“Lesson 38: Esther Saves Her People,” Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),167

EstEsther her SavSaves es Her Her PeoPeopleple

Time for an experiment!Time for an experiment!

•YYeast is used in bread dough to east is used in bread dough to make the bread light and airy. make the bread light and airy.

•WWhen yeast is put into warm water, it hen yeast is put into warm water, it begins to grow or increase. begins to grow or increase.

•WWhat do you think will happen if hat do you think will happen if sugar is added to the mixture?sugar is added to the mixture?

•YYeast grows when it is put in a east grows when it is put in a warm, moist environment but it warm, moist environment but it grows even more rapidly if it has grows even more rapidly if it has sugar to feed on. sugar to feed on.

•TThere are certain elements that, when used here are certain elements that, when used together, increase our faith, much like the together, increase our faith, much like the water and the sugar combine to help the yeast water and the sugar combine to help the yeast grow.grow.

• WWhat do we need to help our faith and hat do we need to help our faith and

spirituality increase? spirituality increase?

•SSincere prayer can help us have faith incere prayer can help us have faith and greater spirituality, but if we and greater spirituality, but if we add fasting to our prayers, our faith add fasting to our prayers, our faith and spirituality can be increased and spirituality can be increased even more. even more.

•TTo fast is to go without food and drink by o fast is to go without food and drink by choice. choice.

• NNot only can proper fasting, with ot only can proper fasting, with

prayer as its companion, prayer as its companion, increase our spirituality and increase our spirituality and

faith, it can also increase our faith, it can also increase our humility, our love of God, and humility, our love of God, and

our ability to receive help with our ability to receive help with our problems. our problems. (See Bruce R. McConkie, (See Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Mormon

Doctrine,Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], p. 276.) 2nd ed. [1966], p. 276.)

•IIn the experiment we just did, the n the experiment we just did, the yeast represents prayer. The yeast represents prayer. The sugar represents fasting. sugar represents fasting.

• PPrayer without fasting causes rayer without fasting causes things to happen, but fasting things to happen, but fasting

adds power to our prayers.adds power to our prayers.•II

n this lesson we will learn how a n this lesson we will learn how a courageous woman used fasting to courageous woman used fasting to help save her people.help save her people.

In our last lesson...In our last lesson...•WW

e learned about e learned about the return to the return to Jerusalem by Jerusalem by many of the many of the Jews who had Jews who had been taken been taken captive by captive by other nations.other nations.

•SSome Jews did not go ome Jews did not go back to Jerusalem. back to Jerusalem. They stayed in They stayed in Babylon. One of them Babylon. One of them was a beautiful young was a beautiful young woman named Esther. woman named Esther.

•EEsther’s father and sther’s father and mother were dead. She mother were dead. She lived with her cousin lived with her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai Mordecai. Mordecai was a good man. was a good man.

•TThe king of the land gave a he king of the land gave a big seven day feast. He big seven day feast. He asked many people to asked many people to come. He displayed his come. He displayed his gold, silver and beautiful gold, silver and beautiful linens.linens.

•TThe king sent for the queen he king sent for the queen to come to the feast to to come to the feast to display her beauty. But she display her beauty. But she would not come. would not come.

•TThe king was angry. It was he king was angry. It was embarrassing to have the embarrassing to have the queen refuse to obey the queen refuse to obey the king in front of the guests.king in front of the guests.

•TThe king asked his advisors he king asked his advisors what he should do. They what he should do. They counseled him to dethrone counseled him to dethrone the queen and choose a the queen and choose a new one. new one.

•TThe king sent for many he king sent for many young women to come to young women to come to his house. Esther went to his house. Esther went to the king’s house. the king’s house.

•TThe king saw that Esther he king saw that Esther was beautiful. He loved was beautiful. He loved her and chose her to be her and chose her to be the queen. the queen.

•HHaman told the king the Jews aman told the king the Jews would not obey the laws. would not obey the laws. Haman wanted to have the Haman wanted to have the Jews killed. Letters were sent Jews killed. Letters were sent to leaders in the kingdom. to leaders in the kingdom. The letters said all the Jews The letters said all the Jews should be killed. should be killed.

•Haman was one of the Haman was one of the king’s leaders. He hated king’s leaders. He hated the Jews. Haman made the Jews. Haman made the people bow down to the people bow down to him. Mordecai did not bow him. Mordecai did not bow down. Haman was angry. down. Haman was angry.

•TThe Jews heard about he Jews heard about the letters. They the letters. They were afraid and sad. were afraid and sad. They fasted and They fasted and prayed for help. prayed for help.

•QQueen Esther heard ueen Esther heard about the letters. She about the letters. She sent a servant to ask sent a servant to ask Mordecai what had Mordecai what had happened. happened.

•MMordecai said Esther ordecai said Esther would be killed would be killed because she was a Jew. because she was a Jew. Mordecai said Esther Mordecai said Esther should try to save the should try to save the Jews. Jews.

•EEsther told all the Jews sther told all the Jews to fast for three days. to fast for three days. She fasted, too. Then She fasted, too. Then she went to the king. she went to the king.

•TThe king asked Esther he king asked Esther what she wanted. He what she wanted. He said she could have said she could have anything. Esther asked anything. Esther asked the king to come to a the king to come to a feast. She wanted feast. She wanted Haman to come, too. Haman to come, too.

•EEsther told the king sther told the king about Haman’s plan to about Haman’s plan to kill the Jews. She told kill the Jews. She told him she was a Jew. The him she was a Jew. The king was angry. He had king was angry. He had Haman killed. Haman killed.

•TThe king told he king told Mordecai to write Mordecai to write letters to all the letters to all the kingdom. Mordecai kingdom. Mordecai told the Jews to kill told the Jews to kill anyone who tried to anyone who tried to kill them. kill them.

•TThe Jews were happy. he Jews were happy. Esther had saved Esther had saved them. them.

•HHow was Esther ow was Esther related to related to Mordecai?Mordecai?

• LLet’s read et’s read

Esther 2:5, 7Esther 2:5, 7•Why were the Jews living in Why were the Jews living in Persia? Persia?

•Let’s read Esther 2:6Let’s read Esther 2:6

•TThe Jews were Heavenly Father’s he Jews were Heavenly Father’s covenant people. This means that they covenant people. This means that they had promised to obey the Lord. had promised to obey the Lord. •They were also one of They were also one of the tribes of Israel. the tribes of Israel. They were descendants They were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob. •But they had been But they had been conquered and taken to conquered and taken to the lands of Media and the lands of Media and Persia. Persia.

•WWhen Esther was taken to the hen Esther was taken to the king’s palace, why didn’t she king’s palace, why didn’t she let anyone know she was a let anyone know she was a Jew? Jew?

•LLet’s read Esther 2:10, 20et’s read Esther 2:10, 20

•What happened What happened when Esther was when Esther was first presented to first presented to the king? the king? •Let’s read Esther Let’s read Esther

2:172:17

•BBigthan and Teresh were part of the king’s igthan and Teresh were part of the king’s personal guard. personal guard.

•TTheir plot to kill the king was especially heir plot to kill the king was especially dangerous because they had many dangerous because they had many opportunities to be near him and could more opportunities to be near him and could more easily carry out their plan.easily carry out their plan.

•What did Mordecai do What did Mordecai do to protect the king? to protect the king? •Let’s read Esther 2:21–Let’s read Esther 2:21–

2323

•WWhat reason did hat reason did Mordecai give the Mordecai give the people for not bowing people for not bowing to Haman, who held to Haman, who held the highest position of the highest position of all the king’s officials? all the king’s officials?

•Let’s read Esther 3:2–4Let’s read Esther 3:2–4

•WWhy did Mordecai refuse to bow hy did Mordecai refuse to bow to Haman? to Haman?

•LLet’s read Exodus 20:3et’s read Exodus 20:3

•IIn addition to having the n addition to having the people bow to Haman, the people bow to Haman, the king had also commanded king had also commanded them to reverence or worship them to reverence or worship him. him. • If Mordecai had done this, he would If Mordecai had done this, he would have been breaking the first of the have been breaking the first of the Ten Commandments.Ten Commandments.

•WWhat did the angry Haman try to do to punish hat did the angry Haman try to do to punish Mordecai and the Jews? Mordecai and the Jews?

• LLet’s read Esther 3:6, 8–9et’s read Esther 3:6, 8–9

•How would you How would you feel if a law were feel if a law were passed that all passed that all members of the members of the Church were to Church were to be killed on a be killed on a certain day? certain day?

•HHow did Mordecai and the Jews react to ow did Mordecai and the Jews react to the new law? the new law?

• LLet’s read Esther 4:1–3et’s read Esther 4:1–3

•SSackcloth was a coarse fabric made of ackcloth was a coarse fabric made of camel or goat hair and was worn while camel or goat hair and was worn while fasting or mourning. In addition to fasting or mourning. In addition to wearing sackcloth, the people either sat wearing sackcloth, the people either sat in piles of ashes or sprinkled ashes on in piles of ashes or sprinkled ashes on themselves as a symbol that joy had themselves as a symbol that joy had left them.left them.

•MMordecai thought it possible that ordecai thought it possible that Heavenly Father had prepared Esther Heavenly Father had prepared Esther to save the Jews. to save the Jews.

•Why was Esther afraid to Why was Esther afraid to go to the king? go to the king? •Let’s read Esther 4:11Let’s read Esther 4:11

•What did Mordecai tell What did Mordecai tell her about going to the her about going to the king? king? •Let’s read Esther 4:13–Let’s read Esther 4:13–

1414

•WWhat did Esther do so she could hat did Esther do so she could be successful in pleading with be successful in pleading with the king?the king?

• LLet’s read Esther 4:16–17et’s read Esther 4:16–17

•HHow did the king receive Esther? ow did the king receive Esther?

•Let’s read Esther Let’s read Esther 5:2–35:2–3

•What are some What are some righteous things we righteous things we might fast for? might fast for?

• To help our loved ones recover To help our loved ones recover from an illness or injuryfrom an illness or injury• To help us make important To help us make important decisionsdecisions• To help us gain a testimonyTo help us gain a testimony• To help others be willing to hear To help others be willing to hear the gospelthe gospel• To receive protection from evilTo receive protection from evil• To receive relief in time of To receive relief in time of natural disasters and droughtsnatural disasters and droughts• To help us feel the SpiritTo help us feel the Spirit• To show gratitude for our To show gratitude for our blessingsblessings

Enrichment Activity #4

• To prepare us to receive special To prepare us to receive special blessings, such as a patriarchal blessings, such as a patriarchal blessingblessing• To help us overcome sinTo help us overcome sin• To help us solve problemsTo help us solve problems• To help us know whom to share To help us know whom to share the gospel withthe gospel with• To receive comfort when we To receive comfort when we mournmourn• To help us understand or To help us understand or accomplish a difficult assignmentaccomplish a difficult assignment• To help others with their To help others with their problemsproblems Enrichment

Activity #4

•EEsther requested a three-day fast. sther requested a three-day fast.

•HHow long should we fast? ow long should we fast?

•FFasting usually means abstaining from food asting usually means abstaining from food and drink for two consecutive meals, but and drink for two consecutive meals, but President Joseph F. Smith stated that this “is President Joseph F. Smith stated that this “is not an absolute rule, … but it is left with the not an absolute rule, … but it is left with the people as a matter of conscience, to people as a matter of conscience, to exercise wisdom and discretion. Many are exercise wisdom and discretion. Many are subject to weakness, others are in delicate subject to weakness, others are in delicate health … ; of such it should not be required health … ; of such it should not be required to fast” to fast” ((Gospel DoctrineGospel Doctrine [1968], p. 244). [1968], p. 244).

• LLet’s read Esther 5:4–5et’s read Esther 5:4–5

•WWhat was Haman angry about after hat was Haman angry about after coming out of the first banquet? coming out of the first banquet?

• LLet’s read Esther 5:9et’s read Esther 5:9

•What did Haman’s friends and What did Haman’s friends and wife tell him to do about wife tell him to do about Mordecai? Mordecai?

•Let’s read Esther 5:14Let’s read Esther 5:14

•Whom did Esther ask to come Whom did Esther ask to come to the banquet? to the banquet?

•HHow was the king reminded of Mordecai’s good ow was the king reminded of Mordecai’s good deed in saving his life? deed in saving his life?

• LLet’s read Esther 6:1–3et’s read Esther 6:1–3

•IIt is possible that the king’s sleeplessness was t is possible that the king’s sleeplessness was a blessing from Heavenly Father as a result of a blessing from Heavenly Father as a result of the Jews’ fast. the Jews’ fast.

•HHow did the king determine Mordecai’s ow did the king determine Mordecai’s reward? reward?

• LLet’s read Esther 6:6–10et’s read Esther 6:6–10

•WWhat did Esther request of the king at the second hat did Esther request of the king at the second banquet? banquet?

• LLet’s read Esther 7:3–4et’s read Esther 7:3–4

•What reward was given to What reward was given to Mordecai? Mordecai?

•Let’s read Esther 8:1–2Let’s read Esther 8:1–2

•What happened to What happened to Haman when the Haman when the king discovered his king discovered his plan to destroy the plan to destroy the Jews? Jews? •Let’s read Esther Let’s read Esther 7:9–107:9–10

•HHow should we fast? ow should we fast?

• LLet’s read Matthew 6:16–18et’s read Matthew 6:16–18

•HHow can we better observe the fast?ow can we better observe the fast?

•Our fast should include Our fast should include sincere prayer. Often we sincere prayer. Often we will also have a specific will also have a specific reason for our fast. We reason for our fast. We may not always receive may not always receive the answer we desire, the answer we desire, but we should have faith but we should have faith that the Lord’s will should that the Lord’s will should be done. be done.

•IIt is important to t is important to develop the habit of develop the habit of living the law of the living the law of the fast so that when we fast so that when we have specific needs have specific needs we will know how to we will know how to receive help. receive help.

•Our fast should also give Our fast should also give us a desire to help others.us a desire to help others.

•WWhy is fasting sometimes hy is fasting sometimes difficult? difficult?

•YYou might experience feelings of ou might experience feelings of hunger and thirst, but you can hunger and thirst, but you can grow in spirituality as you grow in spirituality as you continue to cheerfully obey the continue to cheerfully obey the commandment to fast. commandment to fast. •What positive experiences What positive experiences have you had in fasting have you had in fasting individually or with your individually or with your families?families?

•LLet’s role-play the et’s role-play the events in the events in the story from Esther.story from Esther.

Enrichment Activity #1

•II need a volunteer for each of these cards. need a volunteer for each of these cards. Each has a name of a different person Each has a name of a different person from the Book of Esther.from the Book of Esther.

•II’m going to tape the card on your back. ’m going to tape the card on your back. You can’t look at your card. To discover You can’t look at your card. To discover who you have you need to ask yes or no who you have you need to ask yes or no questions from your classmates. questions from your classmates.

•YYou might be King Ahasuerus, Vashti, ou might be King Ahasuerus, Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, or Haman.Mordecai, Esther, or Haman. Enrichment

Activity #2

•YYou might be King Ahasuerus, ou might be King Ahasuerus, Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, or Haman.Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, or Haman.•Some questions you could ask are: Some questions you could ask are: •Am I a Jew? Am I a Jew? •Am I righteous? Am I righteous? •Did I fast? Did I fast? •Was I friendly to Mordecai? Was I friendly to Mordecai? •Am I a queen?Am I a queen?

Enrichment Activity #2

•IIn the early days of the Church a group n the early days of the Church a group of Latter-day Saints lived in Mexico. of Latter-day Saints lived in Mexico. Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary commander, was raiding many commander, was raiding many settlements in northern Mexico. settlements in northern Mexico.

•OOne of the settlements that was to be ne of the settlements that was to be destroyed on a certain night was called destroyed on a certain night was called Colonia Dublán, a Latter-day Saint Colonia Dublán, a Latter-day Saint settlement. settlement.

Enrichment Activity #3

•TThe bishop of the ward in that town he bishop of the ward in that town asked all the members to fast and pray. asked all the members to fast and pray. He called a meeting at the church for He called a meeting at the church for all the people. all the people.

•TThey prayed and were told to continue hey prayed and were told to continue fasting and praying to Heavenly Father fasting and praying to Heavenly Father for protection from Pancho Villa and his for protection from Pancho Villa and his army. They were then to go to bed as if army. They were then to go to bed as if it were any other night and trust that it were any other night and trust that the Lord would watch over them.the Lord would watch over them.

Enrichment Activity #3

•DDuring the night when Pancho uring the night when Pancho Villa’s army approached the town, Villa’s army approached the town, they saw from a lookout what they saw from a lookout what they thought were campfires of a they thought were campfires of a large army protecting the town. large army protecting the town.

•PPancho Villa and his army rode off, ancho Villa and his army rode off, thinking it would be unwise to thinking it would be unwise to attack Colonia Dublán.attack Colonia Dublán.

Enrichment Activity #3

•EEach group should work ach group should work together to make a list together to make a list of all the qualities Esther of all the qualities Esther exhibited as she saved exhibited as she saved her people from her people from destruction. destruction.

•SShare your lists of hare your lists of qualities with each other.qualities with each other.

Enrichment Activity #5

•1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.Faith is like a little seed:If planted, it will grow.Faith is a swelling within my heart.When I do right, I know.

•2. Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth.Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.Faith is trust in God above;In Christ, who showed the way.Faith is strengthened; I feel it growWhenever I obey.

•Words: Beatrice Goff Jackson, b. 1943. © 1978 IRI

•Music: Michael Finlinson Moody, b. 1941. © 1978 IRI

Enrichment Activity #6

•II testify that as we testify that as we sincerely fast and pray, sincerely fast and pray, our prayers will be our prayers will be answered and we can answered and we can become closer to become closer to Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father.

•TThere is also great power here is also great power in fasting for others. in fasting for others. When we fast, we When we fast, we should fast cheerfully should fast cheerfully and with a purpose.and with a purpose.

•Images and clipart are from lds.org, Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images other websites indicating the images were in the public domain. The hymn, were in the public domain. The hymn, lesson and story of Esther are from lesson and story of Esther are from www.lds.orgwww.lds.org•Please do not use this presentation for Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference.suit personal preference.•The presentation is intended to The presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. Teachers should manual and scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.conducting the lesson.