Thou Art Come . . .For Such a Time as This – Esther

Gathered in this post are resources to help you teach your family not only the stories of the people in the Old Testament but also the doctrine and principles found in the study block for the Come, Follow Me reading of Esther. There are resources for children, youth, and adults. Every resource linked to is free! Most links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study. Choose on thing a day to do with your family or a couple to do for family home evening. Enjoy!

Everyone

Video – When All is Said and Done – (Esther 1-6) A song about the life of Esther. (2:57 minutes)

Video – For Such a Time as This – (Esther 1-4) Showing her faith, Esther demonstrates courage by standing up for the Jews.

Video – Pride Simulation Center – A father takes his family to a futuristic center to learn about pride. Through a simulated experience, two young people discover aspects of pride in their own lives. Part 1 (4:44 minutes)

Video – Steve’s Simulation – A father takes his family to a futuristic center to learn about pride. Through a simulated experience, two young people discover aspects of pride in their own lives. Part 2 (1:32 minutes)

Primary Children

Activity – Draw Esther’s Crown – In the book of Esther, the Queen’s people were persecuted by the King’s servants, and she risked her life to help them defend themselves. Queen Esther’s courage helped save and preserve the Jewish people, and they honored her with a special feast. In this video, we’ll learn to draw a crown for Esther, the Queen to King Ahasuerus. The image of her crown reminds us that we can do hard things in defense of what is right in the sight of the Lord. Gospel for Kids (15:30 minutes)

Activity – Esther – Old Testament Scripture figures help tell the story of Esther.

Activity/Article – Esther Was Courageous – Some information and a hero card about Esther.

Lesson – Esther Saves Her People – Old Testament Primary Manual

Story – Esther the Queen – A retelling of the story of Esther and how she was brave and saved her people.

Video – Queen Esther – Old Testament Stories

Video – Esther – Old Testament Scripture Reader

I can serve my family. Esther 2:5-7

Activity – A Big Helper – How many things can you find that Carlos could help with?

Activity – I Can Help My Family – Coloring page

Story – The Big-Brother Trap! – Megan wants revenge… until she sees how her older brother is serving her.

Story – Bobby’s Birthday Surprise – Bobby decides to do Charlotte’s chores for her birthday.

Story – Mommy’s Flower Garden – Joshua helps his mother feel better by coloring a garden for her.

I can be brave. Esther 4:15-16

Activity – I Can Be Brave – Scripture figures to color and cut out to help tell the story of Esther.

Activity – Esther Story Time – Use these finger puppets to tell the story of Esther.

Activity/Article – Keep Trying! – Peter F. Meurs of the Seventy shares how he was afraid to play the piano and speak in front of people but that working through his fears has helped him to bless others. Includes a find it activity.

Story – Juliana Gives a Talk – Juliana gives a talk about how much Heavenly Father loves her.

Story – Family Traditions – Christoffel Golden Jr. of the Seventy stood up to school bullies until they gradually lost their influence. When you stand for right, good triumphs.

I can be an instrument in God’s hands. Esther 4:14

Poster – Bright Idea: Esther – Print and display in your room

Poster – Esther – Print and display in your room

Heavenly Father helps me have courage when I am afraid. Esther 3:1-11; 4:10-17

Activity – Queen Esther was Brave – Color, search and find

Activity – Esther Pleads with the King – Coloring page

Activity – Esther and the King – Solve the puzzle by finding the hidden pictures and matching the color of each object with the color wheel and write the letters in the spaces below.

Story – On to Victory – S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy used courage when he felt like giving up.

Fasting can help me and bless others. Esther 4:1-3, 10-17

Article – Fasting for Vanuatu! – Henry B. Eyring was moved by hearing of the storm damaged island of Vanuatu to pay his fast offering early so it might help the hungry, homeless and lonely.

Article – Question Corner: “How do I know when I’m old enough to start fasting?

Story – Fasting for Shem – When Tim is worried about his friend Shem in the hospital, he decides to pray and fast for him.

Story – Jake’s Miracle – Jake’s ward members fast and pray for him to get better.

Sunday School – Youth and Adults

Video – Vashti Refuses to Undress for the King – Book of Mormon Central (8:19 minutes)

Video – Humor in the Book of Esther – God teaches us lessons in all sorts of ways, but I think one underappreciated teaching tool is humor. An underappreciated aspect of the book of Esther is just how humorous it is. This story is filled with dramatic irony, character foils, and a bit of absurdity to help clearly communicate to the audience who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. And through all the cheerfulness and humor, the message still remains that God saved His people through a miracle. Book of Mormon Central (5:02 minutes)

The Lord can make me an instrument to bless others.

Article – An Instrument in the Hands of the Lord – If we follow the Spirit and have a willing heart, the Lord will guide us to do what He needs us to do.

Article – Creating Places of Security – A righteous woman’s strength and influence are great. Her opportunities to create safe havens for struggling souls are abundant.

Article – “For Such a Time as This” – “Esther’s actions are one of the greatest demonstrations of courage found in the Old Testament. Confronting the king at the risk of her life did not make Esther courageous; rather, it revealed the courage that was within her: the courage, the compassion, the devotion to her people. We have no reason to believe that Esther had prepared specifically for the role she had to play, and yet all her life was preparation, as mine is and as yours is.” 

Article – Nobody Else Like You – The Lord prepared Esther for her important work, and He’s doing the same for you.

Video – Overview of Queen Esther – Book of Mormon Central (8:54 minutes)

Video – Why am I Here? – The funny thing about purpose is that you never know when you’re going to find yours. (4:10 minutes)

Video – An Instrument in His Hands – By doing small and simple things, a young woman prepares herself to respond to any prompting to bless others. (5:33 minutes)

Pride and anger can lead to downfall. Esther 3; 5:9-14; 7

Article – Beware of Pride – Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance

Article – Slow to Anger – May the Lord bless you and inspire you to walk without anger.

Article – Agency and Anger – A cunning part of [Satan’s] strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control.

Video – How can I forgive others and end conflicts? – In this time of turmoil, some can be filled with anger and resentment. How can we expect peace to exist in the world when we are not individually seeking peace and harmony? We are followers of Jesus when we strive to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us. (3:12 minutes)

Fasting demonstrates my dependence on the Lord. Esther 3-4; 5:2-3; 8:11-12

Article – Opening the Heavens for Help – Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into action!

Article – The Law of the Fast – Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

Article – Fast Day – To discipline ourselves through fasting brings us in tune with God, and fast day provides an occasion to set aside the temporal so that we might enjoy the higher qualities of the spiritual. As we fast on that day we learn and better understand the needs of those who are less fortunate.

Doing the right thing often requires great courage. Esther 3:1-11; 4:10-17; 5:1-4

Article – Esther — 5 Facts about Esther – Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Old Testament

Video – What Esther Teaches About Doing Hard Things – Book of Mormon Central (4:53 minutes)

Video – Esther Risks Her Life for Her Faith – Book of Mormon Central (4:39 minutes)

Adults

Article – Esther: Queen of Persia and Advocate for Her People – Old Testament Institute Manual

Article – Mothers: Heroes, Then and Now – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – Helping Female Students Rise to Their Spiritual Privileges – BYU Religious Studies Center

Podcast –  Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 31 (Esther) – from The Interpreter Foundation

Podcast – Follow Him: Esther part 1 (video link) – Can one person change the world? Dr. Ariel Silver explores the importance of the story of Esther, exile, and the Gathering of Israel, temporally and spiritually. Find the audio of this episode here.

Podcast – Follow Him: Esther part 2 (video link) – Dr. Ariel Silver continues and explores how God sometimes seems hidden, yet helps us act in seemingly impossible times where action is required. Find the audio of this episode here.

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament: Esther – BYU scholars study chapters 1-10 in Esther. BYUtv (27:14 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Up: Esther – Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guests Jean B. Bingham, to introduce Esther and discuss how fasting demonstrates our dependence on the Lord. BYUtv (54:46 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Me Insights: Esther – Tyler welcomes special guest, Sister Joy D. Jones, to Come, Follow Me Insights as they discuss the book of Esther. Stick around to see Patti Rokus make some rock art with Esther. Book of Mormon Central (1:16:08 minutes)

Video – Understanding the Difficult Parts of Esther – Book of Mormon Central (6:08 minutes)

Video – Learning From the Feast of Purim – Book of Mormon Central (6:06 minutes)