Renewed Emphasis on Scripture Study: Start where they are.

As I have been visiting classes this year, I have noticed something that I think is worth us thinking about together.

We are doing a pretty good job talking with students about the required reading for seminary. We remind them what they need to read, encourage them to stay caught up, and help them understand what is needed for credit.

Those things matter.

But I am not sure we are, generally, giving the same attention to helping students develop their own personal scripture study goals.

There is an important difference.

Required reading helps studenst engage with the course of study. Personal scripture study helps them develop a habit and relationship with the scriptures that we hope will continue long after seminary is over.

Over the next few weeks, will you please think about how we can help students who may not yet be developing this habit to do so. Not by giving them one more requirement, but by helping them learn to take greater ownership of their own scripture study.

And I think the first step is pretty simple: Start where they are.

Find Out What's Really Happening

Before we help a student set a scripture study goal, we probably need to understand what scripture study looks like for them right now.

Instead of only asking:

“Are you caught up on your reading?”

Try asking:

“How is your personal scripture study going?”

Then maybe follow up:

What seems to be working for you?

What makes it difficult?

When do you usually study?

When you have had a really good experience in the scriptures, what made it good?

Those questions can open a very different conversation.

One student may be reading regularly but mostly trying to finish the assigned chapters. Another may be inconsistent but really wants to do better. Another may not know how to study beyond simply reading verses. And another may have already developed a wonderful personal habit that we can encourage and strengthen.

We won't know unless we ask.

Don't Fix It Yet

This may be the hardest part.

When a student tells us they aren't studying, our teacher instinct kicks in. We want to give them a goal, suggest a method, share a scripture, or explain why scripture study matters.

There will be a time for that.

But first, just listen.

Try to understand where that student is right now and what might be getting in the way.

We teach classes, but ultimately we are trying to reach individuals. Sometimes a two-minute conversation before class, after class, or during the week can tell us more about how to help a student than another reminder to “do your reading.”

Try This This Week

Pick two or three students in your class.

Sometime this week, have a short conversation with them about their personal scripture study.

Not their required reading.

Not whether they are caught up.

Just ask:

“How is your personal scripture study going?”

And then listen.

You don't have to fix anything yet.

For now, just find out where they are.

Because before we can help our students move forward, it helps to know where they are starting from.