“I Know That My Redeemer Liveth”
We all know the story of Job, but the book itself proves more challenging and complex than you remember. That said, it provides one of the most powerful wrestles with questions of loss and meaning in scripture.
This portion of the episode includes:
- Initial reflections/comments on Job (including the discrepancy between the ends and middle and the oddness of God and Satan gambling with Job’s suffering)
- Review of the reading
- Dealing with suffering, loss, and death
- Meaning and blame
- How we support each other in tragedy
- A personal relationship with God
Recurring Donation:
One Time Donation:
Class Members: Job 1; 2; 13; 23:10; 19; 23:10; 27; 42; James 5:11; 3 Nephi 15:9
Additional Reading: D&C 121:1-10; look through the rest of Job
Other Reading: None (as long as you have already looked through Job)
You can access the Annotated Reading here (or PDF).
You can access the Lesson Notes here (or PDF).
Resources
Do’s and Don’ts about Mourning with those who mourn, Ensign
Reaching Out to Those Who Mourn, Ensign
The question Why? according to Job, RadioWest
The question of Why/Suffering from various perspectives, RadioWest
Approaching Prayer, On Being
Engaging Gospel Doctrine 
I would have also put as a resource ‘Re-reading Job: Understanding the Ancient World’s Greatest Poem’ by Michael Austin (even though you probably won’t get it in time to help with the lesson or anything).
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Thank you Jared
Very comphrehensive; I really appreciate the resources from radio west. Realistically I may have 30 to 40 minutes to teach the lesson. I want to introduce the chapters 1&2, with a limited discussion on Chapter 3. To me this is a most pitiful chapter, and I have been moved to tears in the reading of it.
I want to encourage the class to emphathize with Job and also in using the wisdom and knowledge we have all (hopefully) gained of Mormon Theology ie: the book of Mormon/plan of salvatiion etc, and give good counsel to Job, versus the bad counsel of his miserable comforters. I wanted to address chapters 40-41, where it comes across as if God is blasting Job in hautiness. But when I read this, I am reminded of Father Lehi in 2 Nephi 2:11-28. “There is an opposition to all things..”. And Jeremiah 29:1-14, in vs 11 he says ” I know the thoughts that I think of you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give an expected end.” And finally in Romans 5:3 rejoice in our suffering, suffering produces perserverance; perserverance character and charater hope..
I have been “speed reading” Rabbi Kushner’s book “When Bad Things happen to Good People”. I really understand where is coming from, but I wonder when we are presented with trials and just everyday life and all that comes with it, why do we tend to separate ourselves in to “good people’ and “bad people”. Who is good really? Matthew 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Thank you, I have learned a lot and I wish i had more than 40 mins
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