Use the Lesson to Strengthen Their Scripture Study

Over the last few weeks, we have talked about helping students develop personal scripture study—starting where they are, helping them set meaningful goals, and then keeping the blessings in front of them as they work toward those goals.

I want to build on those ideas one more time.

One of the best ways we can help students develop a habit of personal scripture study is actually through the way we teach our lessons.

Sometimes we can unintentionally separate the two:

Personal scripture study is what students do at home. Seminary is what we do together in class.

But what if we helped students see those two things as connected?

Let Them Experience the Blessing in Class

Last week we talked about keeping the blessings in front of our students. We want them to understand that scripture study isn't simply something we are asking them to do. There is something the Lord wants to give them through the experience.

Peace. Direction. Answers. Greater faith in Jesus Christ. Strength against temptation. A greater ability to recognize the voice of the Spirit.

Our lessons can give students a small experience with those blessings.

When a student discovers something meaningful in a verse, feels an impression, sees an answer to a question, or understands something about the Savior that they hadn't noticed before, help them recognize what just happened.

We might simply say:

“That right there is one of the reasons we study the scriptures. You can have experiences like that in your own study.”

Now we aren't just telling them that scripture study will bless them.

They are beginning to experience the blessing for themselves.

Let Them See How You Study

As you prepare and teach, occasionally let students see how you found something in the scriptures.

You might say:

“When I was studying this chapter, this phrase caught my attention, so I stopped and looked at it a little more closely.”

Or:

“I had never noticed this before. I wrote this question in my scriptures and spent a little time thinking about it.”

That only takes a few seconds, but we are modeling something important.

We aren't just teaching them what we found. We are showing them how to find something themselves.

Give Them Experiences They Can Repeat

Think about some of the things we already ask students to do during a lesson:

Look for a phrase that stands out to you.

What do you learn about Jesus Christ from these verses?

What question would you ask after reading this passage?

How does this apply to something happening in your life?

Take a minute and write down what you feel the Lord may be teaching you.

Those aren't just teaching techniques.

They are scripture-study skills.

When students have a good experience doing one of these things in class, help them recognize that they can do the same thing when they open the scriptures on their own.

You might simply say:

“What we just did together is something you can try in your own scripture study.”

We are helping them build a bridge between what happens in seminary and what can happen when they are alone with the scriptures.

Connect the Lesson Back to Their Goals

We can also occasionally bring their personal scripture-study goals into the lesson.

If a student is trying to study three days this week, encourage that effort.

If another student is trying to slow down and understand what they read, help them practice that skill.

If someone is simply trying to remember to open the scriptures each day, celebrate that beginning.

And as we do, let's continue to keep the blessings in front of them.

The goal isn't merely:

“I studied three times this week.”

We hope it eventually becomes:

“I found something I needed.”

“I felt closer to the Savior.”

“I received an answer.”

“I felt the Spirit.”

“I want to do this again.”

That is a very different motivation for scripture study.

An Invitation for This Week

As you prepare your lessons this week, add one more question to your preparation:

“How can I use this lesson to help my students become better personal students of the scriptures?”

Maybe you model something from your own study.

Maybe you teach them how to slow down and notice a phrase.

Maybe you give them a question they could use in their own study.

Maybe you help them recognize a blessing they just experienced.

Or maybe, at the end of class, you simply say:

“Try doing what we did today when you study on your own this week, and see what the Lord teaches you.”

We are certainly trying to help our students understand the scriptures we are studying today.

But we are also trying to help them develop the ability and desire to open the scriptures tomorrow—when we aren't there.

And if along the way they begin to discover for themselves why the Lord has asked them to study His word, we are helping them develop something that can bless them long after they leave our classrooms.