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““Lesson 31: The Wisdom Lesson 31: The Wisdom of King Solomon,” of King Solomon,”

Primary 6: Old Primary 6: Old Testament, Testament, (1996),135(1996),135

Name things you would ask Name things you would ask for if you could ask Heavenly for if you could ask Heavenly Father for anything and he Father for anything and he would give it to you. would give it to you.

I will write your ideas on the I will write your ideas on the board. board.

The coins I am The coins I am putting in the putting in the container container represent worldly represent worldly goods. goods.

Some people go Some people go through life through life spending a lot of spending a lot of time and effort on time and effort on accumulating accumulating material goods. material goods.

Now I am going to add some Now I am going to add some water to the container. water to the container.

The water The water represents good represents good deeds or spiritual deeds or spiritual gifts we can gifts we can develop.develop.

We can help a We can help a family member or family member or friend, gain a friend, gain a testimony, be testimony, be honest, or have an honest, or have an understanding understanding heart. heart.

Now I am going Now I am going to pour the to pour the contents of the contents of the container container through a through a strainer into strainer into another another container. container.

The first The first container container represents life, represents life, the strainer the strainer represents death, represents death, and the second and the second container container represents life represents life after death. after death.

We cannot take We cannot take material goods with material goods with us when we die.us when we die.

We take with us We take with us the spiritual gifts the spiritual gifts we have developed we have developed and the good and the good deeds we have deeds we have done. done.

Which of the items on the board Which of the items on the board represent things that could last represent things that could last forever?forever?

Would you like to change anything Would you like to change anything you named before?you named before?

In today’s lesson, we are going to In today’s lesson, we are going to learn about someone who was able learn about someone who was able to ask God for one thing. He chose to ask God for one thing. He chose an eternal, spiritual gift instead of an eternal, spiritual gift instead of a temporary, earthly one. a temporary, earthly one.

The Wisdom The Wisdom of King of King

SolomonSolomon

David was king for a David was king for a long time. long time.

When he became old When he became old he wanted his son he wanted his son Solomon to be the Solomon to be the next king. next king.

David asked Nathan, David asked Nathan, the prophet, to the prophet, to anoint Solomon to be anoint Solomon to be king. king.

David told Solomon to obey God’s David told Solomon to obey God’s commandments.commandments.

When David died Solomon became When David died Solomon became the king of Israel. He loved God. the king of Israel. He loved God.

He asked God to He asked God to help him be a help him be a good king. God good king. God was happy was happy Solomon wanted Solomon wanted to be righteous. to be righteous.

God wanted to bless Solomon. God wanted to bless Solomon. God asked Solomon what God asked Solomon what blessing he would like. blessing he would like. Solomon wanted to be wise. Solomon wanted to be wise.

God was God was glad glad Solomon Solomon chose to be chose to be wise. wise.

He told Solomon to obey his He told Solomon to obey his commandments. Then commandments. Then Solomon would be wise. Solomon would be wise.

Solomon became the wisest man Solomon became the wisest man on earth. People came from on earth. People came from other lands to ask him questions. other lands to ask him questions. He gave them wise answers. He gave them wise answers.

Kings and Kings and queens queens came to see came to see him. They him. They brought him brought him beautiful beautiful gifts. gifts.

The Israelites The Israelites came to King came to King Solomon when Solomon when they needed they needed help.help.

One day two women came to One day two women came to him with a baby boy. The him with a baby boy. The women said they lived in the women said they lived in the same house. same house.

They each had a baby boy, but They each had a baby boy, but one of the babies died. one of the babies died.

Each mother said the living Each mother said the living baby was hers. They wanted baby was hers. They wanted King Solomon to tell them who King Solomon to tell them who could keep the baby. could keep the baby.

Solomon wanted Solomon wanted to find out which to find out which woman was the woman was the baby’s real baby’s real mother. He had a mother. He had a wise plan. wise plan.

He asked for a sword. He told a He asked for a sword. He told a servant to cut the baby in half. servant to cut the baby in half. He told the women they would He told the women they would each have half of the baby. each have half of the baby.

Solomon Solomon wanted to wanted to see what see what the the women women would do. would do.

Solomon would not really let the Solomon would not really let the baby be cut in half. baby be cut in half.

She did not want the baby to She did not want the baby to be hurt. She loved the baby. be hurt. She loved the baby. She said the other woman She said the other woman could have him.could have him.

He knew the baby’s He knew the baby’s mother would not mother would not let her son be hurt.let her son be hurt.

One mother told One mother told Solomon not to cut Solomon not to cut the baby in half. the baby in half.

The real mother The real mother did not want the did not want the baby to be hurt. baby to be hurt.

Solomon gave Solomon gave the baby to her. the baby to her.

The other woman told Solomon The other woman told Solomon to cut the baby in half.to cut the baby in half.

Then Solomon knew who should Then Solomon knew who should keep the baby. keep the baby.

Soon all the Soon all the Israelites heard what Israelites heard what had happened. They had happened. They knew God had made knew God had made Solomon wise.Solomon wise.

There was peace in the land of There was peace in the land of Israel. Israel.

God said King Solomon should God said King Solomon should build a temple in Jerusalem. It build a temple in Jerusalem. It would be the house of God. would be the house of God.

Thousands of Thousands of people helped people helped build the build the temple. It was temple. It was made of stone made of stone and wood.and wood.

Men brought Men brought the best wood the best wood from far away. from far away.

They cut large stones for the They cut large stones for the walls of the temple. walls of the temple.

The temple was The temple was beautiful and had beautiful and had rooms with walls and rooms with walls and floors covered in floors covered in gold. There was a gold. There was a golden altar in one golden altar in one room.room.

Another room had a Another room had a baptismal font on the baptismal font on the backs of twelve oxen. backs of twelve oxen. The oxen were made The oxen were made of brass. of brass.

It took seven years to It took seven years to build the temple. At build the temple. At last it was finished. last it was finished.

The priests brought The priests brought the ark of the the ark of the covenant from the covenant from the tabernacle. They put tabernacle. They put the ark in the temple. the ark in the temple.

The two stones the Lord had The two stones the Lord had written the commandments on written the commandments on were in the ark. were in the ark.

The priests of Israel came to the The priests of Israel came to the temple. They sang songs and temple. They sang songs and thanked God for the temple. thanked God for the temple.

The cloud that The cloud that had been over had been over the tabernacle the tabernacle filled the filled the temple. The temple. The temple was temple was the house of the house of God.God.

Solomon spoke to the Solomon spoke to the Israelites. He told Israelites. He told them to obey God’s them to obey God’s commandments.commandments.

Then Solomon Then Solomon prayed to God. He prayed to God. He asked God to asked God to forgive the people forgive the people when they had when they had repented. repented.

Solomon made Solomon made sacrifices to God. sacrifices to God. Fire from heaven Fire from heaven came down to the came down to the altar. The fire altar. The fire burned the burned the sacrifices. sacrifices.

The people The people worshiped God. worshiped God. They thanked him They thanked him for the temple. for the temple.

God spoke to God spoke to Solomon. He said if Solomon. He said if Solomon and the Solomon and the Israelites were Israelites were righteous he would righteous he would bless them forever. bless them forever.

Solomon was the Solomon was the king of Israel for a king of Israel for a long time. He long time. He obeyed God for obeyed God for many years. many years.

Solomon had many Solomon had many wives. Some of his wives. Some of his wives did not wives did not believe in God. believe in God. They worshiped They worshiped idols. idols.

When Solomon was When Solomon was old, he forgot God. old, he forgot God. His wives wanted His wives wanted him to worship their him to worship their idols. idols.

Solomon did the Solomon did the wrong thing. He wrong thing. He made sacrifices to made sacrifices to the idols. God was the idols. God was angry at him.angry at him.

God said God said Solomon’s Solomon’s kingdom would be kingdom would be divided after he divided after he died. died.

What advice What advice did David did David give to his give to his son Solomon? son Solomon?

Let’s read 1 Let’s read 1 Kings 2:1–3Kings 2:1–3

How can we apply this same How can we apply this same advice in our lives? advice in our lives?

Why do you think Solomon referred Why do you think Solomon referred to himself as “a little child”? to himself as “a little child”?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:7Let’s read 1 Kings 3:7 He felt inadequate in his He felt inadequate in his

calling to rule and judge his calling to rule and judge his people.people.

What did Solomon do because he What did Solomon do because he felt inadequate? felt inadequate?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:3–9Let’s read 1 Kings 3:3–9 He prepared himself to He prepared himself to

receive spiritual gifts.receive spiritual gifts. What should we do if we are facing What should we do if we are facing

a difficult or overwhelming task a difficult or overwhelming task and we are unsure of our abilities? and we are unsure of our abilities?

How can we become worthy to How can we become worthy to receive spiritual gifts? receive spiritual gifts?

Knowledge -Knowledge - learning learning gained through study or gained through study or experienceexperience

Wisdom -Wisdom - using what we using what we have learned in the best way have learned in the best way to make right choicesto make right choices

An Understanding An Understanding Heart - Heart - enables us to know enables us to know how others feelhow others feel Enrichment Activity #1

What are some situations where What are some situations where you might ask Heavenly Father to you might ask Heavenly Father to bless you with knowledge, bless you with knowledge, wisdom, or an understanding wisdom, or an understanding heart?heart?

You can receive these gifts if you You can receive these gifts if you seek them and live a worthy life. seek them and live a worthy life.

How can we develop these gifts? How can we develop these gifts? Through study, service, prayer, Through study, service, prayer,

and following the promptings of and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.the Holy Ghost. Enrichment Activity #1

Let’s look at the ideas we Let’s look at the ideas we listed on the board earlier for listed on the board earlier for spiritual gifts and figure out spiritual gifts and figure out how develop and use them. how develop and use them.

Let’s look at the worldly gifts Let’s look at the worldly gifts and put some spiritual gifts and put some spiritual gifts in their place of the worldly. in their place of the worldly.

How can we develop and use How can we develop and use them?them?

Enrichment Activity #2

What was Solomon told to do? What was Solomon told to do? What did Solomon ask for? What did Solomon ask for?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:9 & 2 Chronicles Let’s read 1 Kings 3:9 & 2 Chronicles 1:101:10

Who appeared Who appeared to Solomon in a to Solomon in a dream? dream?

Let’s read 1 Let’s read 1 Kings 3:5Kings 3:5

Why were Why were wisdom and an wisdom and an understanding understanding heart so heart so important to important to Solomon? Solomon?

Why should Why should they be they be important to us? important to us?

How did the Lord feel about How did the Lord feel about Solomon’s request? Solomon’s request?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:10Let’s read 1 Kings 3:10 God was pleased with Solomon God was pleased with Solomon

when he asked for spiritual gifts when he asked for spiritual gifts instead of riches or selfish desires. instead of riches or selfish desires.

What did the Lord give Solomon in What did the Lord give Solomon in addition to what Solomon asked addition to what Solomon asked for? for?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:11–14 Let’s read 1 Kings 3:11–14

What was King What was King Solomon known Solomon known for throughout his for throughout his own country and own country and other nations? other nations?

Let’s read 1 Let’s read 1 Kings 4:29–30, Kings 4:29–30,

3434 Why was this more important Why was this more important

than being known for his than being known for his wealth and power? wealth and power?

What What Christlike Christlike quality would quality would you like to be you like to be known for known for among your among your family and family and friends? friends?

What can you What can you do to develop do to develop this quality? this quality?

Because Solomon, through his Because Solomon, through his wisdom and understanding, was wisdom and understanding, was able to judge righteously, the able to judge righteously, the people brought their problems people brought their problems to him. to him.

In one such case, why did both In one such case, why did both women claim to be the mother women claim to be the mother of the living child? of the living child?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:16–Let’s read 1 Kings 3:16–2222

How did How did Solomon’s Solomon’s wisdom help wisdom help him discover him discover the real the real mother? mother?

Let’s read 1 Kings 3:24–27Let’s read 1 Kings 3:24–27 Solomon’s understanding Solomon’s understanding

helped him know how the helped him know how the baby’s mother was feeling.baby’s mother was feeling.

How does it make others feel How does it make others feel when you are kind and when you are kind and understanding toward them? understanding toward them?

How have you helped someone How have you helped someone by being kind and understanding? by being kind and understanding?

How has someone helped you How has someone helped you this way?this way?

What do you think it means to have What do you think it means to have “largeness of heart”? “largeness of heart”?

Let’s read 1 Kings 4:29Let’s read 1 Kings 4:29 To show love for everyone and to To show love for everyone and to

be kind and generous to others.be kind and generous to others. How can we have “largeness of How can we have “largeness of

heart” in our families? with our heart” in our families? with our friends?friends?

Let’s read 1 Let’s read 1 Kings 3:27–Kings 3:27–28; chapter 28; chapter headings to 1 headings to 1 Kings 5–8Kings 5–8

What did Solomon accomplish What did Solomon accomplish because the Lord blessed him because the Lord blessed him with wisdom and with wisdom and understanding? understanding?

Solomon did much good during Solomon did much good during his reign as king. his reign as king.

He received He received permission permission from the from the Lord to build Lord to build a temple in a temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem.

He built it with the finest He built it with the finest materials that had been materials that had been collected by his father, David, collected by his father, David, for that purpose. for that purpose.

David, Solomon’s father, had David, Solomon’s father, had wanted to build a temple but wanted to build a temple but was denied the privilege. was denied the privilege.

The Lord The Lord instead chose instead chose Solomon to Solomon to direct the direct the seven years of seven years of construction. construction.

Enrichment Activity #3

When the elaborate temple When the elaborate temple was finished, the priests carried was finished, the priests carried in the ark of the covenant. in the ark of the covenant.

Let’s read 1 Kings 8:6Let’s read 1 Kings 8:6Enrichment Activity #3

The ark The ark contained the contained the two tablets of two tablets of stone the Lord stone the Lord gave Moses, “to gave Moses, “to the most holy the most holy place” of the place” of the building.building.

The glory of the The glory of the Lord filled the Lord filled the temple.temple.

Let’s read 1 Let’s read 1 Kings 8:10–11 Kings 8:10–11

Solomon offered the Solomon offered the dedicatory prayer.dedicatory prayer.

Let’s read 1 Kings Let’s read 1 Kings 8:22–53 8:22–53

Enrichment Activity #3

Each temple today has a baptismal Each temple today has a baptismal font resting on twelve oxen, similar font resting on twelve oxen, similar to that in Solomon’s temple.to that in Solomon’s temple.

Enrichment Activity #3

In Solomon’s day In Solomon’s day this font was used this font was used to baptize the to baptize the living; in our living; in our temples today the temples today the fonts are used to fonts are used to perform baptisms perform baptisms for the dead. for the dead.

Solomon also Solomon also shared his shared his wisdom with wisdom with others. others.

Many of his Many of his wise sayings wise sayings were recorded were recorded in the book of in the book of Proverbs in Proverbs in the Bible. the Bible.

Find the Find the book of book of Proverbs Proverbs in your in your Bible.Bible.

Most of these proverbs (wise Most of these proverbs (wise sayings) were written by sayings) were written by Solomon, and because of his Solomon, and because of his great wisdom, these sayings great wisdom, these sayings can help us today. can help us today.

Enrichment Activity #4

In this container are In this container are papers with papers with passages from passages from Proverbs. Proverbs.

Take turns choosing Take turns choosing a paper from the a paper from the container. container.

Enrichment Activity #4

Read the proverb and put it in Read the proverb and put it in your own words.your own words.

How does it apply to you?How does it apply to you?

Choose one Choose one of the of the proverbs to proverbs to memorize memorize and share and share with your with your family. family.

Enrichment Activity #4

Solomon’s Proverbsa. “Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). b. “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10). c. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). d. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13). e. “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22). f. “A soft answer turneth away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). g. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance” (Proverbs 15:13). h. “The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). i. “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!” (Proverbs 16:16). j. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

k. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). l. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty” (Proverbs 16:32). m. “A friend loveth at all times” (Proverbs 17:17). n. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). o. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). p. “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Proverbs 20:11). q. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). r. “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me” (Proverbs 24:29). s. “A faithful man shall abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20). t. “Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

Despite Solomon’s Despite Solomon’s accomplishments, he eventually accomplishments, he eventually turned away from God. turned away from God.

He used his riches and wisdom He used his riches and wisdom for his own glory. for his own glory.

He also married women outside He also married women outside of the covenant. These women of the covenant. These women worshiped idols and persuaded worshiped idols and persuaded Solomon to worship idols also. Solomon to worship idols also.

When God gives us a gift, When God gives us a gift, we should use it to glorify we should use it to glorify him and serve others. him and serve others.

It is extremely important to It is extremely important to use these gifts properly use these gifts properly throughout our lives, not throughout our lives, not just when we are young.just when we are young.

As I have loved you,As I have loved you,Love one another.Love one another.This new commandment:This new commandment:Love one another.Love one another.By this shall men knowBy this shall men knowYe are my disciples,Ye are my disciples,If ye have loveIf ye have loveOne to another.One to another.

Words:Words: Luacine Clark Fox, 1914–2002 Luacine Clark Fox, 1914–2002 Music:Music: Luacine Clark Fox, 1914–2002; arr. by Jo Marie Borgeson Bray, 1925–1998 Luacine Clark Fox, 1914–2002; arr. by Jo Marie Borgeson Bray, 1925–1998

© 1961 by Luacine C. Fox. Copyright renewed 1989.© 1961 by Luacine C. Fox. Copyright renewed 1989. Enrichment Activity #5

I testify that as I testify that as you develop the you develop the ability to be ability to be wise and to wise and to have an have an understanding understanding heart toward heart toward your family and your family and friends, you will friends, you will become more become more like the Savior. like the Savior.

Images and clipart are from lds.org, Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the websites indicating the images were in the public domain. The hymns, scripture story and public domain. The hymns, scripture story and lesson are primarily from www.lds.org.lesson are primarily from www.lds.org.

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The presentation is intended to supplement, The presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual or scriptures. not replace, the lesson manual or scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.and conducting the lesson.