“I Am Doing a Great Work”

Day 1 · The Return Begins

1. Which Persian king decreed that the Jews could return and rebuild the temple?
2. What had moved Cyrus to make this decree?
3. What did the returned exiles build first, even before the temple?
4. When the temple foundation was laid, why did the sound mix shouting with weeping?
5. Related material: Cyrus freeing the Jews fulfilled a striking prophecy — a prophet had named “Cyrus” by name about 150 years before he was born. Which prophet?

Day 2 · Ezra Prepares His Heart

1. How did the people keep the dedication when the temple was at last finished?
2. Ezra “prepared his heart” to do three things. What were they?
3. What kind of man was Ezra called?
4. Under which Persian king did Ezra go up to Jerusalem?
5. What was Ezra's purpose in Jerusalem?

Day 3 · Nehemiah's Burden

1. What was Nehemiah's position in the Persian court?
2. Why was Nehemiah sad before the king?
3. Before answering the king's question, what did Nehemiah do?
4. What did Nehemiah do at night soon after arriving in Jerusalem?
5. What did Nehemiah say to rally the people to the work?

Day 4 · A Great Work

1. Who mocked and conspired to stop the wall-building?
2. How did the builders work while under threat of attack?
3. When enemies tried to lure Nehemiah into a meeting to harm him, how did he answer?
4. How long did it take to finish the wall?
5. When the wall was finished, what did even Judah's enemies perceive?

Day 5 · The Joy of the Lord

1. Who read the book of the law to the people from morning until midday?
2. How did the people respond as they heard and understood the law?
3. What were the weeping people told, instead of mourning?
4. What did the leaders tell the people to do with their abundance that day?
5. What feast did the people keep as they rediscovered the law?

Day 6 · Staying Focused on What Matters

1. When enemies repeatedly tried to lure Nehemiah away from rebuilding the wall, he refused, saying he was doing a great work and could not come down. How can we apply this today?
2. Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach” it in Israel. What does his example teach about learning the gospel?
3. Despite ridicule and threats, Nehemiah's workers rebuilt Jerusalem's wall because “the people had a mind to work.” What can we apply from this?

Day 7 · “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down”

1. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught that like Nehemiah, we should respond to distraction and opposition by saying what?
2. Elder Uchtdorf told of a jumbo jet that crashed because the whole crew became fixated on a single burned-out lightbulb and stopped flying the plane. What was his lesson?
3. Elder Uchtdorf taught, “We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.” How does that counsel apply to us?