Narrator:  Today you are going to hear a story about a beautiful young lady that had great courage.  King Ahasuerus held a great feast.  He called his for his wife to come to the feast, but she did not want to come.  This angered the King, and he decided to find a new queen.

Royal Messenger:  The King desires a new queen.  All beautiful young women are to be brought to the palace.  The beautiful girl that pleases the King will become the new queen.

Narrator:  Finally all the girls are gathered into the palace and dressed for the King.  The girls are all presented to the king.  After looking over all the maidens the King makes his choice.

King:  hummm… This is an easy choice.  I choose this one.  What is your name?

Esther:  My name is Esther.  I am honored to be your queen.

Narrator: Later that evening Esther meets with her cousin, Mordecai.

Esther: Mordecai, did you hear?  The king has chosen me to be his queen!

Mordecai:  Yes, my cousin.  Esther, you have been chosen.  But don’t forget that you are a Jew.  Many people in this country hate the Jews.  Please don’t tell anyone that you are a Jew.

Esther:  I will not tell anyone, not even the King himself.

Narrator:  Esther becomes the Queen and lives in the palace.  She is a kind good person.  Later, her cousin comes to warn her of something.

Mordecai:  Esther, I over heard two of the Kings guards talking.  They were plotting to kill the King.  You must get word to the King!

Esther:  Do not worry, I will tell the King.

Narrator:  Esther tells the King of the Plot and this saves his life.  The King is grateful to Mordecai and to Esther. The King Promotes a man named Haman to be above all the princes in his court. 

Haman: My name is Haman.   I am a great person in the palace, and therefore all the servants must bow down to me. 

Mordecai: I will not bow down to you.  I know how much you hate the Jews and you are mean to my people.

Haman:  You must bow down to me.

Mordecai:  I will not bow down.

Narrator:  This makes Haman so mad that Mordecai won’t bow down to him.  He decides to punish all the Jews.  He thinks of a plan.  He goes to the king.

Haman: King, I have found that some people in our kingdom do not keep all the king’s laws.  If it pleases you, I will write a decree that they will all be destroyed, and I will put a large amount of silver into the king’s treasuries.

King:  Go ahead.  Everyone should obey the laws.

Narrator:  Haman writes a decree to everyone that on a certain day all the Jews will be put to death.

Mordecai:  Esther, only you can help us.  Haman is going to kill all of your people.  You must go tell the king.

Esther:  I want to help.  But I do not dare present myself to the King.  I am only allowed to see the King if he asks for me.  If I just go in to see him with out him asking for me, he could have me killed.

Mordecai:  You must!  You are our only hope.

Esther:  Ok, I will.  Please have everyone fast and pray for me for three days.  I need Heavenly Fathers help.  With everyone’s prayers and the Lords help, I can do this.

Mordecai:  Yes, Esther.  All the Jews will fast and pray for you.

Narrator:  After 3 days of fasting and prayer, Esther puts on her finest clothes and enters the Kings court-- with a prayer in her heart.  She hardly dares to breathe when the King looks up.

King:  What do you need Esther?

Esther:  Let the King and Haman come to a banquet that I have prepared.  Then I will tell you what I desire.

Narrator:  Haman was thrilled to be invited to eat with Esther and the King. 

Haman:  Servants!  I have been invited to eat with the Queen and King.  Mordecai still refuses to bow down to me.  I will not have it!  He must show me respect.  I order you to build a gallows to hang Mordecai from.

Narrator:  The servants get busy building the gallows, and the King goes to bed for the night.  The King can not sleep.    He remembers that Mordecai saved his life.

King: Royal Messenger!  I recall a man named Mordecai that saved my life.  Was he ever rewarded for this?

Royal Messenger:  No, nothing was done for him.

Narrator:  At that moment, Haman enters the court hoping to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai from the newly built gallows.

King:  Haman, what should be done for a man that makes the king happy?

Narrator:  Haman, smiles because he thinks the King is talking about himself.

Haman:  I think that this person should be dressed in royal clothing, and the crown put upon his head.  The Kings horse should carry him throughout the city, with someone shouting to the people how much the king wants to honor him.

King:  Great idea!  Quickly Haman, go and get the Jew Mordecai, and do all this for him.

Narrator:  Haman was shocked.  There was nothing to do but obey.  Instead of hanging Mordecai, Haman had to lead him around on the Kings horse dressed in royal clothing, and shout out wonderful things about him.  After escorting Mordecai around, Haman was very upset.  He hurried and dressed for the banquet.  We now join them at the banquet…..

King:  Esther, this food is wonderful, but you still haven’t told me why you are doing this.

Esther:  If it pleases the King, please spare my life and that of my people, for we are to be slain.

King:  What are you talking about?  Who is this person that wants to kill you?

Esther:  The person is Haman. 

King:  What!  Haman!  How could you do this???

Narrator:  The king was very angry, and Haman ended up suffering death on the very gallows he built for Mordecai.

Because of the fasting and the prayers of the Jews, and Esther’s great courage, the King changed the order and the Jews were all saved.