Category 1: Queen Vashti
This queen refused the king’s order to appear before a group of drunk men.
(Esther 1:12)
Answer: Who is Queen Vashti?
Esther was raised by this cousin after her parents died. (Esther 2:7)
Answer: Who is Mordecai?
Mordecai sat at the king’s gate and overheard a plot to kill the king. What did he do? Esther 2:21–23)
Answer: What is he reported it through Esther? (
Mordecai told Esther she may have become queen for this reason. (Esther 4:14)
Answer: What is “for such a time as this”?
Esther asked all the Jews to do this together for three days before she went to the king.
Answer: What is fast and pray? (Esther 4:16)
After Vashti refused, the king’s advisors pushed him to make a permanent decision while he was still angry. What danger does this show us?
Answer: What is making big decisions when we are angry or only listening to people who agree with us?
Unlike many of the other young women, Esther did not rely on extra adornments. What helped her find favor?
(Esther 2:15)
Answer: What is following wise counsel and treating people kindly?
Mordecai did the right thing but received no immediate reward. What does this teach us?
Answer: What does the Lord notice: quiet acts of integrity even when no one else does?
What does “for such a time as this” mean for a teenager today?
Answer: What is the Lord has placed you in your school, family, and friend group for a purpose right now?
Why did Esther ask others to fast and pray with her instead of doing it alone?
Answer: Why can praying and fasting together bring greater strength and help the Lord answer prayers?
Vashti lost her position because she stood up for what she felt was right. How does this relate to teenagers today?
Answer: What is having the courage to say no even when it costs you something (popularity, approval, etc.)?
Esther kept her Jewish identity quiet at first. Why might a teenager sometimes feel pressure to hide part of who they are?
Answer: What is fear of not fitting in or being judged?
Even after Esther became queen, she still listened to Mordecai. Why is it sometimes hard for teens to keep listening to trusted adults?
Answer: What is pride or feeling like we already know enough?
Before Esther went into the king's presence, she asked the Jews to join her in doing this for three days.
(Esther 4:15–16)
Answer: What is fasting and praying?
Sister Nelson said that when we are desperate for a gift of the Spirit, we will finally do this.
Answer: What is pray with all the energy of our heart?
What lesson can teens learn from Vashti about personal dignity and pressure from people in power?
Answer: What is it is better to keep your self-respect than to go along with something that feels wrong?
Esther went from an orphan to queen. What does her story teach teens about the Lord’s ability to prepare us?
Answer: How can the Lord use our ordinary preparation and quiet obedience for something much bigger later?
Mordecai did a small good thing by reporting the plot. Later, it became very important. What does this teach us?
Answer: What is that small good choices can lead to bigger blessings later?
According to Sister Nelson, what can you do for 30 days to help get answers about what you were born to do?
Answer: What is kneel and thank Heavenly Father for the scriptures, tell Him the one question you most need answered, plead for the Holy Ghost, then read until you find the answer?
What is one powerful way Sister Nelson invited youth to seek answers from the Lord?
Answer: What is the 30-day scripture experiment (thank God for the scriptures, ask one question, plead for the Holy Ghost, and read until you find the answer)?
Vashti’s choice affected the whole kingdom. What does this teach us about our personal choices as teenagers?
Answer: What is that our choices can influence more people than we realize?
Esther listened carefully to both Mordecai and Hegai. What does this teach us about receiving help as teenagers?
Answer: What is being willing to listen to trusted people even when we don’t fully understand the plan yet?
Mordecai stayed faithful even when it was risky. What does his example teach teenagers about standing for truth?
Answer: What is that doing the right thing is still right even when it is hard or unnoticed?
Esther had to decide whether to risk her life to help her people. How does this relate to the choices teens face when standing up for what is right?
Answer: What is choosing courage even when it feels risky or unpopular?
How can fasting and sincere prayer help a teenager discover what they were born to do?
Answer: What is by showing the Lord we are serious and opening our hearts to receive guidance from the Holy Ghost?