Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego - Bible Story Summary Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - Bible Story Summary A Story of Uncompromising, Courageous Faith in the Face of Death Nebuchadnezzar points to four men walking in the fiery furnace. The three humans are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Spencer Arnold / Getty Images Daniel 3 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - Story Summary: About 600 years before Jesus Christ was born, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and took captive many of Israel's finest citizens. Among those deported to Babylon were four young men from the tribe of Judah: Daniel , Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In captivity the youths were given new names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego. These four Hebrews excelled in wisdom and knowledge and found favor in King Nebuchadnezzar's eyes. The king put them into service among his most trusted wise men and counselors.

When Daniel proved to be the only man capable of interpreting one of Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dreams, the king placed him in a high position over the whole province of Babylon , including all of the wise men of the land. And at Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as administrators under Daniel. As was common at the time, King Nebuchadnezzar built a huge golden image and commanded all the people to fall down and worship it whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald. Anyone who failed to bow and worship the image would be thrown into an immense, blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were determined to worship the One true God only, and thus were reported to the king. Courageously they stood before him as the king pressured the men to deny their God. They said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18, ESV ) Furious with pride and rage, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and cast into the flames. The fiery blast was so hot it killed the soldiers who had escorted them. But as King Nebuchadnezzar peered into the furnace, he marveled at what he saw: "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." (Daniel 3:25, ESV ) Then the king called the men to come out of the furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged unharmed, with not even a hair on their heads singed or the smell of smoke on their clothing.

Needless to say, this made quite an impression on Nebuchadnezzar who declared, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God." (Daniel 3:28, ESV ) Through God's miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that day, the rest of the Israelites in captivity were given freedom to worship and protection from harm by the king's decree. And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego received a royal promotion. Points of Interest from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: The fiery furnace was not a small household oven. It was a huge chamber used to smelt minerals or bake bricks for construction. The death of the soldiers who escorted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego proved that the heat of the fire was not survivable. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were young men when their faith was severely tested. Yet, even threatened with death , they would not compromise their beliefs.

Who was the fourth man Nebuchadnezzar saw in the flames? Whether he was an angel or a manifestation of Christ, we cannot be certain, but that his appearance was miraculous and supernatural, we can have no doubt. God had provided a heavenly bodyguard to be with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego during their intense time of need. God's miraculous intervention in a moment of crisis is not promised. If it were, believers would not need to exercise faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God and determined to be faithful without any guarantee of deliverance. Question for Reflection: When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego courageously took their stand before Nebuchadnezzar, they didn't know with certainty that God would deliver them. They had no assurance they would survive the flames. But they stood firm anyway. In the face of death could you boldly declare as these three young men did: "Whether God rescues me or not, I will stand for him.

I will not compromise my faith, and I will not deny my Lord." Primary 6: Old Testament Lesson 41: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Picture 6-14, Three Men in the Fiery Furnace (Gospel Art Picture Kit 116; 62093). Suggested Lesson Development Invite a child to give the opening prayer. Attention Activity Draw a large T on the chalkboard. Give the children the puzzle pieces you have prepared and give them a minute to try to form the pieces into a T. If some of them accomplish the task, let them show the others how it is done. If no one can complete the T, show the class how to do it. Explain that when we have the necessary knowledge, we can accomplish the task. Point out that we must have a knowledge of the gospel before we can live it. When we know the gospel is true, we say we have a testimony. Write Testimony on the chalkboard by the T. Tell the children that they are going to learn about three young men who had strong testimonies of the gospel and were valiant in living the gospel.

Alternate Attention Activity Ask the class to name people they admire from the lessons they have had so far this year in Primary. Write the names of the people they mention on the chalkboard, and then ask what these people have in common. After the children have had a chance to comment, point out that all of these people were valiant in their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Tell the children that in this lesson they will learn about three young men who were also valiant in their testimonies. Scripture Account Using the picture at an appropriate time, teach the children the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the scriptures listed in the “Preparation” section. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.) Discussion and Application Questions Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights. • What did King Nebuchadnezzar create for everyone in his kingdom to worship? ( Daniel 3:1 .) Explain that this was a huge image.

It was as high as fifteen men, each six feet (two meters) tall, standing on top of each other, and it was as wide as the height of one and a half of these men. You may want to illustrate these dimensions on the chalkboard using stick figures to represent the men. • What was to be the signal for everyone to fall down and worship this idol? ( Daniel 3:4–5 .) What was to happen to anyone who refused to do this? ( Daniel 3:6 .) • Who did not fall down and worship the idol when the music played? ( Daniel 3:12 .) Why do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the idol? Remind the children that when Daniel refused to eat the king’s food (see lesson 40 ), three other Israelites who also wanted to do what was right were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had been taken captive in Jerusalem, brought to Babylon, and trained to hold positions in the court. They had been taught the gospel, and they knew it was wrong to worship idols. What do the Ten Commandments teach us about not worshiping idols?

( Exodus 20:3–5 .) • How did Nebuchadnezzar feel when he heard that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship his idol? ( Daniel 3:13 .) When Nebuchadnezzar said he would give them another chance to fall down and worship the image, how did the three young men answer him? ( Daniel 3:16–18 .) Although Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know for sure that God would protect them, why were they still able to do what they knew was right? Explain that their testimonies were so strong and they were so valiant in their testimonies that they were willing to die rather than disobey God’s commandments. How can we develop such strong testimonies? (See enrichment activity 3.) • Why do you think the king ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and the soldiers to bind up the three men before they were cast into the fire? ( Daniel 3:19–20 .) What happened to the men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace?

( Daniel 3:22 .) • What did Nebuchadnezzar see when he looked into the furnace? ( Daniel 3:24–25 .) Why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego able to walk out of the fire unharmed? ( Daniel 3:28 .) What did this prove to Nebuchadnezzar? ( Daniel 3:29 .) • Although the Lord did protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because they were valiant, why doesn’t he always protect righteous people? What would happen if all faithful people were protected from hardships? Explain that we all have trials and problems during our lives that teach us and help us grow. Choosing the right does not guarantee that we will always be protected, but it does guarantee us eternal blessings. Enrichment Activities You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge. 1. Help the children practice saying the names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Divide the children into three groups and give each group one of these names.

Explain that as you teach the story of these three men, the children are to say the name of the person they have been assigned when you point to their group. Practice this a few times; then proceed with the account, pointing to the three groups when referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 2. Write the word Valiant on one side of the chalkboard. Ask the children what words they can think of to describe someone who is valiant. As the children suggest words, write them below the word Valiant. The list could include such words as brave, obedient, courageous, loving, kind, loyal, strong, true, faithful, honest, unselfish, righteous, and forgiving. Ask the children how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were valiant. 3. Tell the children that they are already valiant in many ways and that you hope they can become even more valiant. Explain that they are going to discover how many valiant words can be made a part of their names. Give the children each a piece of paper and a pencil. Have them write their names vertically down the center of the paper.

To demonstrate how to do this, write Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego vertically on the chalkboard and see how many of the words in the valiant list have a letter that is also in this name. For example: Help the children write valiant words that include the letters of their names, as was done in the above example. Encourage them to make these traits part of their lives. Suggest that they take their papers home and share the ideas on being valiant with their families. 4. Prepare the following five wordstrips: desire Sing or read the words to “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, p. 162) or “Dare to Do Right” (Children’s Songbook, p. 158). Conclusion Testimony You may want to bear your testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that his gospel is true. Express your desire to be valiant in doing what you know is right. Encourage the children to do what they know is right even when it is hard or inconvenient.

Suggested Family Sharing Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.” Suggested Home Reading Suggest that the children study Daniel 3 at home as a review of this lesson. Invite a child to give the closing prayer. Bible Lesson: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Free help for your children's ministry Bible Lesson: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Twitter This free lesson plan is based on Daniel chapter 3. It recounts the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how God saved them from the fiery furnace. Please leave a comment below to offer your ideas & suggestions for improving this outline. You can also find a simple craft idea for this passage on the related preschool lesson . Learning Objectives: After this lesson, the children will demonstrate an understanding of the story by telling the story to a neighbor. Gospel Connection: While this Old Testament story does not mention Jesus by name, believers often have understood the 4th figure in the fire to be Jesus in a pre-incarnate appearance.

We should remember and teach children that God’s rescue plan is always related to Jesus Christ and his work on the cross. The mercy God shows us is based on the sacrifice of Jesus, not merely our own goodness. Target Age: Kindergarten – 5th Items Needed: Bible to read aloud from Daniel 3. 1 piece of black construction paper per child, red, orange and yellow construction paper, scissors, glue 2 sets – words of Bible Verse written on index cards Teaching Plan: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Welcome Activity: Welcome activities are things to have out for the children to do as they are arriving for class. These activities will get them engaged as soon as they arrive and will help the transition from their parents. Have the children make a picture of fire using construction paper. Lesson Introduction: Would you bow down to a god other than the One True God? What if you were told that you would die if you wouldn’t bow down to it? Would you do it? We are going to read about some men that had that choice to make. What part of the Bible is Daniel in? The Old Testament What book of the Old Testament is Daniel?

#27 Read: Carefully real the story directly from Daniel 3 aloud to the children. NIRV translation is a good choice for younger age groups. Discuss the Bible Story 1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a statue that was covered with gold. It was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. He set it up on the flatlands of Dura near the city of Babylon. 2 Then the king sent for the royal rulers, high officials and governors. He sent for the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. And he sent for all of the other officials of Babylon. He asked them to come to a special gathering to honor the statue he had set up. 3 So the royal rulers, high officials and governors came together. So did the advisers, treasurers, judges and court officers. All of the other officials joined them. They came to honor the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it. 4 Then a messenger called out loudly, “Listen, you people who come from every nation! Pay attention, you who speak other languages! Here is what the king commands you to do. 5 You will soon hear the sound of horns and flutes.

You will hear zithers, lyres, harps and pipes. In fact, you will hear all kinds of music. When you do, you must fall down and worship the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 If you don’t, you will be thrown into a blazing furnace right away.” The king made a 90 foot statue. He ordered all of his people to bow down and worship the statue when they hear the music. If they didn’t bow down to the statue, they would die in the blazing furnace. 7 All of the people heard the sound of the horns and flutes. They heard the zithers, lyres, harps and other musical instruments. As soon as they did, they fell down and worshiped Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. They had come from every nation and language. 8 At that time some people who studied the heavens came forward. They spoke against the Jews. 9 They said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, may you live forever! 10 You commanded everyone to fall down and worship the gold statue.

You told them to do it when they heard the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, pipes and other musical instruments. 11 If they didn’t, they would be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But you have appointed some Jews to help Daniel govern Babylon and the towns around it. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They don’t pay any attention to you, King Nebuchadnezzar. They don’t serve your gods. And they refuse to worship the gold statue you have set up.” All of the people bowed down to the statue when they heard the music. All, but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They didn’t bow. 13 Nebuchadnezzar burned with anger. He sent for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So they were brought to him. 14 The king said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is what I heard about you true? Don’t you serve my gods? Don’t you worship the gold statue I set up? 15 You will hear the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, pipes and other musical instruments.

When you do, fall down and worship the statue I made. If you will, that’s very good. But if you won’t, you will be thrown at once into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to save you from my powerful hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king. They said, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to talk about this anymore. 17 We might be thrown into the blazing furnace. But the God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive. He will save us from your powerful hand. 18 “But we want you to know this. Even if we knew that our God wouldn’t save us, we still wouldn’t serve your gods. We wouldn’t worship the gold statue you set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar’s anger burned against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The look on his face changed. And he ordered that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 He also gave some of the strongest soldiers in his army a command. He ordered them to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Then he told his men to throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they were tied up. Then they were thrown into the furnace. They were wearing their robes, pants, turbans and other clothes. The king was angry with the 3 that didn’t obey his command to bow to the statue. They were brought to him. They tell him that they won’t bow to the statue because they serve the One True God. The king has them tied up and get ready to be put into the furnace. 22 The king’s command was carried out quickly. The furnace was so hot that its flames killed the soldiers who threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into it. 23 So the three men were firmly tied up. And they fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet. He was so amazed he asked his advisers, “Didn’t we tie three men up? Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?” “Yes, we did,” they replied. 25 The king said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire. They aren’t tied up. And the fire hasn’t even harmed them.

The fourth man looks like a son of the gods.” 26Then the king approached the opening of the blazing furnace. He shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come out! You who serve the Most High God, come here!” So they came out of the fire. They were put into the furnace. Everyone expected them to die. The king looks into the furnace and sees 4 people in the furnace instead of the 3 that they put in. They weren’t harmed at all in the fire! There they were walking around ALIVE in a fiery furnace. The 4th man looked like the Son of God! The men walked out of the furnace at the bidding of the king. 27 The royal rulers, high officials, governors and advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire hadn’t harmed their bodies. Not one hair on their heads was burned. Their robes weren’t burned either. And they didn’t even smell like smoke. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “May the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be praised! He has sent his angel and saved his servants. They trusted in him. They refused to obey my command.

They were willing to give up their lives. They would rather die than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 “No other god can save people that way. So I’m giving an order. No one from any nation or language can say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. If they do, they’ll be cut to pieces. And their houses will be turned into piles of trash.” 30 Then the king honored Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave them higher positions in the city of Babylon and the towns around it. They hadn’t been hurt at all. Not even one hair on their heads had been burned! That furnace should have killed them instantly! God saved them! Everyone praised God because He saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Acting out the story: Put the children in groups. Have the groups come up with a reenactment of the story to share with the class Bible Verse Memorization “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “We might be thrown into the blazing furnace.

But the God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive.” Daniel 3: 16 & 17 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: count to 3 on your fingers Replied to the king: act like a crown is on your head We might be thrown: act like you are throwing something Into the blazing furnace: wave arms up and down to represent fire But the God: point to heaven We serve: bow Is able to bring us out alive: walk in place ?????????Daniel 3: hold up 3 fingers on one hand 16: hold up 1 finger on one hand and 6 fingers on the other hand 17: hold up 1 finger on one hand and 7 fingers on the other hand Do this a few times with the children. Make it fun for them to do the motions and say the words. Involving them in active learning is essential for memorization. Bible Verse Mix-Up Activity Before class write each word of the Bible Verse onto the Index cards — Make 2 sets During class, split the children into 2 groups. Give each group a group of index cards with the Bible Verse written on them.

Have them put the Bible Verse in order Evaluation: Have the children tell the story to a neighbor. Friends Strengthen Each Other: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego | Growing Kids Ministry Friends Strengthen Each Other: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego January 26, 2015 By Lindsey Love it? Share it with the people in your life! This week, we continue with our series on friendship (curriculum via Children’s Ministry Deals) in our midweek program. I really like the content so far, but the small group activities are a little lacking, so I’ve gathered some ideas for my own team and hopefully it will be a help to my readers as well! So far, we’ve covered: This week, we’ll be focusing on the Three Amigos! KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 3. The story of the fiery furnace. SUMMARY: When their faith was tested, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to stand strong because they had each other. God wants us to have friends who will strengthen us so we can stand strong and do more to further his kingdom.

Coordinating Video Clip: As I was reading through the introduction of this lesson, it reminded me of one of the final scenes in the Bugs Life movie. During the entire movie, the ants are bullied by the grasshoppers, but when they rally together, things take a different turn. Take a look: Here’s a clip from the new Superbook curriculum showing the beginning of this story from Daniel 3: Coordinating Class Activities #1: Build your own fiery furnace out of a box or table and reenact the story with the kids. Check out our experience in this post . #2: If you have older kids, this would be a great lesson to talk about struggles the kids are having at school or at home. Acknowledge that it’s hard to stand up for what is right and spend time praying as a group, encouraging and strengthening each other. Coordinating Crafts Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual Lesson 146: Daniel 3–5 Daniel 5 Daniel interprets writing on a wall, and Babylon is conquered by the Medes and the Persians Explain that the lesson Nebuchadnezzar learned about pride and humility would have importance for a later king of Babylon.

Summarize Daniel 5:1–21 by explaining that more than 20 years after Nebuchadnezzar died, Belshazzar, the king in Babylon at that time, hosted a feast for leaders in the kingdom. Belshazzar had the vessels that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem brought to the feast. The king and the people mocked the Lord by drinking wine from these vessels while they praised their false gods. During the feast, a hand appeared and wrote on a wall in the king’s palace. Belshazzar was greatly concerned, and when others were unable to interpret the writing, he summoned Daniel. Before interpreting the writing, Daniel spoke to Belshazzar about what his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had experienced when his mind was “hardened in pride” ( Daniel 5:20 ). Invite a student to read Daniel 5:22–23 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what Daniel taught Belshazzar about his actions. • Despite knowing what Nebuchadnezzar had experienced, what had Belshazzar failed to do?

Summarize the remainder of Daniel 5 by explaining that Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall, which was a declaration that God had judged Belshazzar and that Babylon would be given to the Medes and the Persians. Even though Daniel had declined payment for giving the interpretation (see Daniel 5:17 ), Belshazzar promoted Daniel to third in command in the kingdom. That night, Belshazzar was slain and the Babylonian empire was conquered. Invite students to think about what they can learn from the prideful decisions of others to avoid making similar mistakes. Commentary and Background Information Daniel 3:17–18. True faith is in the Lord and does not depend on outcomes Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy taught about true faith by using the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “True faith is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ —confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that leads a person to follow Him.” After quoting Daniel 3:17–18 and emphasizing the statement “But if not,” Elder Simmons added: “That is a statement of true faith.

“[Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego] knew that they could trust God—even if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped. … “… Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew they could always rely on Him because they knew His plan, and they knew that He does not change” ( “But If Not …” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 73). Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about faith: “As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust. I felt that trust in a talk my cousin gave at the funeral of a teenage girl who had died of a serious illness. He spoke these words, which first astonished me and then edified me: ‘I know it was the will of the Lord that she die. She had good medical care. She was given priesthood blessings . Her name was on the prayer roll in the temple.

She was the subject of hundreds of prayers for her restoration to health. And I know that there is enough faith in this family that she would have been healed unless it was the will of the Lord to take her home at this time.’ I felt that same trust in the words of the father of another choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He declared, ‘Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes’” ( “Healing the Sick,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 50). Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told of an experience in which he visited with a young, newlywed couple in the hospital. The husband was suffering from cancer, and at the conclusion of the visit, he asked Elder Bednar for a blessing. Elder Bednar consented but first posed the following questions, which he had not planned on asking nor had considered previously: “Do you have the faith not to be healed?

If it is the will of our Heavenly Father that you are transferred by death in your youth to the spirit world to continue your ministry, do you have the faith to submit to His will and not be healed?” Elder Bednar added: “We recognized a principle that applies to every devoted disciple: strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives—even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted” ( “That We Might ‘Not … Shrink’ (D&C 19:18)” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, Mar. 3, 2013]; LDS.org ). Daniel 3:25. If we choose to obey the Lord, He will be with us President Thomas S. Monson provided assurance that the Lord will be with us if we choose to obey Him: “As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?

… “… May we ever be courageous and prepared to stand for what we believe, and if we must stand alone in the process, may we do so courageously, strengthened by the knowledge that in reality we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven” ( “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 60, 67). Daniel 3:24–29. Being delivered Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about our deliverance from our problems: “Having ultimate hope does not mean we will always be rescued from proximate problems, but we will be rescued from everlasting death! Meanwhile, ultimate hope makes it possible to say the same three words used centuries ago by three valiant men. They knew God could rescue them from the fiery furnace, if He chose. ‘But if not,’ they said, nevertheless, they would still serve Him!” ( “Brightness of Hope,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 35).

Daniel 1:7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Daniel 5:12 "This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation." Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. Treasury of Scripture To whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. the prince.

Daniel 3 NIV - The Image of Gold and the Blazing - Bible Gateway Daniel 3New International Version (NIV) The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace 3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,[ a ] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 At this time some astrologers[ b ] came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! 10 Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty.

They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[ c ] from Your Majesty’s hand.

18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look!

I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Footnotes: Daniel 3:1 That is, about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide or about 27 meters high and 2.7 meters wide

Question: Who completes this Old Testament group of friends; Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and…?
Answer: Abednego