Introduction to the Old Testament
“The First Testament of Jesus Christ”
December 29 - January 4
snippets
Come, Follow Me For Home and Church Old Testament 2026 - Lesson 1 Introduction
<p>For some, the Old Testament is unfamiliar or intimidating. In light of such feelings, we think the following passage from the first lesson in <em>Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026</em>, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is instructive. As we approach a study of the Old Testament this year, we hope that we will be enlightened as we keep the following concepts in mind.</p> <p>“When you consider studying the Old Testament this year, how do you feel? Eager? Uncertain? Afraid? All of these emotions are understandable. The Old Testament is one of the oldest collections of writings in the world, and this can make it both exciting and intimidating. These writings come from an ancient culture that can seem foreign and sometimes strange or even uncomfortable. And yet in these writings we see people having experiences that seem familiar. We recognize gospel themes that witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Yes, people like Abraham, Sarah, Hannah, and Daniel lived lives that, in some ways, were very different from ours. But they also experienced family joy and family discord, moments of faith and moments of uncertainty, and successes and failures—like all of us do. More important, they exercised faith, repented, made covenants, had spiritual experiences, and never gave up on the promise of a Savior. As we learn how God moved in their lives, we also see Him in ours, and we say with the psalmist: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. … Therefore thy servant loveth it’ (Psalm 119:105, 140).”</p>
“Thoughts to Keep in Mind: Reading the Old Testament” from Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026
<p class="p1">When Nephi wanted to inspire his brothers to trust the Lord, he shared stories about Moses and teachings from Isaiah. When the Apostle Paul wanted to encourage the early Christians to have faith in God’s promises, he reminded them about the faith of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Rahab, and others. And when Jesus Christ told the leaders of the Jews to “search the scriptures,” explaining that they “testify of me” (John 5:39), the scriptures He was talking about are the writings we call the Old Testament.</p> <p class="p1">In other words, when you read the Old Testament, you’re reading words that have inspired, comforted, and encouraged people of God for literally thousands of years.</p> <p class="p1">But can something that was written so long ago really help you find solutions to today’s problems? Yes, it can! Especially if you remember who the Old Testament is truly about.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>A Testament of Jesus Christ</strong></p> <p class="p1">Whatever challenges you and your family might be facing, the answer is always Jesus Christ. So to find answers in the Old Testament, look for Him. It won’t always be easy. You may need to ponder patiently and seek spiritual guidance. Sometimes the references to Him seem very direct, as in Isaiah’s declaration, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: … and his name shall be called … The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). In other places, the Savior is represented more subtly, through symbols and similarities—for example, through the descriptions of animal sacrifices or the account of Joseph forgiving his brothers and saving them from famine.</p> <p class="p1">If you seek greater faith in the Savior as you study the Old Testament, you will find it. Perhaps this could be the goal of your study this year. Pray that the Spirit will guide you to find and focus on passages, stories, and prophecies that will bring you closer to Jesus Christ.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>Divinely Preserved</strong></p> <p class="p1">Don’t expect the Old Testament to present a thorough and precise history of humankind. That’s not what the original authors and compilers were trying to create. Their larger concern was to teach something about God—about His plan for His children, about what it means to be His covenant people, and about how to find redemption when we fall short. Sometimes they did it by relating historical events as they understood them, including stories from the lives of great prophets. Genesis is an example of this, and so are books like Joshua, Judges, and 1 and 2 Kings. But other Old Testament writers did not aim to be historical at all. Instead, they taught through works of art like poetry and literature. The Psalms and the Proverbs fit in this category. And then there are the precious words of prophets, such as Isaiah and Malachi, who spoke the word of God to ancient Israel—and, through the miracle of the Bible, still speak to us today.</p> <p class="p1">Did all of these prophets, poets, and compilers know that their words would be read by people all over the world thousands of years later? We don’t know. But we marvel that this is exactly what has happened. Nations rose and fell, cities were conquered, kings lived and died, but the Old Testament outlasted them all, from generation to generation, from scribe to scribe, from translation to translation. Of course some things were lost or modified, and yet somehow so much was miraculously preserved.</p> <p class="p1">These are just a few things to keep in mind as you read the Old Testament this year. God preserved these ancient writings because He knows you and what you are going through. He has prepared a spiritual message for you in these words, which will draw you closer to Him and build your faith in His plan and His Beloved Son. Perhaps He will lead you to a passage or an insight that will bless someone you know—a message you can share with a friend, a family member, or a fellow Saint. There are so many possibilities. Isn’t that exciting to think about?</p> <p class="p1">Nephi said, “My soul delighteth in the scriptures” (2 Nephi 4:15). Maybe you’ll feel the same way as you read many of the same words Nephi read—what we now call the Old Testament.</p> <p class="p1"><strong>Books in the Old Testament</strong></p> <p class="p1">In most Christian versions of the Old Testament, the books are organized differently from how they were arranged when they were first compiled into one collection. So while the Hebrew Bible groups the books into three categories—the law, prophets, and writings—most Christian Bibles arrange the books into four categories: law (Genesis–Deuteronomy), history (Joshua–Esther), poetic books (Job–Song of Solomon), and prophets (Isaiah–Malachi).</p> <p class="p1">Why are these categories important? Because knowing what kind of book you are studying can help you understand how to study it.</p> <p class="p1">Here’s something to keep in mind as you begin reading “the law,” or the first five books of the Old Testament. These books, which are traditionally attributed to Moses, probably passed through the hands of numerous scribes and compilers over time. And we know that, over the centuries, “many parts which are plain and most precious” were taken away from the Bible (see 1 Nephi 13:23–26). Still, the books of Moses are the inspired word of God, even though they are—like any work of God transmitted through mortals—subject to human imperfections (see Moses 1:41; Articles of Faith 1:8). The words of Moroni, referring to the sacred Book of Mormon record that he helped compile, are helpful here: “If there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God” (title page of the Book of Mormon). In other words, a book of scripture doesn’t need to be free from human error to be the word of God.</p> <p class="p1">(from “Thoughts to Keep in Mind: Reading the Old Testament” from <em>Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026</em>)</p>
Finding Christ in the Old Testament
<p>To quote the 2026 Come, Follow Me manual, “One way to find rich spiritual nourishment in the Old Testament is to look for the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.” As an introduction to this principle, over the next four days of this reading plan, we will explore a few Old Testament passages symbolic of the Savior, as well as accompanying New Testament passages that make these connections clear. As you read, please consider: “How do you see the Savior?” “What do these examples teach about Him?” As we continue through the a study of the Old Testament this year, ask yourself: Where do I find Christ in these passages? How might what I am reading be symbolic of Him?</p>
quotes
Daily Bread, Bread of Life
<p>Though the four versions of the Lord’s Prayer are not identical, they all open with a salutation to “Our Father,” signifying a close relationship between God and His children. ... His request for “daily bread” includes a need for spiritual nourishment as well. Jesus, who called Himself “the bread of life,” gave a promise: “He that cometh to me shall never hunger.” And as we partake of sacramental emblems worthily, we are further promised that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. That is spiritual sustenance that cannot be obtained in any other way.</p> <p> </p>
Russell M. Nelson, “Lessons from the Lord's Prayers,” April 2009 General Conference
The Way, The Light, The Life
<p>“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. …</p> <p>“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (1 John 1:1, 4)</p> <p>He said, “I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.” (D&C 19:1)</p> <p>He said, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)</p> <p>He said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)</p> <p>He said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)</p> <p>He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:</p> <p>“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25–26)</p> <p>He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)</p> <p>Jesus Christ is the Way. He is Light and Life, Bread and Water, the Beginning and the End, the Resurrection and the Life, the Savior of the world, the Truth, and the Way.</p> <p>There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. He is the Way.</p>
Lawrence E. Corbridge, “The Way,” October 2008 General Conference
