Introductory Materials

Overview

This year in seminary, you will study the Book of Mormon. These lessons will help you better understand the importance of Heavenly Father’s plan and improve in your ability to study the scriptures daily. You will also learn how to identify key roles of the Holy Ghost, how to act in faith in Jesus Christ as you seek answers to your questions, and how to get the most out of your seminary experience.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson. Note: Some or all of the following lessons could be taught at the beginning of a school year or at another time that would benefit students.

The Plan of Salvation

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand and feel the importance of Heavenly Father’s plan.

• Student preparation: Invite students to think about something they feel they could not live without and be prepared to explain why. They could also bring it or a picture of it to class, if appropriate.

• Content to display: The questions that the Book of Mormon answers (listed on the board, written on pieces of paper and placed on the walls, or displayed in another way)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Display the questions that the Book of Mormon answers. Invite students to indicate which question they are most interested in learning about. Create breakout rooms for each of the questions so students can discuss what they learn together, and provide a time limit. When the time is up, end the breakout rooms so that students can discuss with the class what they learned.

Studying the Scriptures

Lesson purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to increase students’ desire and ability to study the scriptures daily and receive promised blessings that accompany scripture study.

• Student preparation: Give students the “Scripture Study Evaluation” handout from this lesson to take home and fill out. Consider inviting students to ask family members to answer the questions too and to discuss their responses together.

• Handout: “Scripture Study Evaluation”

Learning by the Spirit

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students identify key roles of the Holy Ghost, which are essential for their spiritual growth and progression.

• Student preparation: Invite students to think of experiences in which they felt the influence of the Holy Ghost. Encourage them to focus on thoughts, feelings, or impressions that accompanied the experiences and to come to class prepared to share.

• Image or object: Images of different types of communication devices, including a smartphone

• Video: “Feeling the Holy Ghost” (3:17)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: When discussing the different ways we can feel the Holy Ghost, consider using the whiteboard tool or some other software to allow students to list different ways they have felt the Spirit.

Learning by Faith in Jesus Christ

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students get the most out of their seminary experience by understanding what it means to learn by faith in Jesus Christ.

• Student preparation: Invite students to read paragraphs 1–2 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) and prepare to share what we can do to learn spiritual truths.

• Videos: “An Especially Noble Calling” (11:25; watch from time code 2:16 to 3:49); “Seminary Can Change Lives” (4:14)

• Content to display: The statement by President Russell M. Nelson at the beginning of the lesson; an image of a student in seminary

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: If possible, consider inviting one or two students who recently graduated from seminary to attend the videoconference and share what helped them learn the gospel in seminary. They might also share what they wish they had done differently or known when they first started their seminary experience.

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students act in faith in Jesus Christ as they seek answers to questions and concerns in their lives.

• Student preparation: Invite students to ask a family member or Church leader who shows great faith in Jesus Christ what he or she does to stay strong when faced with questions or concerns about the gospel.

• Video: “Act in Faith: The Stonemason” (4:57)

• Content to display: The references and summaries from 1 Nephi for student reference during the study activity

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting students to vote in a visible way on each possible answer to the question “What do you think it might mean if someone has questions about the gospel or the Church of Jesus Christ?” For example, they could turn their cameras off if they think the answer could be accurate and keep their cameras on if they don’t. Pause after each option to ask some students why they voted the way they did. Help them understand that any of the answers could be accurate or inaccurate depending on a person’s desires and choices.