“Lesson 197—Preparing for Tests and Challenging Projects: ‘If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Preparing for Tests and Challenging Projects,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 197: Succeeding in School
Preparing for Tests and Challenging Projects
“If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear”
In our efforts to obtain education, we are often assigned difficult tasks to complete. As youth look to Jesus Christ and do their part to prepare and persevere in school, the Savior can help them become equal to their educational tasks. This lesson can help students understand ways to prepare successfully for tests and challenging projects.
Possible Learning Activities
Struggling with tests or school projects
Consider beginning the lesson by sharing the following scenarios. Instead of sharing the entire scenarios, you could share the first sentence of each and then ask students to come up with reasons why Sam and Emma might feel the way they do.
Sam does not like taking tests at school because he usually struggles to do well on them. He often feels anxious when he is taking the test and seems to forget most of what he has learned.
Emma has a hard time when she is assigned large projects or papers in her school classes. She feels overwhelmed by the amount of work she has to do and tends to put it off until a day or two before the project or paper needs to be submitted. As a result, the work she turns in is often unfinished or poorly done.
Invite students to think of times when they may have felt like Sam or Emma. Explain that it is not uncommon for students to struggle with their confidence in school, especially with exams and challenging projects. It might be helpful to remind them that learning is a lifelong process. We are on this earth to learn and progress.
Invite students as they study to pay attention to spiritual truths and impressions that can help them succeed with tests or projects in school.
Learning from the scriptures
Explain that the scriptures do not specifically teach about how to prepare for tests or school projects. However, as we liken the scriptures to ourselves (see 1 Nephi 19:23), we can find truths that can help us in a variety of ways, including when we face challenges in our education.
Consider dividing the class into groups to complete the following study activity.
Search the scriptures for truths that could help you in your efforts to succeed on exams and school projects. You could find scripture passages on your own, or you could study some or all of the following passages:
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What truths did you find that could help you be successful with tests or school projects?
To help students teach one another, consider inviting them to list on the board truths they found.
Students should be able to identify many truths from the scriptures they studied. Here are some examples: the Holy Ghost can enlighten my mind (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:15); if I am prepared, I do not need to fear (see Doctrine and Covenants 38:9, 30); as I pray always, God will consecrate my performance for the welfare of my soul (see 2 Nephi 32:8–9); I can do all things through Jesus Christ (see Philippians 4:13).
Consider inviting multiple students to answer the first of the following questions. You could point to certain truths on the board and invite the students who wrote them to answer the question with that truth in mind.
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How do you think the truths you found could help you with school tests or projects?
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What are some ways the Lord could help you with your schoolwork as you apply these truths in your studies?
As part of your discussion of the previous questions, consider asking a few students to share examples of how they have received the Lord’s help in their schoolwork. Invite them to share how those experiences impacted their feelings for the Savior.
Give advice
This portion of the lesson is intended to help students think of specific ways they can prepare to be successful with challenging tests or projects. To do this, you could display the following instructions and give students time to create a response with a partner or small group.
Imagine that you had the opportunity to give advice to someone like Sam or Emma about how to succeed on tests or with challenging school projects. Write down what advice you would give. Include phrases from scriptures that you think might be helpful. The following questions could help guide your response:
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What can help you remember and use what you have already learned?
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How can you avoid getting distracted while you are studying?
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What can help you avoid procrastinating?
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What could help you improve your ability to think clearly?
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What can you do to involve the Lord in your preparation?
After students have had sufficient time to create their responses, invite them to share them with the class. You could write on the board the insights that are shared and encourage students to record in their study journals advice they had not already thought of. You could also invite students to share examples of how some of these suggestions have helped them.
If students need help thinking of ideas, consider offering a few suggestions, including some of the following:
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Take notes of what you are learning in class and review them often. Explain what you are learning to a classmate, family member, or friend.
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Put your phone away and block your access to distracting internet sites while you are studying.
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Spread your studies out over many days or weeks. Make a schedule and stick to it. If you get behind, don’t wait until the end to catch up.
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Find a quiet place to study, and study during times of the day when you are not too tired. Take care of your body by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising regularly.
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Take time to educate and prepare your spirit through scripture study. Pray and occasionally fast for help and guidance.
Other ideas to help with school exams can be found in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section.
Think about what you learned
Invite students to reflect on what they have learned and felt in the lesson that can help them in their lives. One way to do this could be to have the students answer the following questions in their study journals.
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What have you learned or felt today that you want to remember?
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What are some of the strategies you learned today that you want to incorporate into your studies?
Consider reminding students that becoming a successful learner takes time, preparation, patience, and practice. Encourage them to continue relying on the Savior for help and guidance.