Teachers: The lessons in the manual contain more information than you will probably be able to teach in one class period. Seek the Spirit of the Lord in selecting the scripture accounts, questions, and other lesson materials that best meet the needs of class members.

Basic Resources

• Do you want to see this week's Gospel Doctrine lesson? Lesson 42

• Would you like to see the class member study guide for this week? Lesson 42

• You can read the assigned scriptures for this week online: Jeremiah 16; 23; 29; 31.

• Do you have an MP3 player? Try downloading Jeremiah 16, which is in this week's reading. For more Old Testament audio, click here.

• The official scripture study aids often have helpful information you can use in your lessons. For example, for this week's lesson, read the paragraphs on "The scattering of Israel" and "The gathering of Israel" under the definition of "Israel" in the Guide to the Scriptures.

Recent Talks and Articles in Church Magazines

Would you like to see what a Church leader has said recently about topics in this week's lesson? Click on the photograph or talk title below to read the complete talk.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson asks these insightful questions: "How can you become converted? How can you make the gospel of Jesus Christ not just an influence in your life but the controlling influence and, indeed, the very core of what you are?" This article provides his answer, taken in part from teachings of the prophet Jeremiah. "The ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of the law of God, the gospel, being written in our hearts. He quotes the Lord speaking about us, His people in the latter days: 'I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people' " ("When Thou Art Converted," Ensign, May 2004, 11). Download this talk or listen to it online in MP3 format.

Music

Below are a few Church hymns that relate to this week's lesson. You could read words from a hymn in class or have your class sing a hymn together. Click on a hymn title below to go to the Church Music site, where you can read or listen to the hymn online. Or, search for other hymns that relate to the lesson.

Jeremiah 31:10–14

• "Come, All Ye Saints of Zion," Hymns, no. 38

Jeremiah 31:10

• "Come, Thou Glorious Day of Promise," Hymns, no. 50

Additional Helps

• You may want to review how love softens hearts by reading "Love Softens Hearts," in Teaching, No Greater Call, pages 31–32.

• It is significant to keep in mind that while Jeremiah is often regarded as a prophet of doom, he also spoke of a gathering and restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 16) and even a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34). You may want to ask the class to discuss examples of this theme during the lesson.

• What does the Lord mean when he says He will write the law in their hearts in Jeremiah 31:33?

• One of the most important and powerful devices used by the Lord during Jeremiah’s ministry was metaphor and symbolism. You may want to spend a few minutes in class discussing what a metaphor is, what the use of symbolism accomplishes, and why the Lord instructed Jeremiah to use metaphor and symbolism during his ministry.

Historical Context

• Jeremiah 31:31–34 is recognized as a high point of Jeremiah’s prophecies. This passage contains the only Old Testament use of the phrase "new covenant." Thus, most scholars recognize that the Old Testament is really the "Old Covenant" and the New Testament the "New Covenant," emphasizing the importance of covenants in the gospel plan from Adam to modern times. This passage is also the longest sequence of Old Testament verses to be quoted in the New Testament (see Hebrews 8:8–12; 10:16–17).

• The Lord often instructed Jeremiah to use vivid symbolism to illustrate and emphasize His message: a ruined (marred) and useless girdle or belt (Jeremiah 13:1–11), a mess of potter’s clay (Jeremiah 18), a smashed clay bottle or jar (Jeremiah 19:1–12), and straps or bonds and a yoke (Jeremiah 27). These were graphic depictions of the Lord’s message.