Lesson 107

Ezra

Prepare to Learn

Prepare your mind and heart to learn. The Holy Ghost can teach and edify you as you approach your study with prayer and a desire to be taught.

Begin your study with prayer.

What temple is closest to your home? What sacrifices must your ward or branch members make in order to receive the blessings of temple ordinances?

Watch the following video about the history of the Freiberg Germany Temple. Look for how the Lord helped the East German Saints obtain the blessings of the temple.

The House of the Lord

Church members built the Kirtland Temple, the first temple of our dispensation, during a time of great poverty. They built the Nauvoo Temple during a time of fierce opposition from the Church’s enemies.

What does God’s commandment to build temples even in times of poverty or hardship teach us about temples?

As you study the book of Ezra, look for truths that can help you understand why temples are so important and why the Lord commands His people to build them.

Return from Babylon

We read in Ezra 1–2 that 70 years after the Jews were carried away captive to Babylon, Cyrus, the king of Persia, conquered the Babylonians and became the Jews’ new ruler. Cyrus was inspired by the Lord to let a group of Jews return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. To help them in their efforts, Cyrus gave them “silver,” “gold,” and other “precious things” as well as the “vessels” that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple years earlier (see Ezra 1:6–7). About 50,000 people, led by Zerubbabel and Jeshua, returned to Jerusalem to work on the temple.

Locate Ezra on the diagram to see when the events recorded in the book of Ezra took place. You could also locate Haggai and Zechariah, since they are also mentioned in the book of Ezra.

The Temple Rebuilt

Once they returned to Jerusalem, the Jews began to rebuild the temple. This temple is sometimes called “the second temple” (see Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi, 3rd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2003], 313). Read Ezra 3:10–13, looking for what the Jews did when the foundation of the temple was laid.

Quiz 1

1. How did the Jews celebrate when the foundation of the temple was laid? Select all that apply:

1. They sang.

2. They shouted with joy.

3. They danced.

4. They praised and thanked the Lord.

Opposition from the Samaritans

When the 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem, they encountered a group of people living nearby called Samaritans. The Samaritans were the “people who lived in Samaria after the northern kingdom of Israel was captured by the Assyrians. The Samaritans were partly Israelite and partly Gentile. Their religion was a mixture of Jewish and pagan beliefs and practices” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Samaritans,” scriptures.lds.org).

Read Ezra 4:1–5, looking for what happened between the Samaritans and the Jews.

Quiz 2

1. According to verses 1–2, what did the Samaritans want to do?

1. Stop the Jews from building the temple

2. Build a different kind of temple

3. Help the Jews build the temple

2. What did Zerubbabel and the other Jewish leaders tell the Samaritans?

1. The Jews would build the temple themselves.

2. The Jews would be happy to have the Samaritans’ help.

3. The Samaritans must wait until the next year to help them.

3. How did the Samaritans respond when Zerubbabel and the other Jewish leaders rejected their offer?

1. They went away and left the Jews alone.

2. They discouraged the Jews from building the temple and created opposition.

3. They gave the Jews supplies for the building of the temple.

A Renewed Resolve to Rebuild the Temple

As a result of the Samaritans’ opposition, the temple’s construction stopped for several years (see Ezra 4:1–24; Haggai 1:2–6).

We read in Ezra 5:1–2 that some of the Jews began to rebuild the temple again. When local Persian-appointed governors learned that the Jews had resumed building the temple, they questioned the Jews’ authority to do so and looked for ways to stop the construction.

Read Ezra 5:5, looking for why the local governors could not stop the Jews from rebuilding the temple.

What principle can we identify from the Jews’ experience of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem?

God’s Help during Times of Difficulty

One principle we can identify from Ezra 5:5 is that God watches over and helps us as we seek to obey Him.

1. What are some ways in which God has watched over and helped you, or someone you know, during difficult times?

The Dedication of the Temple

With the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews finished building the temple (see Ezra 6:14).

Read Ezra 6:16, 22, looking for how the Lord blessed the people during the dedication of the temple.

What principle might we identify from these verses about the blessings of building temples and participating in temple work?

Blessings of Temple Work

One principle we can identify from Ezra 6:16, 22 is that as we participate in temple work, we will be blessed with joy.

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) taught:

“Temples bring joy to our faithful members wherever they are built” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 91).

2. Answer one of the following questions:

• How have you or someone you know experienced joy through participating in temple work, including family history work?

• If you have not yet had the opportunity to attend the temple, how could doing so bless you and bring you joy?

A Youth Cultural Celebration

Watch this video entitled “The Laie Hawaii Temple Youth Cultural Celebration,” located on LDS.org. In this video, youth in Hawaii express how they felt when the Laie Hawaii Temple was rededicated after being closed for renovations. How was their experience similar to the Jews’ experience recorded in the book of Ezra?

Watch the video entitled “The Laie Hawaii Temple Youth Cultural Celebration,” located on LDS.org. In this video, youth in Hawaii express how they felt when the Laie Hawaii Temple was rededicated after being closed for renovations. How was their experience similar to the Jews’ experience recorded in the book of Ezra?

Ezra and His People

We learn in Ezra 7–8 that more than 60 years after the completion of the temple in Jerusalem, King Artaxerxes of Persia sent a Jewish scribe named Ezra to Jerusalem to appoint government leaders and to present an offering to beautify the temple. Although the journey was dangerous, Ezra and his traveling companions arrived safely in Jerusalem after they fasted and were protected.

We read in Ezra 9:1–15 that when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he learned that many Israelites there had married people from other nations, which usually led to the Israelites adopting false religious practices. Yet the law of Moses forbade Israelites from marrying those who worshipped idols and other false gods (see Deuteronomy 7:3–6). Ezra was greatly troubled by the people’s disobedience. He prayed and acknowledged the people’s sins to the Lord. He also recounted the consequences that the Israelites had suffered in the past because of their sins.

The People’s Confession

Read Ezra 10:1–4, 10–12, looking for how the people responded to Ezra’s prayer and acknowledgment of their sins.

After Ezra prayed and the people saw him “weeping and casting himself down before the house of God” (verse 1), the people repented and made a covenant to “put away,” or divorce, their “strange wives,” or unbelieving spouses (see verses 2–3). In order to help these people follow through with their commitment, Ezra called all the Israelites throughout Judah to come to Jerusalem. He then appointed leaders to make a list of those who had married outside the covenant and to see that they separated from their unbelieving spouses (see verses 5–44).

In our day, prophets have not commanded Church members to divorce spouses who do not share their beliefs. They do, however, encourage us to marry within the covenant in the temple. (See For the Strength of Youth [booklet, 2011], 14–15.) If you have questions about the Church’s counsel regarding divorce, see President Dallin H. Oaks, “Divorce,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 70–73.

Joy in Temple Work

Reflect on what you have learned today about the importance of temples and the joy that can be found in participating in temple work.

In what ways will you prepare yourself to participate in this work? Seek the Lord’s help so that you can prepare to participate in temple work and experience the joy that comes through serving in the house of the Lord.

Answer Key

Quiz 1: (1) a, b, d

Quiz 2: (1) c; (2) a; (3) b