Lesson 29: “He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah”

Lesson 29: “He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah”, Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 139

1. Introduction

a) Go over the 2010 Questions – poster

b) Electing a new pope in the Catholic Church

i) When the old pope dies, Cardinals gather from all over the world to a closed conclave in the Vatican

ii) Meet in the Sistine Chapel and vote on a new pope

(1) Reportedly, there is campaigning and electioneering for competing candidates

(2) Ballots are burned after each vote

(3) Black smoke - fumata nera - means that a new pope has not been elected – wet straw added to the ballots

(4) White smoke - fumata bianca - means a new pope has been elected and the conclave is over

c) The process of naming a new prophet could not be more different

i) Will see an example of how the Lord selects His prophets in today's lesson

2. Elisha succeeds Elijah as the prophet

a) When Elijah was fleeing a death sentence pronounced by Jezebel, the queen of Israel, he went to Mt Sinai (2K19:1-3)

b) On Mt. Sinai, the Lord spoke to Elijah

c) Reading 1 – 1 Kings 19:15-16

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

i) "in thy room" means "in thy place"

d) ASK – Who chose Elisha to succeed Elija as prophet?

e) READ 1 Kings 19:19

19 ¶ So he [Elijah] departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

i) Note – twelve yoke of oxen sounds like 24 oxen to pull a plow

(1) Must have been very hard ground

ii) Elijah placing his mantle on Elisha was a call and a symbol that Elisha was to be a future prophet

iii) Elisha – 1 Kings 19:21 "took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat."

(1) Elisha killed two oxen

(2) Made a fire from the wooden plow to cook the meat

(3) Gave the meat to the people

(4) Elisha was destroying the instruments of his past vocation

(a) No turning back from his call to follow Elijah

f) Reading 2 – 2 Kings 2:1-8

1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.

3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.

8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

i) Both Elijah and Elisha know that Elijah is going to be translated – "taken up to heaven" – Verse 1

ii) Elisha will not leave Elijah – "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." – Verse 2

iii) Elisha will not leave Elijah, the prophet

(1) We will see that this is important for the successful beginning of Elisha's work as the prophet

iv) The arrived at the Jordan River – Verse 8 - Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground

v) Set the scene – Elijah and Elisha are across the River Jordan and fifty men "of the sons of the prophets" are watching from afar – Verse 7

g) READ – 2 Kings 2:9-13

9 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 ¶ And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

i) Elisha is worried about losing Elijah

(1) Asks that " a double portion of thy spirit be upon me " – Verse 9

ii) A chariot of fire appears drawn by horses of fire and takes Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven. – Verse 11

iii) After this happens, everything is very quiet and Elisha is left by himself. The only thing remaining is the mantle of Elijah, which Elisha picks up.

iv) ASK - How is Elisha feeling at this moment? Do we understand anything about this feeling?

(1) A new Relief Society President receives a battered notebook from the former Relief Society President

(2) A new Primary President receives a chewed-up cloth bag from the old Primary President

(3) Tell story about being sustained as a new bishop and the Executive Secretary

h) ASK – What does the mantle represent?

i) Elisha is standing on the banks of the Jordan River with the mantle

i) Reading 3 – 2 Kings 2:14-15

14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

(1) Powerful symbol

(a) Elijah has just parted the waters of the River Jordan

(b) Joshua did the same thing after he lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land

(c) Hearkens back to Moses parting the Red Sea

(d) Verse 15 - bowed themselves to the ground before him.- the same thing we do by raising our arms to sustain the prophet

j) Succession When a Prophet Dies

i) Reading 4 - President Joseph Fielding Smith explained: “There is no mystery about the choosing of the successor to the President of the Church. The Lord settled this a long time ago, and the senior apostle automatically becomes the presiding officer of the Church, and he is so sustained by the Council of the Twelve which becomes the presiding body of the Church when there is no First Presidency. The president is not elected, but he has to be sustained both by his brethren of the Council and by the members of the Church” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:156).

ii) Reading 5 - President Gordon B. Hinckley explained how this procedure was followed when he was ordained and set apart as the prophet and President of the Church following the death of President Howard W. Hunter:

“With President Hunter’s passing, the First Presidency was dissolved. Brother Monson and I, who had served as his counselors, took our places in the Quorum of the Twelve, which became the presiding authority of the Church.

“[A few days later] all of the living ordained Apostles gathered in a spirit of fasting and prayer in the upper room of the temple. Here we sang a sacred hymn and prayed together. We partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, renewing in that sacred, symbolic testament our covenants and our relationship with Him who is our divine Redeemer. The Presidency was then reorganized, following a precedent well established through generations of the past [this precedent is explained in the preceding statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith]. There was no campaigning, no contest, no ambition for office. It was quiet, peaceful, simple, and sacred. It was done after the pattern which the Lord Himself had put in place” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 92; or Ensign, May 1995, 69).

3. Naaman

a) Elisha would be prophet for about 50 years

b) One of the most interesting of his many miracles involved a Syrian named Naaman

i) Note that Israel and Syria had frequent wars during this period

c) Reading 5 – 2 Kings 5:1-5,8-9

1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

SKIP

8 ¶ And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

i) Verses 2-3

(1) Captive Israeli girl

(2) Very brave in her testimony of the prophet - Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy

(a) How many of us are willing to testify of our prophet in places and to people who are hostile to our beliefs?

d) Reading 6 – 2 Kings 5:10-14

10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

i) Verse 10 - Elisha sent a messenger with very simple instructions

ii) Verse 11 - Naaman was wroth

(1) He had not spoken directly with the prophet

(2) Thought he knew what the prophet should do - stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper

(3) Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 - 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

(a) The power was the Lord's and Elijah was just his voice

(b) Elijah's servant was also a servant of the Lord

iii) Verse 12 - Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?

(1) went away in a rage

iv) Verse 13 - if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?

v) READ - Elder Rex D. Pinegar asked, “Are we not sometimes like Naaman, looking for big or important things to do and bypassing simple things which could change our lives and heal us of our afflictions?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 106; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 80)

vi) Reading 7 - After recounting the story of Naaman, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: “The way of the gospel is a simple way. Some of the requirements may appear to you as elementary and unnecessary. Do not spurn them. Humble yourselves and walk in obedience. I promise that the results that follow will be marvelous to behold and satisfying to experience” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, 143; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, 96).

vii) Reading 8 - Elder Boyd K. Packer has written: “Others among us are willing to sustain part of the leadership of the Church and question and criticize others of us.

Some of us suppose that if we were called to a high office in the Church immediately, we would be loyal and would show the dedication necessary. We would step forward and valiantly commit ourselves to this service.

But (you can put it down in your little black book) if you will not be loyal in the small things, you will not be loyal in the large things. If you will not respond to the so-called insignificant or menial tasks which need to be performed in the Church and kingdom, there will be no opportunity for service in the so-called greater challenges.

A man who says he will sustain the President of the Church or the General Authorities, but cannot sustain his own bishop is deceiving himself. The man who will not sustain the bishop of his ward and the president of his stake will not sustain the President of the Church.” (That All May Be Edified , p.238-239)

4. Elisha guides Israel in a war with Syria

a) Syria invades Israel and Elisha warns the King of Israel about the attacks and where they will come

b) King of Syria is upset that none of his careful military plans works out and asks what the problem is.

c) READ – 2 Kings 6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

d) King of Syria finds out that Elijah is in the city of Dothan and sends a huge army to surround the city in the night.

e) When morning comes, Elijah and one of his servants wake up and see this massive show of force.

f) Reading 9 – 2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

g) Reading 10 – Jeffrey R. Holland, then President of BYU, said: "In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed."

5. Conclusion