““Lesson 26: Ruth and Naomi,” Lesson 26: Ruth and Naomi,” Primary 6: Primary 6: Old Testament, Old Testament, (1996),114(1996),114

What did you walk on as What did you walk on as you came into class? you came into class? • We all We all leave leave footprinfootprints as we ts as we travel travel through through life. life.

• However, However, others are others are watching watching us, and they us, and they may try to may try to follow in our follow in our footsteps. footsteps.

• Sometimes we follow Sometimes we follow in someone else’s in someone else’s footsteps and try to footsteps and try to do as they do. do as they do.

• When we do When we do something good, we something good, we set a good example set a good example for others; when we for others; when we do something do something wrong, we set a bad wrong, we set a bad example. example.

• Everything we do leaves an Everything we do leaves an impression on someone, just as impression on someone, just as our step would leave a footprint our step would leave a footprint in soft ground.in soft ground.

• We are going to learn about We are going to learn about two women who knew the two women who knew the importance of both importance of both followingfollowing and and beingbeing good examples. good examples.

• Ruth followed the good Ruth followed the good example of Naomi, and then example of Naomi, and then she set a good example herself she set a good example herself that others could follow. that others could follow.

• After many years After many years there was a there was a famine. It did not famine. It did not rain for a long rain for a long time. Food would time. Food would not grow. not grow.

• The people The people became very became very hungry. hungry.

• A woman A woman named named Naomi Naomi lived in lived in Bethlehem.Bethlehem.

• She and her husband took their She and her husband took their family to a land called Moab to family to a land called Moab to find food. find food.

• Why did Naomi, her Why did Naomi, her husband, and their two husband, and their two sons leave Bethlehem sons leave Bethlehem and go to Moab to and go to Moab to live? live?

• Let’s read Ruth 1:1Let’s read Ruth 1:1• What happened while What happened while they were there? they were there? • Let’s read Ruth 1:3–5 Let’s read Ruth 1:3–5

• Naomi’s husband Naomi’s husband died there. Naomi died there. Naomi and her two sons and her two sons stayed in Moab. stayed in Moab.

• Her sons married Her sons married women from women from Moab. Their Moab. Their names were Ruth names were Ruth and Orpah.and Orpah.

• They lived in Moab They lived in Moab for ten years. Naomi’s for ten years. Naomi’s sons died there. sons died there.

• Naomi wanted to go Naomi wanted to go back to Bethlehem. back to Bethlehem. She told Ruth and She told Ruth and Orpah to go home to Orpah to go home to their own families. their own families.

• When the famine was over When the famine was over and Naomi decided to go and Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, who back to Bethlehem, who started the trip with her? started the trip with her?

• Let’s read Ruth 1:7Let’s read Ruth 1:7• Why did Naomi ask her Why did Naomi ask her

daughters-in-law to leave daughters-in-law to leave her and go back to their her and go back to their mothers? mothers?

• Let’s read Ruth 1:8–13Let’s read Ruth 1:8–13

• Ruth loved Naomi. She Ruth loved Naomi. She wanted to live where wanted to live where Naomi lived and to be with Naomi lived and to be with her always.her always.

• Orpah went to her family. Orpah went to her family. Ruth wanted to go to Ruth wanted to go to Bethlehem with Naomi.Bethlehem with Naomi.

• Ruth and Naomi Ruth and Naomi went back to went back to Bethlehem. Bethlehem.

• How did the How did the two young two young women respond women respond to Naomi’s to Naomi’s request? request?

• Let’s read Ruth Let’s read Ruth 1:14–171:14–17

• Why do you think Ruth Why do you think Ruth chose to stay with chose to stay with Naomi? Naomi?

• Naomi was of Naomi was of the house of the house of Israel and Israel and understood the understood the gospel. Ruth gospel. Ruth was from Moab, was from Moab, where they did where they did not worship not worship Heavenly Heavenly Father. Father.

• Ruth was not only showing Ruth was not only showing love for her mother-in-law, love for her mother-in-law, she was accepting the she was accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ. gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Ruth wanted to Ruth wanted to follow Naomi’s follow Naomi’s good example good example and worship and worship Heavenly Father Heavenly Father as Naomi did. as Naomi did. • Whose good Whose good

example do you example do you try to follow? try to follow?

• How do they set How do they set a good example a good example for you? for you?

• I’ll write these traits on the I’ll write these traits on the footprints we used at the footprints we used at the beginning of the lesson. beginning of the lesson.

Enrichment Activity #1

• Think of Think of righteous people righteous people who have been who have been good examples to good examples to you. you.

• What are some of What are some of the outstanding the outstanding traits of these traits of these people?people?

• I’ll put the I’ll put the footprints back footprints back down on the floor down on the floor so you can take so you can take turns following turns following the footsteps. the footsteps.

• Say the trait Say the trait written on each written on each footstep as you footstep as you step on it.step on it.

Enrichment Activity #1

• How can you be a good example How can you be a good example to others? to others?

• Here is a piece of paper and a Here is a piece of paper and a pencil. Trace your own footprint. pencil. Trace your own footprint.

• Name traits you would like to Name traits you would like to develop so you can set good develop so you can set good examples for others and I’ll write examples for others and I’ll write them on the board. them on the board. • Choose one, or more, you want Choose one, or more, you want

to work on and write it on your to work on and write it on your footprint.footprint.

Enrichment Activity #2

• She used them to She used them to make bread. make bread.

• Ruth went Ruth went to work in to work in the fields the fields to get to get wheat and wheat and barley. barley.

• What did Ruth volunteer to What did Ruth volunteer to do so that she and Naomi do so that she and Naomi would have food to eat? would have food to eat?

• Let’s read Ruth 2:2Let’s read Ruth 2:2• ““GleanGlean

“means to go “means to go into the fields into the fields after the after the grain has grain has been been harvested and harvested and pick up what pick up what is left. is left.

• A righteous man named A righteous man named Boaz lived in Bethlehem. Boaz lived in Bethlehem. He had many wheat and He had many wheat and barley fields. barley fields.

• Boaz saw Ruth working to Boaz saw Ruth working to get food for Naomi. He was get food for Naomi. He was kind to Ruth. He told her to kind to Ruth. He told her to come to his fields always. come to his fields always.

• He said God would bless Ruth for He said God would bless Ruth for being kind to Naomi. being kind to Naomi.

• Whose field did Ruth Whose field did Ruth glean in? glean in?

• Who was Boaz? Who was Boaz? • Let’s read Ruth 2:1, 3Let’s read Ruth 2:1, 3

• How did Boaz help Ruth How did Boaz help Ruth when he first met her? when he first met her?

• Let’s read Ruth 2:15–16Let’s read Ruth 2:15–16

• Why did he do this for her? Why did he do this for her? • Let’s read Ruth 2:11–12Let’s read Ruth 2:11–12

• Why did Boaz feel even more of Why did Boaz feel even more of a responsibility to help Ruth? a responsibility to help Ruth?

• Let’s read Ruth 3:11–13Let’s read Ruth 3:11–13• Whom do you have a Whom do you have a

responsibility to help? responsibility to help? • How can you help your parents, How can you help your parents,

brothers, and sisters? brothers, and sisters? • How can you help How can you help

grandparents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins?and cousins?

• Boaz married Ruth. Boaz married Ruth. Naomi was happy for her. Naomi was happy for her.

• Ruth and Boaz had a son. Ruth and Boaz had a son. Naomi helped Ruth take Naomi helped Ruth take care of the baby. The care of the baby. The baby’s name was Obed. baby’s name was Obed.

• Ruth’s example of taking care of Ruth’s example of taking care of Naomi made Boaz realize that Ruth Naomi made Boaz realize that Ruth was a very good person.was a very good person.

• Obed grew up Obed grew up and had children. and had children. His grandson was His grandson was King David. King David.

• Many generations Many generations later Jesus would later Jesus would be born into this be born into this family. family.

• What kind of What kind of example did Ruth example did Ruth set for others? set for others?

• I have some I have some scriptures to look scriptures to look up. Some of you up. Some of you will need to share: will need to share:

• Ruth 1:8 Ruth 1:8 • Ruth 1:16 Ruth 1:16 • Ruth 2:2 Ruth 2:2

Enrichment Activity #4

• Now, let’s read the Now, let’s read the following statements about following statements about Ruth, one at a time. Raise Ruth, one at a time. Raise your hand if you have the your hand if you have the scripture it applies to: scripture it applies to:

• Ruth was kind. (1:8) Ruth was kind. (1:8) • Ruth was loyal. (1:16) Ruth was loyal. (1:16) • Ruth wanted to worship Ruth wanted to worship

Heavenly Father. (1:16) Heavenly Father. (1:16) • Ruth worked hard. (2:2)Ruth worked hard. (2:2)

Enrichment Activity #4

• How can Ruth How can Ruth be an example be an example for us?for us?

• Which traits Which traits of Ruth do you of Ruth do you want to want to develop?develop?

Enrichment Activity #4

• Whom did Ruth marry? Whom did Ruth marry? • First, we need to First, we need to

understand the marriage understand the marriage customs in Israel at this customs in Israel at this time. time.

• Because Ruth’s husband Because Ruth’s husband had died, the closest male had died, the closest male relation in the family was relation in the family was expected to marry her so expected to marry her so she could have children. she could have children.

• Her nearest Her nearest kinsman said he kinsman said he did not want to did not want to marry Ruth, but marry Ruth, but Boaz wanted to Boaz wanted to because he knew because he knew she was a good, she was a good, kind, caring kind, caring woman.woman.

• Boaz was not Ruth’s Boaz was not Ruth’s nearest male relation. nearest male relation.

• What was the name of their What was the name of their first son? first son?

• Let’s read Ruth 4:17Let’s read Ruth 4:17• Who was Obed’s grandson? Who was Obed’s grandson? • Ruth’s great-grandson was Ruth’s great-grandson was

David, the boy who fought David, the boy who fought Goliath and who later Goliath and who later became king of Israelbecame king of Israel

• David was an ancestor of David was an ancestor of Jesus Christ (see John 7:42).Jesus Christ (see John 7:42).

• How can we How can we follow Christ’s follow Christ’s example?example?

• What are some What are some incidents from incidents from the Savior’s life the Savior’s life that will help us that will help us set good set good examples for examples for others?others?

Enrichment Activity #3

• Who set a perfect Who set a perfect example for us? example for us?

1. I’m trying to be like Jesus;I’m following in his ways.I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

2. I’m trying to love my neighbor;I’m learning to serve my friends.I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.I try to remember the lessons he taught.Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:

Chorus“Love one another as Jesus loves you.Try to show kindness in all that you do.Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,For these are the things Jesus taught.”

• Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

Enrichment Activity #5

• I love the Savior very much and I love the Savior very much and am grateful for the perfect am grateful for the perfect example He set for us to follow. example He set for us to follow.

• I try to be a good example for I try to be a good example for you in all I do and your hope that you in all I do and your hope that you too will be good examples. you too will be good examples.

• I testify of the importance of I testify of the importance of your choosing good examples to your choosing good examples to follow. follow.

• Images and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, bing & google images and Microsoft Office. Hymn, lesson materials and scripture story are from lds.org. The lesson and activities are from the Primary 6 Old Testament manual.

• No copyrighted materials were knowingly used in this presentation. Please do not use this presentation for commercial use.

• Please feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference.