Seminary
Learning by Faith in Jesus Christ

Learning by Faith in Jesus Christ

Role of the Learner

seminary class

This lesson can help you understand the importance of acting with faith in Jesus Christ as you learn in seminary. As you study this lesson, you will learn how to get the most out of your seminary experience.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder this question: What have you done that helps you most in your gospel learning?

Possible Learning Activities

Give students an opportunity to evaluate their current approach to gospel learning. A scenario like the following can help.

Read the following scenario:

Two young women are in the same seminary class. One young woman feels the influence of the Holy Ghost and the love of the Lord in seminary. She is finding answers to her questions, her testimony of the Savior and His Church is increasing, and she is improving in significant ways in her life. The other young woman, however, is often bored in seminary and feels that she doesn’t get much out of it.

  • What are some possible reasons these two young women have such different experiences in seminary?

    Consider inviting students to write down answers to the following questions.

  • What are you currently doing to learn spiritually?

  • Do you feel like you are getting the results you want and need?

As you study this lesson, think about ways you want to learn and grow this year in seminary. Learning includes any way we improve in our lives. You may also think about any concerns or questions you have. Through sincere prayer, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help you know how to apply this lesson to your life. One of the most influential factors in our learning is how much we rely on and follow Jesus Christ. One principle this lesson will focus on is that as we strive to actively learn by faith in Jesus Christ, we can be blessed and improve personally. As you read the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, look for insights about what it means to learn by faith in Jesus Christ.

Consider writing the principle stated previously on the board. Look for ways to emphasize the importance of relying on Jesus Christ in our learning.

Elder David A. Bednar

As we look to the future and anticipate the ever more confused and turbulent world in which we will live, I believe it will be essential for all of us to increase our capacity to seek learning by faith. … True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to action. … Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception. It is in the sincerity and consistency of our faith-inspired action that we indicate to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, our willingness to learn and receive instruction from the Holy Ghost.

(David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Sept. 2007, 61, 63–64)

  • What did you learn from this statement?

Students could study the scriptures in the following activity individually or in small groups. Consider showing the video most relevant to students or preparing more than one video and allowing the class to choose which they will watch.

You will get the most out of your spiritual learning when you actively strive to learn about and focus your efforts on Jesus Christ. The following scripture passages and videos show individuals who came unto Jesus Christ and were blessed by Him. Read at least one scriptural account and watch at least one video, if possible. All videos are available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. As you read and watch, think about how the experiences of these individuals relate to learning the gospel.

  • Bartimaeus—Mark 10:46–52

  • Zacchaeus—Luke 19:1–10

  • Video: “Staying Spiritually Fit” (3:30)

    3:31

    Staying Spiritually Fit

    Now is the time to prepare to meet God. Just as an athlete prepares daily for game day; when we work on our spirituality daily and give our all to the Lord, we strengthen our testimonies of Him and of His gospel.

  • Video: “Ask of God (2017 Mutual Theme)” (3:21)

    3:22

    Ask of God (2017 Mutual Theme)

    We asked youth what they ask for in prayer and what answers they received…here is what they said.

  • Video: “Seminary Can Change Lives” (4:13)

    4:14

    Seminary Can Change Lives

    President Thomas S. Monson teaches how seminary can help you build and strengthen your testimony. "Effort is required," he says. "But it is effort you will never, ever regret."

  • What did the person in these verses or video do to actively show faith in Jesus Christ? How did their actions show their faith?

  • What obstacles did the person overcome?

  • How did the Lord bless them?

  • What can you learn from this person’s experience that you can apply to your own gospel learning?

Divide a piece of paper into three columns, and label the columns Before Class, During Class, and After Class. Think of what you have done or could do before class, during class, and after class to help you learn by faith in Jesus Christ. Prayerfully seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you think of examples and write or draw your examples in each column.

Before, during, and after seminary

Invite students to share at least one of their examples as they answer the following question.

  • What is one thing you have done before, during, or after a gospel class that has helped you learn and grow closer to the Lord?

It may be effective to ask several students to answer the previous question. This may lead to a variety of answers. As students hear ideas from others, encourage them to add those ideas to their paper under Before Class, During Class, or After Class. The following are some additional ideas for students.

Your personal goal

As you study in seminary, you will have opportunities to:

  • Prepare for class. Seeking revelation through the Holy Ghost and reading the scriptures daily are some of the best ways to prepare. You may also be invited to ponder questions before class or study a short segment from Come, Follow Me.

  • Exercise faith in Jesus Christ during class. You will be invited to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and actively learn according to His teachings, by studying scriptures, doing activities, sharing your thoughts, and prayerfully seeking inspiration from the Holy Ghost to apply the truths you learn to your life.

  • Evaluate what you are learning. You will have frequent opportunities to make your own goals and evaluate your own learning and progress. You will also be able to ask questions and seek guidance for any problems or concerns.

  • Share. You will be encouraged to share what you are learning with others, including your family.

In your study journal or on the paper where you wrote or drew activities that help you learn and grow closer to the Lord, write what you would like to do before, during, and after class to learn by faith. This could be as simple as circling or putting a star next to the ideas you feel the Lord would like you to try. Consider placing your goal somewhere you will see it often and remember it.

Commentary and Background Information

How can I take more responsibility for my own learning?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

16:27

Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing

Elder Bednar discusses implications of the new home-centered, Church-supported approach to learning.

Elder David A. Bednar

Each member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an individual responsibility to learn and live the Lord’s teachings. … We should not expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end. Rather, our personal responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become who the Master would have us become.

(David A. Bednar, “Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 102)

Why should I strive to actively learn in seminary?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

President Russell M. Nelson

The more you follow the example of Jesus Christ, the more successful you will be.

What, then, will help you become such a devout disciple of Jesus Christ? One answer is seminary and institute—not just attending but actively participating in class and faithfully following through with any assignments given. …

Graduating from seminary and institute will increase your ability to excel in the most important things you will ever do in life. True joy will be yours!

(Russell M. Nelson, “A Personal Invitation to Participate in Seminary and Institute,” Feb. 4, 2019)

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about participating in a gospel learning experience:

Elder Richard G. Scott

[Students’] decision to participate is an exercise in agency that permits the Holy Ghost to communicate a personalized message suited to [students’] individual needs. Creating an atmosphere of participation enhances the probability that the Spirit will teach more important lessons than [the teacher] can communicate.

That participation will bring into [students’] lives the direction of the Spirit. When … students … raise their hand to respond to a question, while they may not realize it, they signify to the Holy Ghost their willingness to learn. That use of moral agency will allow that Spirit to motivate them and give them more powerful guidance during your time together. Participation allows individuals to experience being led by the Spirit. They learn to recognize and feel what spiritual guidance is.

(Richard G. Scott, “To Learn and to Teach More Effectively” [Brigham Young University Education Week devotional, Aug. 21, 2007], 4–5, speeches.byu.edu)

Supplemental Learning Activity

An alternate study activity

Before having students draw or write ways they can learn by faith in Jesus Christ before, during, and after class, consider inviting students to answer one or more of the following questions and to share how each one can help them and others learn by faith.