Lesson 35: Naaman Is Healed, Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996),154
The following message will give you instructions on how to find something you like!
Erase or cross out every other letter of the message starting with the first letter of each word. Don t tell what it says until everyone else is done!
Did obedience to the instructions lead you to a pleasant surprise?
In this lesson we will learn about an important military leader who followed the instructions of a prophet and was healed from a terrible disease.
As captain of the king s army, Naaman was an important man in the country of Syria. He was a good and valiant man, but he was a leper. He was very sick. He had sores on his body. His skin was falling off.
Naaman s wife had a little maid from the land of Israel. The maid told Naaman s wife that if Naaman were with the prophet, the prophet would heal him.
When the king of Syria heard this, he sent Naaman to the king of Israel with gifts of silver and gold and a letter asking the king of Israel to heal Naaman of his leprosy.
The king of Israel could not cure Naaman. He was frightened that Syria would start a war with Israel if Naaman was not healed. The King was so unhappy that he tore his clothes. Elisha was then the prophet. He told the king to send Naaman to him.
So Naaman went with his horses and his chariot and stood at the door of Elisha s house. Elisha sent his servant to talk to Naaman. He told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then Naaman would be healed.
Naaman was angry because Elisha did not come out to heal him. He said that there were better rivers in Syria. Why couldn t he just wash in one of those rivers? Naaman decided not to do what the prophet counseled.
Naaman did not want to do what Elisha said. He started for home. His servants asked him if he would have done something difficult to be healed. They asked him why he wouldn t do something easy to be healed if he was willing to do something difficult.
Naaman thought it over, then went to the Jordan River and washed himself seven times as the prophet Elisha had instructed him. When he came out of the river, he was completely healed.
Naaman returned to Elisha s house, happy and thankful. Naaman tried repeatedly to give Elisha gifts because he was so grateful. Each time, Elisha refused the gifts.
Naaman told Elisha that he knew that he had been healed by the power of God, and he promised that from then on he would worship only God. After he left, Naaman noticed Gehazi, Elisha s servant, running after him.
Gehazi lied and told Naaman that Elisha had changed his mind about the gifts. Naaman gave the gold and silver and clothing to Gehazi and continued on his journey home. Gehazi hid the gifts in his own home and returned to Elisha.
When Elisha asked where he had been Gehazi lied and said he hadn t gone anywhere. Elisha told Gehazi he knew what he had done. Because of his lies and wicked acts, he was cursed with leprosy.
What kind of a man was Naaman? Let s read 2 Kings 5:1 What disease was he afflicted with? Leprosy is a skin disease. Because people feared catching it, lepers were often cast out of cities and had to live in designated areas with other lepers.
Who told Naaman s wife that there was a prophet of God in Samaria who could heal Naaman of leprosy? Let s read 2 Kings 5:2 3 What does this tell us about this faithful Israelite girl? How can our faith help others?
Why was the king of Israel upset when he received the letter from the king of Syria asking him to heal Naaman? Let s read 2 Kings 5:7 The power a king has is different from the power of the priesthood that Elisha had. The king did not have the power to heal. He feared there would be a war with Syria if Naaman was not healed.
What instructions did Elisha send to Naaman through a messenger. Let s read 2 Kings 5:10 Why did Naaman get angry? Elisha sent a servant instead of coming himself, and the answer was so simple.
When might we disregard simple messages from Heavenly Father because we want answers that are more spectacular? Why do we do this?
The following quotation is by President Spencer W. Kimball: Expecting the spectacular, one may not be fully alerted to the constant flow of revealed communication (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, p. 115; or Ensign, May 1977, p. 78). Enrichment Activity #2
When Joseph Smith was a boy reading the scriptures, inspiration came to him to go into the woods and pray about which church to join. Enrichment Activity #2
Do you have an experience of your own when you were inspired through simple means? Enrichment Activity #2
How might answers come in situations such as the following?: Someone is praying to know if the Church is true. Someone is praying for help with a difficult class in school. Someone is praying to get along better with friends or family members. Enrichment Activity #2
How did Naaman s servants convince him to do what the prophet Elisha told him to do? Let s read 2 Kings 5:13 What should we do if we don t want to follow the teachings of the prophet?
What happened when Naaman obeyed Elisha s instructions? Let s read 2 Kings 5:14 What happens when we obey the prophet?
President Thomas S. Monson told us Reaching out to others is one way you can share the gospel every day. Each time you tell the truth, are helpful and kind to your friends, or live the gospel standards, you are sharing the gospel. Enrichment Activity #3
President Thomas S. Monson told us When you do these things, you are planting tiny seeds of the gospel in people s hearts. Some of those seeds may someday grow into beautiful, strong testimonies of the gospel. Enrichment Activity #3
Listening to what the prophet is teaching us to do and obeying what he asks us to do will bless our lives. Enrichment Activity #3
What should we do if we want to receive a special blessing, such as to be healed?
President David O. McKay was in Berlin, Germany, in 1952 when he received a message from one of the members of the Church in that mission a sister whose husband and eldest son had both been killed. She had been driven from her home. Enrichment Activity #4
Because of exposure and lack of nutrition she finally became paralyzed and had been confined to her bed for five years. She expressed the desire that her two little children a boy and a girl about ten and twelve years of age be sent over to meet the President of the Church. Enrichment Activity #4
This good sister said, I know if I send my children to shake hands with President McKay, and then they come home and take my hand if I can hold their little hands in mine I know that I shall get better. Enrichment Activity #4
Arrangements were made for them to take the trip. President McKay said, When that little girl and boy came along, I went to them and shook their hands, and said, Will you take this handkerchief to your mother with my blessing? Enrichment Activity #4
I later learned that after I had shaken hands with them, they would not shake hands with anyone else, for they did not want to touch anyone with their hands until they got back to their mother. Enrichment Activity #4
The mission president s wife later reported, Immediately after the children came home, her feet and toes began to get feeling in them, and this feeling slowly moved up into her legs Enrichment Activity #4
And now she gets out of bed alone and seats herself on a chair, and then with her feet and the chair, works all the way around to the kitchen sink. She has the children bring her the dishes to wash, and other things, and is very thankful that she is able to help now. (Adapted from Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss, rev. ed. [1976], pp. 142 44.) Enrichment Activity #4
People may be healed: According to their faith in Jesus Christ. If they are worthy and have done their part. If it is the will of the Lord. Enrichment Activity #4
When Naaman offered Elisha money and clothes, why did Elisha refuse? Naaman was healed by Heavenly Father through the power of the priesthood. Priesthood holders cannot use the priesthood to gain recognition or wealth.
What should we do to express our gratitude for the help we receive and to repay those people who help us?
What lie did Gehazi tell Naaman? Let s read 2 Kings 5:21 22 After putting the money and clothes in his house, how did Gehazi answer Elisha s question of where he had been? Let s read 2 Kings 5:25
What can happen if we tell lies? Who is harmed most when we tell a lie?
What did Elisha say would happen to Gehazi for what he had done? Let s read 2 Kings 5:27 How did Gehazi look when he left Elisha s presence? Gehazi s appearance, being as white as snow, was a symptom of leprosy.
Let s role-play Naaman s wife, the Israelite servant girl, Naaman, Elisha, Elisha s messenger, Naaman s servant, and Gehazi. Enrichment Activity #1
Follow the Prophet 1. Adam was a prophet, first one that we know. In a place called Eden, he helped things to grow. Adam served the Lord by following his ways. We are his descendants in the latter days. 2. Enoch was a prophet; he taught what was good. People in his city did just what they should. When they were so righteous that there was no sin, Heav nly Father took them up to live with him. 3. Noah was a prophet called to preach the word, Tried to cry repentance, but nobody heard. They were busy sinning Noah preached in vain. They wished they had listened when they saw the rain. 4. Abraham the prophet prayed to have a son, So the Lord sent Isaac as the chosen one. Isaac begat Jacob, known as Israel; Jacob s sons were twelve tribes, so the Bible tells. 5. Moses was a prophet sent to Israel. He would lead them to the promised land to dwell. They were slow to follow, or so it appears. They were in the wilderness for forty years. 6. Samuel was a prophet chosen as a boy. Hannah promised God her son would serve with joy. In the tabernacle, Samuel heard his name; He was called by God and answered, Here I am! 7. Jonah was a prophet, tried to run away, But he later learned to listen and obey. When we really try, the Lord won t let us fail: That s what Jonah learned deep down inside the whale. 8. Daniel was a prophet. He refused to sin; So the king threw Daniel in the lion s den. Angels calmed the lions, and the king soon saw Daniel s pow r was great, for he obeyed God s law. 9. Now we have a world where people are confused. If you don t believe it, go and watch the news. We can get direction all along our way, If we heed the prophets follow what they say. Chorus Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; don t go astray. Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; he knows the way. Words and music: Duane E. Hiatt, b. 1937. 1989 IRI Enrichment Activity #5
I bear my testimony of the importance of following the counsel of righteous leaders and the blessings that come to our lives through this obedience.
Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public domain. The hymns, scripture story and lesson are primarily from www.lds.org. Portions of articles were combined with the scripture story from the following articles: Beverly Webecke Ahlstrom, Elisha and Naaman, Friend, Jul 1990, 39 Sandra Stallings, Naaman the Syrian, Friend, Feb 1987, 48 Ralph W. Hardy Jr., Naaman and Gehazi: A Contrast in Obedience, Ensign, Aug 2002, 27 Please do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference. The presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual or scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.