Lesson: How Can I Improve My Scripture Study?

Journal:

1. What have you been studying lately?

2. What is your daily plan for scripture study? Do you look up things by topic?  Do you read one chapter after another?  Do you keep a scripture journal?  How many pages/verses/chapters do you like to read per day?
3. How do you feel that you could improve your scripture study?

Scriptural Immersion Quote

Write on the board before class, "Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment." - Quentin L. Cook

What does it mean to immerse yourself in the scriptures?  What is the difference between that and just reading to meet a daily/weekly/yearly goal?

Matching Activity

I borrowed this idea from a post on Sugardoodle.  Kristy created a variation of Jeopardy with scripture references and questions that help us to understand the importance of personal scripture study.  I printed out the board on cardstock so I can use it again next year.  I also printed off an extra copy of the scriptures so that I can keep up with which column they go in.  To get her wonderful handout, visit the Sugardoodle.net page here.

Study Aids Activity (taken from Kar's Kith and Kin - I love this woman!)

Next week is Fast and Testimony meeting, so I thought it would be a great time to discuss what a testimony is and how we share it.  Before discussing the following, I will have the youth come up with what a testimony is and write it on the board.  Then I will tell them that we are going to study the scriptures about what is tells us a testimony is and how to share ours.  Each youth (I only have 3 so someone will need to double up) will take one of the following and start studying "testimony".  Once they've learned a little more, we will then revisit what was put on the board and add to it.  I am also going to challenge them to bear their testimonies next week during Sacrament meeting. 

Bible Dictionary: To appreciate the enrichment that the Bible Dictionary provides, look up the word grace (page 697). Study the definition carefully. Then read the scripture references provided. These verses of scripture have greater significance when you ponder the definition of grace. Pick your favorite of these scriptures and be prepared to share it with the class.

Footnotes: The most common type of footnote is a cross-reference to other scripture passages in the standard works. These additional passages often clarify or add insight to the passage you are reading. For example, look up Doctrine and Covenants 11:21. Read the verse, and then read the passages listed in footnote b. How do these passages increase your understanding of the verse? Write your answer here and be prepared to share it.

Topical Guide: Turn to the Topical Guide in your scriptures and look up the word abide.Note that the names of books of scripture appear in bold. Scripture passages from each book follow. Each scripture passage in the list contains the word abide, shown by the abbreviation a. Pick your favorite scripture and be prepared to share it with the class.

Chapter Headings: The major principles in the Word of Wisdom are described in the heading for Doctrine and Covenants 89. Read these principles in the heading and then highlight them in the scripture text. Be prepared to tell us which parts of which verses you highlighted.


Week of Studying

A few months back I challenged my class to read the entire Book of Mormon from cover to cover by the end of the year.  With that, once they had completed the Book of Mormon, I wanted them to sincerely ask in faith if what they read was true.  I accepted the challenge as well and told them I would be reading the same scriptures alongside them.  Collectively, we haven't been too good at keeping up with the challenge.  That's why I'm excited for this week's lesson!

I was on www.rockpaperscriptures.com and I saw a great printable for a week's worth of studying by topic.  It includes ideas for 7 days of studying starting with coming up with questions about the topic and ending with your testimony at the end of the week.  Next month we will be talking about the Priesthood, what better topic to renew our dedication to scripture study as a class?!

Here is a snapshot of what will be asked for each day.  The full printable can be reached at the original website here. 

We are going to start off slow, one week at a time.  If we can all study the priesthood every day for this next week, I will bring in a special treat for my class.  Then we will continue to read week by week until we can dedicate ourselves to completing the Book of Mormon challenge.

Learning from the Prophets...and the Scriptures

The theme for May is Prophets and Apostles. Last week was the Ft. Lauderdale Temple dedication so we didn't have normal services. That leaves only 3 more weeks left in May to cover some great outlines this month. There were too many that I wanted to talk about and not enough Sundays so I combined two this week.

What Can I Learn from Living Prophets and Revelation? and How Does Reverence Help Me Receive Revelation?

Intro:

Write on the board. Reverence is ___________________________.  Have the youth come up one by one and write down their definition.

Read from True to the Faith:

“Reverence is profound respect and love. When you have a reverent attitude toward God, you honor Him, express your gratitude to Him, and obey His commandments.

You should be reverent in your behavior as well as your attitude. Reverent behavior includes prayer, scripture study, fasting, and payment of tithes and offerings. It includes wearing modest clothing and using clean, wholesome language. The depth of your reverence is evident in your choice of music and other entertainment, in the way you speak of sacred subjects, and in the way you dress and act when you attend church and the temple. You show your reverence for the Lord when you serve other people and treat them with kindness and respect.”

Pause after each paragraph to make sure that all definitions are included on the board.

Discuss the importance of having Reverence and what each definition means. Tell the youth to ponder these definitions as we come up with a few challenges in our lives.

Challenges:
Have the youth come up with a list of things that they are challenged with today.  Each one is to take at least one challenge and search the general conference talks to see what advice the prophets and apostles have to give.  Have the youth prepare a 10-minute mini lesson to present next week on the topic.

Explain to the youth that you want them to prepare for and teach a topic next week and receiving personal revelation is part of that.  When preparing for a lesson or a talk, you pray about the subject.  Ponder what you know, what questions you have, what you hope to be able to teach, etc. for a couple of days.  Read the lesson or information first and just let it sit with you.  Then come back a couple days later and really begin to outline what you want to discuss.  While preparing for your mini-lesson, keep these thoughts and ideas with you.  Remember the many definitions of reverence that we learned about today and apply them to your daily lives.  Think about how the reverence you carry with you throughout this week helps you receive the revelation for your lesson.  Be prepared to share any experiences with the class next week after your lesson.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend church next Sunday, I'll be out of town for some training. However, I pray that each of the youth sincerely search and ponder about some of the challenges we came up with. I hope that they are able to seek personal revelation as they read the advice from the prophets and are able to find ways to apply it to their lives. I wish that each of them are able to band together and offer support to one another as we strive to overcome daily challenges and live our lives in accordance to the gospel.

Liken the events of the Apostasy to Our Lives

Okay, so this post is over a week old...I apologize. We went on our "Baby Moon" the weekend of Easter which is why I posted that lesson early. Then I taught this lesson the last weekend in April which was also Fast Sunday because of the Ft. Lauderdale Temple Dedication that happened this past Sunday. I wanted to go ahead and get this lesson on here so that I can refer to it next year...better late than never, right?! I also want to note that while I had an entire lesson planned, I didn't get around to everything. I was truly humbled to be able to teach by the Spirit. I have a testimony of this gospel, I know it's true. I'm an educator and can get in front of a class and teach, but for some reason have trouble getting in front of a congregation and bearing my testimony. That Sunday, I spent the entire lesson discussing the puzzles of our lives and bearing my testimony about each piece. I could feel the Spirit so strong and knew that I was really touching the youth in my class. I'm thankful for that experience and hope that I can continue to receive similar revelation as I continue being their teacher.

How can I liken the events of the Apostasy and the Restoration to my life?

We should “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23). To liken the scriptures means to see how scriptural events and circumstances are like the events and circumstances in our lives. Even though the events of the Apostasy and the Restoration occurred long ago, we can find ways to learn from these events and relate them to us today.

Object Lesson Idea: adapted from https://www.theredheadedhostess.com/articles/how-to-explain-the-apostasy-and-restoration-to-others-by-anthony-sweat/

Puzzle (2 mins to put together - then discuss)

Application: How is this puzzle similar to what happened during the apostasy?  Each piece of the puzzle can represent one of the major areas of the true church: priesthood ordinances, revelation, commandments, prophets and apostles, and Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. What happened to each of these pieces during the great apostasy?  How did we receive them back?  Look at your puzzles, are any two the same? (Hopefully there will be different shapes or arrangements between the three of them.)  Why were so many different churches formed during the apostasy?  Did they have the fullness of the gospel?  What was needed in order for you to put together the puzzle correctly?  (Revelation)  What was needed for the gospel to be restored?  Why was it important to have the restoration?

On the board, write the headings “Great Apostasy” and “Personal Apostasy.” Help them liken the Great Apostasy to themselves by discussing how the things on their list could lead to personal apostasy. For instance, like the people who killed the apostles after the death of Christ, a person today who rejects or criticizes the living apostles is in danger of personal apostasy. What can the youth do to guard against personal apostasy?

The Great Apostasy	Personal Apostasy
The apostles were killed after the death of Christ.	Rejecting or criticizing the living apostles.
Men corrupted the principles of the gospel.	Misunderstanding the scriptures.
Unauthorized changes in Church organization.	Not supporting the leaders in your ward or stake.
Unauthorized changes in Priesthood ordinances.	Not living worthy of the priesthood, not showing proper respect toward the priesthood.
Widespread wickedness.	Disobeying the commandments.

Video: What the Restoration Means to Me (5 mins)

http://bcove.me/pjf4r0g5

Journal: How can you “liken” the events of the apostasy to your own life?

Post-it Statements: Write an “I know…” or “I question…” statement about today’s lesson.

Blessings in Disguise

I know without a shadow of a doubt that my Heavenly Father knows me and my specific needs.  I know that He loves me enough to answer my prayers and bless me in ways that I can't even begin to describe as anything else.

Without going into too much detail, I've had a few specific things on my mind and in my prayers lately.  I decided to take action and seek out for something, and in return I was given an answer to my prayers.

I love this gospel and all that it stands for.  I love knowing that I can communicate with my Father in Heaven on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.  I always try to have a prayer in my heart and earnestly seek for the answers that I'm looking for.  Whether they come by the still small voice, the scriptures, or the mail...I know He will answer them in His time.

#TestimonyTuesday