Seminary
James

James

Overview

What can you do when you face a difficult question? How important is it to act on your faith? How does the Lord want you to speak and use your words? In this week’s lessons, you will study the words of the Apostle James, who helps answer these questions and more.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

James 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to strengthen students’ testimonies that Heavenly Father will give them wisdom in answer to their prayers.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider asking some of the students’ parents a day or two in advance to attend class and share an experience they have had of receiving wisdom from God in answer to prayer. These parents could also send a recording of their experience that could be shown during class.

Doctrinal Mastery: James 1:5–6

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for James 1:5–6, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to read Joseph Smith—History 1:10–14, looking for how Joseph Smith applied principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in his life.

  • Image to display: An image of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Instead of inviting students to read Joseph Smith—History 1:8, 11–17, consider showing the video “The Restoration” (19:12; watch from time code 2:53 to 15:28), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Pause the video several times in appropriate places to allow students to share in small breakout rooms what they noticed that Joseph Smith did to demonstrate principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. After watching the video, invite students to share what they discovered with the entire class.

James 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson will allow students to examine how they can more fully exercise faith in Jesus Christ through righteous actions.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think of someone close to them who has strong faith in Jesus Christ. If possible, invite students to ask this person questions like the following: “How does your faith in Jesus Christ influence your actions and behavior? What do you do differently because of your faith in Jesus Christ?” Invite them to come prepared to share examples.

  • Image to display: Consider drawing or displaying on the board a picture of a fire.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Invite students to write their answers about examples of faith on two pieces of paper, as is described in the lesson. Afterward, instead of inviting students to move throughout the room, put them in breakout rooms in pairs or small groups. Direct students to hold one paper in each hand. In their breakout rooms, students can then select the right or left hand of another student to hear their responses. Students could repeat this activity in another breakout room with a new group of students.

Doctrinal Mastery: James 2:17–18

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for James 2:17–18, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think about a principle of the gospel they believe in but might struggle to act on. Ask students to ponder what it is that could be keeping them from acting on that principle.

  • Materials for students: Paper and scissors.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: For the practice application portion of the lesson, consider inviting students to select a scenario to discuss together. Invite one student to share how they would use one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help the person in this scenario. Ask another student to share additional thoughts about that principle. If students struggle to apply any of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, you could post some of the additional questions listed under the headings that come after the scenario near the end of the lesson into the chat feature and invite students to share their thoughts.

James 3

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students evaluate the words they speak and how their words are impacting their efforts to become more like the Savior.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to notice how the language we use affects us and others. Ask them to come prepared to share what they noticed.

  • Images to display: Consider displaying images of individuals having different kinds of conversations.

  • Handout: Prepare sufficient copies of the handout for all students.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Depending on how students will search James 3:2–12 for the comparison James is making, a digital whiteboard could help students to engage and teach one another. For example, if students are asked to find symbols from James 3:2–12, they could write or briefly sketch on a digital whiteboard the symbols James used as they find them. Alternatively, if symbols are shared with the students before they study their verses, students could list on a digital whiteboard the various ways the tongue is like each of the items in James’s comparison.