Daniel and the King

1
Daniel and the Kings Food

• To strengthen each childs desire to live the
  Word of Wisdom

2
Attention Activity

• What would a mouse do if it understood how the
  trap worked?
• Satan uses bait to try to persuade us to
  disobey the Lords law of good health, the Word
  of Wisdom.
• Ways Satan tempts us to touch the bait in the
  mousetrap
• Advertisements that appear desirable
• Pressure from friends
• In this lesson you will learn about the courage
  and self-discipline Daniel had in refusing the
  meat and wine the king ordered him to eat and how
  Daniel was blessed for obeying the Lords law of
  health.

3

• King Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem and took
  many of the people of Judah captive
• The king ordered that select children of Israel
  be chosen to live with him in the palace
• (Daniel 13-4) 3. And the king spake unto
  Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he
  should bring certain of the children of Israel,
  and of the kings seed, and of the princes  4.
  Children in whom was no blemish, but well
  favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning
  in knowledge, and understanding science, and such
  as had ability in them to stand in the kings
  palace, and whom they might teach the learning
  and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
• Whom did he want to come live in his household?
• What qualities did those who were chosen possess?
  

4

• Among the children were four children of Judah,
  Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah
• What were the names given to the four chosen ones
  of the children of Judah? (Daniel 17)
• 7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave
  names for he gave unto Daniel the name of
  Belteshazzar and to Hananiah, of Shadrach and
  to Mishael, of Meshach and to Azariah, of
  Abed-nego.
• The king eventually wanted to use these young men
  in his service (Daniel 15)
• 5. And the king appointed them a daily provision
  of the kings meat, and of the wine which he
  drank so nourishing them three years, that at
  the end thereof they might stand before the king.
• What did he do to take care of them?

5

• Lets read Daniel 18
• 8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
  not defile himself with the portion of the kings
  meat, nor with the wine which he drank therefore
  he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he
  might not defile himself.
• What commitment had Daniel and his friends made
  in their hearts?
• Why did Daniel not want to eat the kings food or
  drink his wine?
• when Moses was Israels prophet, the Lord gave
  the children of Israel a law that told them what
  to eat and drink. The food the king wanted Daniel
  and his friends to eat was against this law. In
  our day we have a law of health that has been
  revealed to us called the Word of Wisdom
• Enrichment Activities 1
• Healthy Foods Mentioned in the Word of Wisdom
  (DC 89 11-12, 16)
• 11. Every herb in the season thereof, and every
  fruit in the season thereof all these to be used
  with prudence and thanksgiving.
• 12. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of
  the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use
  of man with thanksgiving nevertheless they are
  to be used sparingly
• 16 All grain is good for the food of man as also
  the fruit of the vine that which yieldeth fruit,
  whether in the ground or above the ground
• Notice that grains are mentioned, which is what
  Daniel and his
• friends wanted to eat

6

• Substances the Word of Wisdom tells us are
  harmful to our bodies (DC 89 5-9)
• 5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or
  strong drink among you, behold it is not good,
  neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in
  assembling yourselves together to offer up your
  sacraments before him.
•  6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure
  wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
• 7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the
  belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
• 8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither
  for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an
  herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used
  with judgment and skill.
• 9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or
  belly.
• The Prophet Joseph Smith defined hot drinks as
  tea and coffee. Modern prophets have added drugs,
  when used inappropriately, to this harmful list.
• Activity
• Bring to class pictures (or make wordstrips) of
  foods and substances listed in the Word of
  Wisdom. Make two signs that say Good for us and
  Not good for us. Distribute the pictures or the
  wordstrips to the children and let them take
  turns placing their picture by the appropriate
  sign.

7

• If someone offered you something that was against
  the Word of Wisdom, how could you be like Daniel?
• Enrichment Activities 2
• Satan tries to convince us through advertising
  and peer pressure that disobeying the Word of
  Wisdom is fun and exciting and that it will not
  harm us. Discuss with the children the ways
  others might try to get them to use tobacco,
  alcohol, coffee, tea, or drugs. They might bring
  out ideas such as, A little wont hurt you, It
  makes you feel good, or Once wont hurt.
• Activity
• Put words such as the following on small pieces
  of paper tea, beer, cigarettes. Have class
  members draw a slip of paper and role-play how
  they would respond to peer pressure to indulge in
  that item. Point out that in each case, even
  though it can be said in various ways, the answer
  is always No!

8

• Lets read (Daniel 110, 12-13)
•  10. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto
  Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath
  appointed your meat and your drink for why
  should he see your faces worse liking than the
  children which are of your sort? then shall ye
  make me endanger my head to the king
• 12. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days
  and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to
  drink. 13. Then let our countenances be looked
  upon before thee, and the countenance of the
  children that eat of the portion of the kings
  meat and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
• Pulse was a food made from seeds and grains.
• Why was the kings chief officer worried when
  Daniel would not eat and drink the kings food?
• What was Daniels plan?

9

• Lets read (Daniel 115)
• 15. And at the end of ten days their countenances
  appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
  children which did eat the portion of the kings
  meat.
• How was the health of these young men different
  after the ten-day testing period?
• Daniel and his friends were allowed to continue
  to eat pulse and drink water instead of meat and
  wine, and after 3 years they were called before
  the king.
• Lets read (Daniel 1 17, 19-20)
• 17. As for these four children, God gave them
  knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom
  and Daniel had understanding in all visions and
  dreams.
• 19. And the king communed with them and among
  them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah,
  Mishael, and Azariah therefore stood they before
  the king. 20. And in all matters of wisdom and
  understanding, that the king enquired of them, he
  found them ten times better than all the
  magicians and astrologers that were in all his
  realm.
• Besides being blessed with good physical health,
  in what other ways were Daniel and his friends
  blessed?
• Why do you think their mental abilities were
  increased?

10

• How can we receive the same blessings that Daniel
  and his friends received?
• What are the Lords promises to all who obey the
  Word of Wisdom?
• (DC 89 18-21)  18. And all saints who remember
  to keep and do these sayings, walking in
  obedience to the commandments, shall receive
  health in their navel and marrow to their
  bones  19. And shall find wisdom and great
  treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures
  20. And shall run and not be weary, and shall
  walk and not faint. 21. And I, the Lord, give
  unto them a promise, that the destroying angel
  shall pass by them, as the children of Israel,
  and not slay them. Amen.  

11
Conclusion

• Testimony
• I am grateful for the Word of Wisdom and that by
  keeping the Word of Wisdom you will be blessed
  both physically and spiritually.
• Closing Prayer