“All the City. . . Doth Know That Thou Art a

Virtuous Woman”

Ruth 1-4; 1 Samuel 1

If your character were to be described in just a few words, what would you want those words to be?

What is one thing you can do this week to come closer to matching that description?

Examples to Watch -- what Brother Dyer said

in Sunday School.

Canaan in Old

TestamentTimes

Naomi and RuthWhy did Naomi and her family go to

Moab to live? Ruth 1:1Naomi’s husband dies.Her sons marry women of Moab -- Ruth

and Orpah.Ten more years pass.

Why did Naomi decide to return to Bethlehem after the deaths of her husbands and sons?

Naomi and Ruth (and Orpah)

What did Naomi tell her daughters-in-law?

Ruth 1:8-9

How does Orpah respond?How does Ruth respond?

Naomi and Ruth

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return form following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:

Naomi and Ruth

Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.

Naomi and Ruth

Naomi: unselfish, faithful, a good example, wise

Naomi and Ruth

Ruth:Loving, loyal, willing to sacrifice for family and for the gospel, humble,

converted

Ruth

A hard worker, Willing to sacrifice

GleaningSharing her food

Levirate Marriage

Husband diesBrother’s responsibility first son carried on the name of the

dead brother inheritanceIf no brother, other close male relatives

Ruth Proposes Marriage

Takes council from Naomi.Under the law -- widow’s initiativeGoes to the threshing floorShe lies at Boaz’s feet. “spread therefore thy skirt over thine

handmaid” (See Ezekiel 16:8)

Boaz’s reply: Ruth 3:10-11

Boaz

Boaz respectedProverbs 31:23 “respected at the city gate”Wise in business dealings(removal of sandals in business exchanges)

Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer -- to redeem the lands and property. (rescuer)

Boaz had the right of redemption.

President Thomas S.

Monson called Ruth

a heroine,

an example of fidelity and

loyalty.

Ruth

Ruth confidently met hardships not uncommon in our time—the death of a loved one, loneliness in a new place, and the need to work hard for her bread.

Ruth Her small efforts, linked

significantly to a later great event, tell me that each of us can take seriously the importance of our daily lives and decisions as we choose to follow God.Aileen H. Clyde, Confidence through Conversion, Ensign, Nov 1992, 88

Hannah

1 Samuel 1

Wife of ElkanahChildless

Traveled to the temple each year

Hannah

1 Samuel 1

FaithfulRighteous

PatientWilling to Sacrifice

Hannah

Judging -- Brother Bradford’s talk

Hannah and Eli President HughB. Brown said, “If I make errors [in judging people,]

I want them to be on the side of mercy. . .”

(in Eugene E. Campbell and Richard D. Poll, Hugh B. Brown: His Life and Thought [1975], 225).

Prayer

1 Samuel 1:15

How can we make our personal prayers more sincere and

meaningful?

Elder John A. Widtsoe said: “I believe that the busy person who has his worries and troubles, can solve his problems better and more quickly in the house of the Lord than anywhere else.

If he will [do] the temple work for himself and for his dead, he will confer a mighty blessing upon those who have gone before, and a blessing will come to him,

for at the most unexpected moments, in or out of the temple will come to him, as a revelation, the solution of the problems that vex his life. That is the gift that comes to those who enter the temple properly. . .”

Hannah’s Example

Giving WillinglyWhat are we asked to give to the Lord?

GratitudeMaking Offerings and Singing Praises1 Samuel 1:24-25, 28: 2:1-2

When does the world say we should receive the things we want?

What does the Lord say?