How We Taught This Lesson in the Past: Lesson 29: “He Took Up … the Mantle of Elijah”

Although the title and purpose of this lesson in our current manual appears to make the sole point that Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah in both a literal and figurative sense, illustrating that one prophet succeeds another, the content of the lesson actually covers other incidents in Elisha’s ministry. Most of our old manuals include additional events. The lessons here come from Ezra C. Dalby’s Land and Leaders of Israel (Salt Lake City: Church Department of Education, 1930), a text used by the seminaries of the Church.

Elisha, the Man of God

Lesson Text: 1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 4:8-37.
Song.
Responsive Reading: Matt. 8:1-13.
Prayer by Student.
Memory Text: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” – Luke 14:11.

The Message of the Lesson

A Woman’s Faith

It will be remembered that Elijah was instructed at Sinai to return and anoint Elisha as his successor. He found him plowing in the field; and as he passed by, he cast his mantle on him. Elisha immediately left his oxen and ran after Elijah, but asked permission to go back and kiss his father and mother goodbye, and then he would follow the prophet. Elijah answered: “Go back again: for what have I done to thee?” By that statement he did not mean to reprove Elisha, as some have supposed. He gave him full permission to return.