Lesson 101

2 Kings 1–4

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit will teach you as you wisely exercise your agency and diligently make an effort to learn.

Begin your study with prayer.

Have you ever felt lost or alone?

Watch this video about two people who felt that way. How did their efforts to come unto Jesus Christ help them overcome these feelings?

Changes in Church Leadership

Think about a time when a Church leader you admire was released from his or her calling.

Why can it sometimes be difficult when there are changes in Church leadership?

As you study 2 Kings 1–2, look for truths that can help us when there are changes in Church leadership.

The Prophet Elijah

We read in 2 Kings 1 that King Ahab died. His son Ahaziah continued in the wicked ways of his father and turned to false gods. The Lord continued working mighty miracles through Elijah, but Ahaziah did not change. In fulfillment of one of Elijah’s prophecies, Ahaziah died. Jehoram reigned in his stead.

Elisha, who served with the prophet Elijah, revered his leader. As recorded in 2 Kings 2:1–6, the Lord commanded Elijah to travel to various locations before he was then taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Read these verses, looking for what Elijah requested of Elisha and how Elisha demonstrated his love and loyalty to Elijah each time. The word tarry means to stay or remain.

What can Elisha’s responses teach us about following the prophet?

A Double Portion

We read in 2 Kings 2:7–10 that Elijah parted the Jordan River by smiting the water with his mantle, or cloak. A group of disciples, called the “sons of the prophets,” witnessed this along with Elisha. The “sons of the prophets” were groups of disciples who met together to worship the Lord and receive instruction under the direction of the prophets (see Bible Dictionary, “Schools of the Prophets”).

In verse 9 we read that Elisha asked Elijah to give him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. This was essentially a request to inherit Elijah’s spiritual gifts, which would help Elisha to carry on the prophetic ministry. As recorded in verse 10, Elijah explained that if Elisha witnessed Elijah’s translation, then Elisha’s request would be granted.

Translated beings are people whose bodies are “changed so that they do not experience pain or death until their resurrection to immortality” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Translated Beings,” scriptures.lds.org).

Read 2 Kings 2:11–14 to find out what happened next.

Elijah’s Translation

In 2 Kings 2:11–14 we read that Elijah was taken from the earth as a translated being (see also 3 Nephi 28). Elijah needed to be translated so he could later help give the keys of the priesthood to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Bible Dictionary, “Transfiguration, Mount of”).

What do you think the passing of Elijah’s mantle to Elisha (see verse 13) represented?

The Passing of the Mantle

In the Church today we sometimes refer to a leader’s calling, authority, and duties as his or her “mantle.” In our day, when a new prophet is sustained as President of the Church, Church members may witness a spiritual mantle of authority descend upon him.

How does this account in 2 Kings 2:13–14 demonstrate that the Lord gave the same authority to Elisha that He had given to Elijah?

What truth can we learn from 2 Kings 2:13–14 about what the Lord will do when He calls an individual to serve Him?

Authority and Power

From 2 Kings 2:13–14 we can learn the following truth: The Lord gives authority and power to those whom He calls. You may want to write this truth in your scriptures next to these verses.

1. Do one of the following:

• Explain how you would use this truth to help someone who is having a difficult time following a new Church leader.

• Share about a time when the Spirit confirmed to you that God had given a newly called leader His authority and power.

• Tell about a revelation given to a prophet in recent Church history that has blessed the Church membership.

The Waters of Jericho

We read in 2 Kings 2:15–22 that the sons of the prophets recognized that the mantle of Elijah had fallen on Elisha. After learning that the waters in Jericho were unusable, Elisha healed the waters by the power of God and made them clean for the people to use.

According to 2 Kings 2:23–25, some “youths (not little children)” (2 Kings 2:23, footnote a) mocked Elisha and demonstrated their contempt for the Lord’s representative. These youths were likely young men that were old enough to go into battle.

Read 2 Kings 2:24 to learn what happened to these youth. It may be helpful to know that the word tare in this verse means injured.

Guidance from Elisha

In 2 Kings 3:1–15 we learn that after Ahaziah (Ahab’s son and successor) died, his brother Jehoram became the king of Israel. The Moabites, who had been paying tribute (taxes) to Israel, rebelled against Jehoram, who then sought help from Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. These two kings, along with the king of Edom, united to stop the Moabite rebellion. After these three kings had traveled together for seven days, there was not enough water for the soldiers or their animals. Jehoshaphat and the other kings turned to Elisha, the prophet of the Lord, for guidance. Elisha assisted the kings.

Read 2 Kings 3:16–20, looking for what Elisha said the Lord would do for the army.

What did the army need to do to receive this blessing?

Victory over the Moabites

From 2 Kings 3:21–27 we learn that because the Israelites obeyed the guidance of the Lord’s prophet, water filled all of the ditches they created. Because of how the sun was shining on the water in the morning, it appeared to the Moabites like blood that covered the valley. The Moabites believed that the three armies of the kings had turned on each other and were now weakened or destroyed. The Moabites entered the Israelite camp so they could take any valuable possessions the armies had left behind, but instead they were ambushed and defeated.

What principle can we learn from this account about what we can do when we need the Lord’s help?

The Lord’s Protection

From 2 Kings 3:21–27 we can learn that if we seek guidance from the Lord’s prophets and follow their counsel, then we can receive divinely promised blessings.

We read in 2 Kings 4:1 that a widow came to Elisha to seek help with a serious problem. A creditor to whom she owed money was coming to collect on his debt. She did not have money to pay. She knew that her creditor would take her two sons and sell them as slaves to pay the debt.

Read 2 Kings 4:2–4, looking for the instructions Elisha gave to the widow.

Only One Pot of Oil

According to 2 Kings 4:2–4, the widow had only one pot of oil, yet Elisha asked her to gather many empty vessels from her neighbors. He then wanted her to pour the oil she had into each of the empty vessels.

Read 2 Kings 4:5–7, looking for what happened as the widow obeyed the prophet Elisha.

What principle can we learn from this account about what can happen when we turn to the Lord in faith?

Blessings from the Lord

From 2 Kings 4:1–7 we can learn that when we turn to the Lord in faith, He can bless us according to our needs and righteous desires.

2. Please answer one of the following sets of questions:

• When has someone you know or someone from another account in the scriptures turned to the Lord in a time of need and received the blessing he or she needed or desired? How does this person’s example strengthen your trust in the Lord?

• When have you turned to the Lord in faith and been blessed according to your needs and righteous desires? What did you learn about the Lord from this experience?

Many Miracles

In 2 Kings 4:8–44 we read that as Elisha traveled, he continued to perform miracles by the power of God. He promised a woman that she would bear a child. When that child later died, Elisha raised him from the dead. Elisha also purified a poisonous pot of pottage and multiplied food for the people to eat.

Truths from This Lesson

The following truths were identified in this lesson:

• The Lord gives authority and power to those whom He calls.

• If we seek guidance from the Lord’s prophets and follow their counsel, then we can receive divinely promised blessings.

• When we turn to the Lord in faith, He can bless us according to our needs and righteous desires.

Carefully reflect on the third truth in the list above. Do you have a friend or family member who needs to hear this truth? How can you share this truth with that person?