1 Samuel 8–16 (June 8–14)

Segment 1

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 8:1-3 (Samuel’s sons choose a different path)
1 Samuel 16:7 (The Lord looks on the heart)

Segment 2

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 8:5-7 (The people want a king)
1 Samuel 8:10-18 (Reasons to not have a king)
1 Samuel 8:22 (God gives us agency)

Words of the General Authorities:
The painful irony here is that they already had a king who went before them and fought their battles. He was Jehovah, King of all, but no longer would they have Jehovah to rule over them. No longer would they have Him to fight their battles. And consistent with the theme of so many history lessons, painful consequences came when it was too late to avoid them. The people later lamented, “We have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Choose the Lord and His Prophet”, June 2022 Liahona)

Segment 3

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 9:1-3 (Introduction to Saul)
1 Samuel 9:9 (The prophet and seer)
Mosiah 8:15 (Seer is greater than prophet)
1 Samuel 9:9-27 (What does a seer do?)
1 Samuel 10:1 (The anointing of Saul)
1 Samuel 10:7-9 (Saul receives a new heart)

Words of the General Authorities:
The fundamental responsibility of prophets, seers, and revelators, all of whom bear apostolic authority, is to bear certain testimony of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world. This basic call to be a special witness of His name has remained constant whenever Apostles have been on the earth. This testimony, borne of the Holy Ghost through revelation, was the heart of the New Testament Church and is the heart of the Church today.
Brethren, to have living prophets, seers, and revelators among us and not listen to them is no better than not having them at all. The prophet Jacob hoped that the words written with so much difficulty on the plates by righteous men would be received by their children with thankful hearts and that they might learn from them “with joy and not with sorrow.” May we be wise enough to do likewise with the words of the living prophets, seers, and revelators of our time. (Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Living Prophets, Seers, and Revelators”, October 2000 General Conference)

Translations:
Seer - ro’eh = to see, a trusted conduit (Hebrew)

Segment 4

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 9:2 (Saul was goodly)

Translations:
Saul - שָׁאוּל Shaul = Asked of God (Hebrew)

1 Samuel 10:9
NIV: As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
NLT: As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.
ESV: When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.

Segment 5

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 15:1-3 (Commandment to hearken)
1 Samuel 15:22 (To obey is better than sacrifice)
1 Samuel 15:26,35 (The fall of Saul)

Segment 6

Scriptures:
1 Samuel 16:1 (Samuel mourns Saul)
1 Samuel 16:13 (Samuel anoints David)
1 Samuel 16:6 (What Samuel expected)
1 Samuel 16:7 (The Lord looks on the heart)

Words of the General Authorities:
Jesus Christ sees people deeply. He sees individuals, their needs, and who they can become. Where others saw fishermen, sinners, or publicans, Jesus saw disciples; where others saw a man possessed by devils, Jesus looked past the outward distress, acknowledged the man, and healed him. Even in our busy lives, we can follow the example of Jesus and see individuals—their needs, their faith, their struggle, and who they can become. (Michelle D. Craig, “Eyes to See”, October 2020 General Conference)