Nehemiah and the building of the wall—The Jews finish the construction of the wall.
Nehemiah 8: Ezra reads and interprets the law of Moses to the people—They keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
“I Love to See the Temple,” Children’s Songbook, 95.
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 30: Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8, Jonn Claybaugh
Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 30 (Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8)
Resources on Other Sites
Come, Follow Me Week 30 – Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8, FAIR
Book & Chapter Guide: Ezra 3, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Ezra 4, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Ezra 5, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Ezra 6, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Ezra 7, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Nehemiah 2, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Nehemiah 4, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Nehemiah 5, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Nehemiah 6, Bible Central
Book & Chapter Guide: Nehemiah 8, Bible Central
Come Follow Me Insights – Ezra Nehemiah, and 2 Chronicles: I am Doing a Great Work, Book of Mormon Central
Rebuilding Jerusalem and Ourselves (Books of Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Understanding the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (Come, Follow Me: Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Ezra Reinstates the Passover to Remember God (Come, Follow Me: Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem’s Wall (Come, Follow Me: Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Who was Nehemiah in the Bible? (Come, Follow Me: Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Why is the Feast of Tabernacles Significant to Latter-day Saints? (Come, Follow Me: Ezra, Nehemiah), Book of Mormon Central
Come Follow Me Old Testament Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8 (July 18-24) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
Come Follow Me – Ezra-Nehemiah, Part 1 (Ezra): Rebuilding the Temple, Unshaken
Come Follow Me – Ezra-Nehemiah, Part 2 (Nehemiah): Rebuilding the Walls, Unshaken
Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “I Am Doing a Great Work” – Ezra 1, 3-7, Nehemiah 2, 4-6, 8 , Meridian Magazine
“The Joy of the Temple and the Power of the Word”—Come, Follow Me Podcast #30: Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8 , Meridian Magazine
July 18–24, 2022 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8 – “I Am Doing a Great Work”, BYU Studies