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

3. Time for an experiment!

4. Yeast is used in bread dough to make the bread light and airy. When yeast is put into warm water, it begins to grow or increase. What do you think will happen if sugar is added to the mixture? Yeast grows when it is put in a warm, moist environment but it grows even more rapidly if it has sugar to feed on.

5. There are certain elements that, when used together, increase our faith, much like the water and the sugar combine to help the yeast grow. What do we need to help our faith and spirituality increase? Sincere prayer can help us have faith and greater spirituality, but if we add fasting to our prayers, our faith and spirituality can be increased even more.

6. To fast is to go without food and drink by choice. Not only can proper fasting, with prayer as its companion, increase our spirituality and faith, it can also increase our humility, our love of God, and our ability to receive help with our problems. (See Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], p. 276.)

7. In the experiment we just did, the yeast represents prayer. The sugar represents fasting. In the experiment we just did, the yeast represents prayer. The sugar represents fasting. Prayer without fasting causes things to happen, but fasting adds power to our prayers. Prayer without fasting causes things to happen, but fasting adds power to our prayers. In this lesson we will learn how a courageous woman used fasting to help save her people. In this lesson we will learn how a courageous woman used fasting to help save her people.

8. In our last lesson... We learned about the return to Jerusalem by many of the Jews who had been taken captive by other nations.

9. Some Jews did not go back to Jerusalem. They stayed in Babylon. One of them was a beautiful young woman named Esther. Some Jews did not go back to Jerusalem. They stayed in Babylon. One of them was a beautiful young woman named Esther. Esther’s father and mother were dead. She lived with her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai was a good man. Esther’s father and mother were dead. She lived with her cousin Mordecai. Mordecai was a good man.

10. The king of the land gave a big seven day feast. He asked many people to come. He displayed his gold, silver and beautiful linens. The king sent for the queen to come to the feast to display her beauty. But she would not come. The king was angry. It was embarrassing to have the queen refuse to obey the king in front of the guests.

11. The king asked his advisors what he should do. They counseled him to dethrone the queen and choose a new one. The king sent for many young women to come to his house. Esther went to the king’s house. The king saw that Esther was beautiful. He loved her and chose her to be the queen.

12. Haman told the king the Jews would not obey the laws. Haman wanted to have the Jews killed. Letters were sent to leaders in the kingdom. The letters said all the Jews should be killed. Haman was one of the king’s leaders. He hated the Jews. Haman made the people bow down to him. Mordecai did not bow down. Haman was angry.

13. The The Jews heard about the letters. They were afraid and sad. They fasted and prayed for help. Queen Queen Esther heard about the letters. She sent a servant to ask Mordecai what had happened.

14. Mordecai said Esther would be killed because she was a Jew. Mordecai said Esther should try to save the Jews. Esther told all the Jews to fast for three days. She fasted, too. Then she went to the king.

15. The The king asked Esther what she wanted. He said she could have anything. Esther asked the king to come to a feast. She wanted Haman to come, too. Esther Esther told the king about Haman’s plan to kill the Jews. She told him she was a Jew. The king was angry. He had Haman killed.

16. The king told Mordecai to write letters to all the kingdom. Mordecai told the Jews to kill anyone who tried to kill them. The Jews were happy. Esther had saved them.

17. How was Esther related to Mordecai? Let’s read Esther 2:5, 7 Why were the Jews living in Persia? Let’s read Esther 2:6

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

19. When Esther was taken to the king’s palace, why didn’t she let anyone know she was a Jew? Let’s read Esther 2:10, 20 What happened when Esther was first presented to the king? Let’s read Esther 2:17

20. Bigthan and Teresh were part of the king’s personal guard. Their plot to kill the king was especially dangerous because they had many opportunities to be near him and could more easily carry out their plan. What did Mordecai do to protect the king? Let’s read Esther 2:21–23

21. What reason did Mordecai give the people for not bowing to Haman, who held the highest position of all the king’s officials? Let’s read Esther 3:2–4

22. Why did Mordecai refuse to bow to Haman? Let’s read Exodus 20:3 In addition to having the people bow to Haman, the king had also commanded them to reverence or worship him. If Mordecai had done this, he would have been breaking the first of the Ten Commandments. If Mordecai had done this, he would have been breaking the first of the Ten Commandments.

23. What did the angry Haman try to do to punish Mordecai and the Jews? Let’s read Esther 3:6, 8–9 How would you feel if a law were passed that all members of the Church were to be killed on a certain day? How would you feel if a law were passed that all members of the Church were to be killed on a certain day?

24. How did Mordecai and the Jews react to the new law? Let’s read Esther 4:1–3 Sackcloth was a coarse fabric made of camel or goat hair and was worn while fasting or mourning. In addition to wearing sackcloth, the people either sat in piles of ashes or sprinkled ashes on themselves as a symbol that joy had left them.

25. Mordecai thought it possible that Heavenly Father had prepared Esther to save the Jews. Why was Esther afraid to go to the king? Let’s read Esther 4:11 What did Mordecai tell her about going to the king? Let’s read Esther 4:13–14

26. What did Esther do so she could be successful in pleading with the king? Let’s read Esther 4:16–17 How did the king receive Esther? Let’s read Esther 5:2–3 What are some righteous things we might fast for?

27. To help our loved ones recover from an illness or injury To help us make important decisions To help us gain a testimony To help others be willing to hear the gospel To receive protection from evil To receive relief in time of natural disasters and droughts To help us feel the Spirit To show gratitude for our blessings Enrichment Activity #4

28. To prepare us to receive special blessings, such as a patriarchal blessing To help us overcome sin To help us solve problems To help us know whom to share the gospel with To receive comfort when we mourn To help us understand or accomplish a difficult assignment To help others with their problems

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

30. Let’s read Esther 5:4–5 What was Haman angry about after coming out of the first banquet? Let’s read Esther 5:9 What did Haman’s friends and wife tell him to do about Mordecai? Let’s read Esther 5:14 Whom did Esther ask to come to the banquet?

31. How was the king reminded of Mordecai’s good deed in saving his life? Let’s read Esther 6:1–3 It is possible that the king’s sleeplessness was a blessing from Heavenly Father as a result of the Jews’ fast. How did the king determine Mordecai’s reward? Let’s read Esther 6:6–10

32. What did Esther request of the king at the second banquet? Let’s read Esther 7:3–4 What reward was given to Mordecai? Let’s read Esther 8:1–2 What happened to Haman when the king discovered his plan to destroy the Jews? Let’s read Esther 7:9–10

33. How should we fast? Let’s read Matthew 6:16–18 How can we better observe the fast? Our fast should include sincere prayer. Often we will also have a specific reason for our fast. We may not always receive the answer we desire, but we should have faith that the Lord’s will should be done.

34. It is important to develop the habit of living the law of the fast so that when we have specific needs we will know how to receive help. Our fast should also give us a desire to help others.

35. Why Why is fasting sometimes difficult? You You might experience feelings of hunger and thirst, but you can grow in spirituality as you continue to cheerfully obey the commandment to fast. What What positive experiences have you had in fasting individually or with your families?

36. Let’s role-play the events in the story from Esther. Enrichment Activity #1

37. I need a volunteer for each of these cards. Each has a name of a different person from the Book of Esther. I’m going to tape the card on your back. You can’t look at your card. To discover who you have you need to ask yes or no questions from your classmates. You might be King Ahasuerus, Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, or Haman. Enrichment Activity #2

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

39. In the early days of the Church a group of Latter-day Saints lived in Mexico. Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary commander, was raiding many settlements in northern Mexico. One of the settlements that was to be destroyed on a certain night was called Colonia Dublán, a Latter-day Saint settlement. Enrichment Activity #3

40. The bishop of the ward in that town asked all the members to fast and pray. He called a meeting at the church for all the people. They prayed and were told to continue fasting and praying to Heavenly Father for protection from Pancho Villa and his army. They were then to go to bed as if it were any other night and trust that the Lord would watch over them.

41. During the night when Pancho Villa’s army approached the town, they saw from a lookout what they thought were campfires of a large army protecting the town. Pancho Villa and his army rode off, thinking it would be unwise to attack Colonia Dublán.

42. Each group should work together to make a list of all the qualities Esther exhibited as she saved her people from destruction. Share your lists of qualities with each other. Enrichment Activity #5

43. 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 grow Whenever I obey. Words: Beatrice Goff Jackson, b. 1943. © 1978 IRI Music: Michael Finlinson Moody, b. 1941. © 1978 IRI Enrichment Activity #6

44. I testify that as we sincerely fast and pray, our prayers will be answered and we can become closer to Heavenly Father. There is also great power in fasting for others. When we fast, we should fast cheerfully and with a purpose.

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