Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Haggai and Zechariah emphasize getting back to what matters most. Both of these prophets had a vision to build – not just a temple, but individuals and a people. In our study, we will look at Haggai’s invitation to “consider your ways.” we will also look at some of the most quoted prophecies of Christ’s ministry.
Year Event
539 B.C. Cyrus Edict.
536 B.C. First wave returns to Jerusalem (Ezra 2).
536 B.C. Temple altar set up (Ezra 3:1-3).
530-522 B.C. Cambyses rules Babylon. Less sympathetic towards vassal states.
530-522 B.C. Samaritans and local landowner opposition. The temple reconstruction stalls.
520 B.C. Haggai called as a prophet (Hag 1:1).
520 B.C. Zechariah called two months later (Zch 1:1).
“This was a time when the outlying provinces of the Persian Empire, each under their appointed governor (1:1), were deprived of direct help from the central government. The enlightened policy of encouraging local autonomy in secular and religious affairs initiated by Cyrus, by whose decree the first return of Jews had begun in 536 B.C., had ceased with his death some 6 years later. His son Cambyses (530-522) showed less sympathy to vassal states and this doubtless contributed to the failure of the Jewish people to press forward with the reconstruction of the Temple at Jerusalem where work had come to a standstill soon after the arrival of the first returnees under Sheshbazzar, the Judean governor nominated by the Persians. This interruption was prolonged by the opposition of the Samaritans and local landowners which led to a prohibition of further work. … Morale was low and men concentrated on the betterment of their own circumstances. To them it was an inappropriate time to spend effort and wealth on God's house (1:2)." (D. Guthrie and J. A. Motyer, eds., The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 781.)
Elder L. Tom Perry: "I have read this great scripture [Hag 1:6] and continue to be impressed with how clearly the Old Testament prophet describes the conditions of today. Almost daily we read of those who invest for little return. We eat food so refined that the nourishment is lacking. We witness the drink that can never satisfy the thirst for those who drink; the dressing for style, rather than warmth, comfort, and modesty; the high wages of the wage earner today which still do not satisfy or supply his needs.
“A noted historian several years ago summarized the reasons for the fall of Rome as follows: The breakdown of the family and the rapid increase of divorce. The spiraling rise of taxes and extravagant spending. The mounting craze for pleasure and the brutalization of sports. The decay of religion into myriads of confused forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide.
"Our unconquered appetites and consuming drive for material possessions appear to be leading us on a course so often repeated in history. Greed, lust, and desire historically have only led mankind to waste, destruction, and suffering.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1973, p. 14; or Ensign, July 1973, p. 20.)
Newspaper title for Haggai:
“The temple of Solomon had been destroyed some sixty-six years before, so there would be relatively few still living who would have remembered the house of the Lord "in her first glory." (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, 390.)
Absence from the second temple:
If the "desire of all nations" refers to the coming of the Messiah ("the Anointed One"-Jesus Christ), then the "latter house temple" that would be greater than the former (Solomon's temple) would refer to the temple in existence at the time of Christ. (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, 390.)
“As the Second Coming approaches, we, like the exiles of Haggai’s day, must gather, build temples, and live worthily to enter therein. For more than fifteen years, the Jews justified their inattention to the Lord’s will that they construct the temple. The result was predictable— they did not prosper. So it is today: if we fail to heed the revelations of our time we will be guilty of “a very grievous sin” and will be the recipients of sore chastisement from the Lord (D&C 95:3). However, if we do follow the direction of our prophets and focus on the temple, we will find that the peace and glory of this “latter house” shall be great (Haggai 2:9).” (Blair Van Dyke and Kelley Ogden, Religious Educator, Vol.4, No. 3, 2003)
Joseph Smith: “We need the temple more than anything else." (Journal History of the Church, May 4, 1844)
Zerubbabel’s ties to Christ:
Harold B. Lee: “My text today is taken from the "Hosanna shout" which sounded from the multitude who jubilantly acclaimed Jesus, the lowly Nazarene as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem from Bethany on a colt which had been borrowed for that occasion. As the animal upon which he rode had been designated in their literature as the "ancient symbol of Jewish royalty" Zech. 9:9 and their acquaintanceship with the might of His Messianic power impressed the appropriateness of his kingly right to such an entry, they cast their garments before him and cast palm branches and other foliage in His path as though carpeting the way of a king. What might at first have been but the humble testimony of a faithful few, increased into a mighty chorus of voices as the multitude shouted in harmony:
"Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, to the Son of David.
“And then perhaps as they remembered the angels' announcement to the shepherds on the night of His birth, they reverently repeated the theme of the angels' song: "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." And again, probably remembering the charge he had given His disciples to carry on after he would be taken from them, and as a supplication for their Master and those who would carry on after His ascension, as well as in the remembrance of the ancient prophets whom they revered, came the expressions of adulation from the multitude: "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Conference Report, Apr. 1955, p. 17.)
Parley P. Pratt: "Zechariah says the Mount of Olives shall cleave in twain, from east to west, and one-half of the mountain shall remove to the north while the other half falls off the south, suddenly forming a very great valley into which the Jews shall flee for protection from their enemies as they fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah.
“Then will the Jews behold that long, long-expected Messiah coming in power to their deliverance, as they always looked for him. He will destroy their enemies, and deliver them from trouble at the very time they are in the utmost consternation, and about to be swallowed up by their enemies.
“But what will be their astonishment when they are about to fall at the feet of their deliver and acknowledge him their Messiah! They discover the wounds which were once made in his hands, feet, and side; and on inquiry, at once recognize Jesus of Nazareth, the King of Jews, the man so long rejected. (Voice of Warning, page 32-33)
Themes in Zechariah
Teaching Thoughts:
Year Event
539 B.C. Cyrus Edict.
536 B.C. First wave returns to Jerusalem (Ezra 2).
536 B.C. Temple altar set up (Ezra 3:1-3).
530-522 B.C. Cambyses rules Babylon. Less sympathetic towards vassal states.
530-522 B.C. Samaritans and local landowner opposition. The temple reconstruction stalls.
520 B.C. Haggai called as a prophet (Hag 1:1).
520 B.C. Zechariah called two months later (Zch 1:1).
“This was a time when the outlying provinces of the Persian Empire, each under their appointed governor (1:1), were deprived of direct help from the central government. The enlightened policy of encouraging local autonomy in secular and religious affairs initiated by Cyrus, by whose decree the first return of Jews had begun in 536 B.C., had ceased with his death some 6 years later. His son Cambyses (530-522) showed less sympathy to vassal states and this doubtless contributed to the failure of the Jewish people to press forward with the reconstruction of the Temple at Jerusalem where work had come to a standstill soon after the arrival of the first returnees under Sheshbazzar, the Judean governor nominated by the Persians. This interruption was prolonged by the opposition of the Samaritans and local landowners which led to a prohibition of further work. … Morale was low and men concentrated on the betterment of their own circumstances. To them it was an inappropriate time to spend effort and wealth on God's house (1:2)." (D. Guthrie and J. A. Motyer, eds., The New Bible Commentary: Revised, p. 781.)
Elder L. Tom Perry: "I have read this great scripture [Hag 1:6] and continue to be impressed with how clearly the Old Testament prophet describes the conditions of today. Almost daily we read of those who invest for little return. We eat food so refined that the nourishment is lacking. We witness the drink that can never satisfy the thirst for those who drink; the dressing for style, rather than warmth, comfort, and modesty; the high wages of the wage earner today which still do not satisfy or supply his needs.
“A noted historian several years ago summarized the reasons for the fall of Rome as follows: The breakdown of the family and the rapid increase of divorce. The spiraling rise of taxes and extravagant spending. The mounting craze for pleasure and the brutalization of sports. The decay of religion into myriads of confused forms, leaving the people without a uniform guide.
"Our unconquered appetites and consuming drive for material possessions appear to be leading us on a course so often repeated in history. Greed, lust, and desire historically have only led mankind to waste, destruction, and suffering.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1973, p. 14; or Ensign, July 1973, p. 20.)
Newspaper title for Haggai:
- Setting first things, first
- Have the strength to build
- Rediscover our spiritual priorities
- A firm foundation
- The Hope of God
- God first
- Getting back to what matters most
- See ye first the Kingdom of God
- A vision to build.
“The temple of Solomon had been destroyed some sixty-six years before, so there would be relatively few still living who would have remembered the house of the Lord "in her first glory." (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, 390.)
Absence from the second temple:
- Sacred fire;
- Shekinah or presence of God;
- Ark and cherubim;
- Urim and Thummim;
- Spirit of prophecy.
If the "desire of all nations" refers to the coming of the Messiah ("the Anointed One"-Jesus Christ), then the "latter house temple" that would be greater than the former (Solomon's temple) would refer to the temple in existence at the time of Christ. (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament, 390.)
“As the Second Coming approaches, we, like the exiles of Haggai’s day, must gather, build temples, and live worthily to enter therein. For more than fifteen years, the Jews justified their inattention to the Lord’s will that they construct the temple. The result was predictable— they did not prosper. So it is today: if we fail to heed the revelations of our time we will be guilty of “a very grievous sin” and will be the recipients of sore chastisement from the Lord (D&C 95:3). However, if we do follow the direction of our prophets and focus on the temple, we will find that the peace and glory of this “latter house” shall be great (Haggai 2:9).” (Blair Van Dyke and Kelley Ogden, Religious Educator, Vol.4, No. 3, 2003)
Joseph Smith: “We need the temple more than anything else." (Journal History of the Church, May 4, 1844)
Zerubbabel’s ties to Christ:
- Christ would descend of his lineage more than five hundred years later (see Matt. 1:12)
- Both would rule in Israel – Christ as king in the Millennium. Ezekiel (37:21-25)
- Both would be considered to be the very model of divinely appointed kingship.
- Haggai referred to the millennial Messiah by the name of his, Zerubbabel. Though we don’t know much about Zerubbabel, he is seen as a type of Christ. That is a great compliment to a man who we know very little about.
- Just as Zerubbabel presided over the returned exiles of Judah and their restoration to their promised land, so also—but on a much grander scale—will Christ preside over all the restored house of Israel in the Millennium.
Harold B. Lee: “My text today is taken from the "Hosanna shout" which sounded from the multitude who jubilantly acclaimed Jesus, the lowly Nazarene as he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem from Bethany on a colt which had been borrowed for that occasion. As the animal upon which he rode had been designated in their literature as the "ancient symbol of Jewish royalty" Zech. 9:9 and their acquaintanceship with the might of His Messianic power impressed the appropriateness of his kingly right to such an entry, they cast their garments before him and cast palm branches and other foliage in His path as though carpeting the way of a king. What might at first have been but the humble testimony of a faithful few, increased into a mighty chorus of voices as the multitude shouted in harmony:
"Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, to the Son of David.
“And then perhaps as they remembered the angels' announcement to the shepherds on the night of His birth, they reverently repeated the theme of the angels' song: "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." And again, probably remembering the charge he had given His disciples to carry on after he would be taken from them, and as a supplication for their Master and those who would carry on after His ascension, as well as in the remembrance of the ancient prophets whom they revered, came the expressions of adulation from the multitude: "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Conference Report, Apr. 1955, p. 17.)
Parley P. Pratt: "Zechariah says the Mount of Olives shall cleave in twain, from east to west, and one-half of the mountain shall remove to the north while the other half falls off the south, suddenly forming a very great valley into which the Jews shall flee for protection from their enemies as they fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah.
“Then will the Jews behold that long, long-expected Messiah coming in power to their deliverance, as they always looked for him. He will destroy their enemies, and deliver them from trouble at the very time they are in the utmost consternation, and about to be swallowed up by their enemies.
“But what will be their astonishment when they are about to fall at the feet of their deliver and acknowledge him their Messiah! They discover the wounds which were once made in his hands, feet, and side; and on inquiry, at once recognize Jesus of Nazareth, the King of Jews, the man so long rejected. (Voice of Warning, page 32-33)
Themes in Zechariah
- To the faithful: “I will dwell with thee” (2:10, 11)
- Faithful people, not buildings make a place holy (Zech 8:23, Moses 7:18).
- “if our hearts are centered in God, we will triumph with Him and God will be to us “a wall of fire round about” that no wickedness can penetrate (Zechariah 2:5) (Blair Van Dyke and Kelley Ogden, Religious Educator, Vol.4, No. 3, 2003).
Teaching Thoughts:
- Make a newspaper headline for Haggai. This could be done as a summary or a way to teach the storyline.
- ‘Consider you ways,’ and ‘set your heart.’ Today might be a good time to adjust your focus.
- Focus on Christ as you teach this lesson.