The following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts, comparisons, contrasts, and surveys. To receive credit for this lesson, you must complete the number of assignments indicated below and submit them to your institute instructor or administrator. You may submit your work either electronically or on paper, handwritten or typed.
Each lesson should take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, the same amount of time you would typically spend in a weekly institute class. Since reading the scripture block listed in the lesson heading is expected of all institute students prior to class, the estimated time for each assignment does not include the time you need to spend reading the scripture block.
Complete assignment 1 and two of the remaining assignments:
1. Joshua 1–6. The Lord Gave the Land to the Children of Israel
- What relationship did Joshua have with Moses? How could that close connection have prepared Joshua to be the next prophet?
- What was the work and mission of Joshua?
- What promise did the Lord make to Joshua?
- What did the Lord expect of Joshua?
- Read Joshua 2; 6:25; Hebrews 11:30–31; James 2:24–25. Write a paragraph describing why the Israelites saved Rahab when they conquered Jericho.
Read Joshua 3–4. Describe in writing what the Lord did to demonstrate that He was with Joshua as He had been with Moses. Write a paragraph expressing what you might have thought and felt if you had been there. What blessings do you experience living in a day when you can follow a living prophet?
Read Joshua 4:14 and write a paragraph about yourself or someone you know who the Lord has “magnified.” Include characteristics of that individual and the change that took place as he or she assumed a new role or responsibility. Explain what additional meaning this will have for you when you are called to a responsibility in your ward or stake.
Study Joshua 5–6; Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 and the student manual commentary for Joshua 5:13–14, “Who Was the Captain of the Lord’s Host That Joshua Saw?” (p. 238). Write a summary of the account of the fall of the city of Jericho. Then answer the following questions:
- What other forces besides marching and shouting possibly helped bring down the walls of Jericho?
- What do you think Israel learned from this battle that could have helped them as they continued their conquest of the promised land?
- How could you apply the principles of this account to your own life today?
2. Joshua 7–24. “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve”
Read Joshua 10:12–14 and the student manual commentary for Joshua 10:12–14, “Did the Sun Really Stand Still in the Heavens?” (p. 240). Did the sun really stand still in the heavens? Write a paragraph how you could explain these verses to someone who says he or she won’t believe the Bible because of this obvious contradiction with science.
Read the chapter summaries of Joshua 7–22. Make two lists—one that identifies Israel’s successes and another that identifies Israel’s failures.
Read Joshua 23–24 and the student manual commentary for Joshua 24:1–28, “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve” (p. 242). What do you think was the major theme of Joshua’s final address to his people? Based on the lists you created from Joshua 7–22, write a paragraph that explains why Joshua chose to deliver his final address on this particular topic.
3. Judges 1–8. “The Lord Raised Them up a Deliverer”
The judges in the book of Judges weren’t the type of judges we have today. Read Judges 3:16–18. What word would be a good synonym for judge? What were they supposed to do for Israel?
After reading Judges 1–3, briefly describe how well the children of Israel obeyed the Lord during the early reign of the judges. Cite several examples from your reading to support your assessment.
Read Judges 2:10–19 and the student manual commentary for Judges 2:11–13, “What Resulted from Israel’s Not Driving the Canaanites Out of the Promised Land?” (p. 252). Detail in writing what lessons you think parents can learn from these sources.
The book of Judges contains some great Old Testament narratives, including those of Ehud, Deborah, and Gideon. Choose one of these accounts from Judges 3–8 and write a summary of the principles taught there.
4. Judges 9–12. “The Children of Israel Did Evil Again in the Sight of the Lord”
Read Judges 9–12 and the Points to Ponder section in the student manual (p. 257). Make a list of the leaders and judges in these chapters. Describe in writing how devoted each one was to the Lord. Why do you think it was difficult for men and women to remain faithful during the period of the judges? How does it compare to the difficulty of remaining faithful today?
Write a short essay comparing the reign of the judges in the Old Testament to the history of the Nephites prior to the coming of Christ (see 3 Nephi 1–10). Explain why you think these reoccurring patterns have been preserved for us in the scriptures. Use the student manual introduction (p. 251) and the commentary for Judges 2:14–23, “What Was the Cyclical Pattern of Israel’s Relationship with the Lord during the Period of Judges?” (p. 253) to help you formulate your answer.