Studying the Scriptures

Hear the Lord’s Voice through the Scriptures

Jesus taught that the scriptures testify of Him (see John 5:39). This lesson can help you come unto Christ and know Him better through study of the word of God by helping you develop scripture study skills and set scripture study goals.

Student preparation: During a lesson that is taught before this one, consider giving students the following handout. Invite them to fill it out anonymously and turn it in. Students’ responses could help guide your preparation for this lesson.

Display the questions from the handout for reference during the lesson.

Scripture Study Evaluation

Answer each question honestly using the following scale:

(a) Never (b) Seldom (c) Sometimes (d) Often (e) Always

• ___ I study the scriptures daily.

• ___ I see the value in making time for daily scripture study.

• ___ I am aware of and use scripture study skills that help me understand the truths in the scriptures.

• ___ As I study, ideas come to my mind that have not occurred to me before.

• ___ I record spiritual impressions and ideas from my study.

Possible Learning Activities

Why study the scriptures?

Consider having students role-play this scenario in partnerships or as a class to increase engagement.

Imagine one of your friends says, “I don’t have time to study the scriptures with everything else I have going on. I don’t even understand them!”

• What would you say to your friend?

• What are other reasons why people might not study the scriptures daily?

Consider using the evaluation from the student preparation activity to help students review how they are doing with their own scripture study.

Take the scripture study evaluation. You will refer to your responses later in class.

Respond to the following questions in your study journal.

• What is going well in your scripture study? What could you do better?

Display the following statement and the questions that follow. Students may benefit from responding to the questions in their journals before responding in front of the class. Ask follow-up questions to students who share experiences to invite them to share more.

Read the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson, looking for what we can learn about why regular scripture study is worth both the time and the effort.

As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths. …

… Where can we go to hear Him?

We can go to the scriptures. They teach us about Jesus Christ and His gospel, the magnitude of His Atonement, and our Father’s great plan of happiness and redemption. Daily immersion in the word of God is crucial for spiritual survival, especially in these days of increasing upheaval. As we feast on the words of Christ daily, the words of Christ will tell us how to respond to difficulties we never thought we would face. …

What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life.

Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 89, 90

• What did you learn from this statement about how the Savior can bless you as you study the scriptures?

• What blessings have you experienced as you have regularly studied the scriptures?

• What has helped or could help you consistently make time to study the scriptures?

Consider doing an activity with students to help them develop a scripture study skill. The following activity helps them learn how to use footnotes effectively, but if they would benefit from another skill, consider another activity that will increase their ability to study the scriptures. Some ideas can be found in the additional materials at the end of the lesson.

How can I use footnotes effectively?

One way you can have more uplifting scripture study is by using footnotes. Footnotes are found in paper scriptures at the bottom of the page and in electronic scriptures by tapping on the small letters next to some words in verses. These notes contain references to other verses or additional tools that can help you better understand what is being taught.

You will see Joseph Smith Translation notes frequently in New Testament footnotes. The Joseph Smith Translation is an inspired revision or translation of the Bible completed by Joseph Smith. It restores truths lost from the Bible and adds clarity to biblical teachings. Under inspiration, the Prophet corrected more than 3,400 verses in the Bible, many of which can be found in the footnotes of Latter-day Saint editions of the Bible, but some longer passages are in the Bible appendix.

Luke 2 describes the story of Joseph and Mary finding 12-year-old Jesus in the temple after searching for Him for three days (see Luke 2:40–45). Luke 2:46 is an example where the Joseph Smith Translation clarifies what is taught in the passage. It also helps to make the meaning consistent with what is taught in verse 47.

Study Luke 2:46 without any footnotes, and look for what you learn about Jesus Christ.

Study the passage again, this time using the footnotes, including the one that begins with “GR.” “GR” means “Greek,” which is the language that most New Testament manuscripts were originally written in. This footnote helps us understand another possible meaning of the Greek text.

• How did these scripture study tools enhance what the verse teaches about Jesus Christ?

Goals to become more like Jesus Christ

One of the primary goals of seminary is to help you to follow Jesus Christ and become His disciple. Consistently studying the scriptures is one of the best ways you can become a more devoted follower of Jesus Christ. It is also one of the requirements for receiving credit for seminary. You can ask your teacher for information about what the scripture study requirements are if you have questions.

It can be challenging to find time to personally study the scriptures. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered this advice:

Given the hectic pace of our lives, good intentions and simply “hoping” to find the time for meaningful scripture study are not sufficient. My experience suggests that a specific and scheduled time set aside each day and, as much as possible, a particular place for study greatly increase the effectiveness of our searching in and study of the scriptures.

(David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6)

Think about what you have learned and felt today, and consider reviewing your responses to the scripture study evaluation again. In your study journal make a scripture study goal. You could make this a spiritual goal for the Children and Youth program or create a separate goal. Think about the following questions as you set your goal:

• What do you know or believe about the scriptures? How does what you know or believe about them increase your desire to study them?

• What challenges have you faced in your scripture study? How can you overcome them?

• How much will you study? Where and when will you do it?

Commentary and Background Information

What are some of the blessings that can come from scripture study?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the blessings that can come from scripture study.

How can I study the scriptures effectively?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared these insights:

When I say “study,” I mean something more than reading. It is a good thing sometimes to read a book of scripture within a set period of time to get an overall sense of its message, but for conversion, you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you.

(D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 11)

Some tools and resources to help you to study the scriptures more effectively include:

• “Ways to Study the Scriptures” and the introduction materials in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.

• The institute New Testament Student Manual, which contains helpful images, commentaries, and explanations.

The following tools can be found in the “Study Helps” section of your Gospel Library app or in the index of your triple combination or Bible:

• The Guide to the Scriptures, Bible Dictionary, and Topical Guide, which can assist you in studying by topic or by finding cross-references, definitions, and contextual explanations.

• Bible Maps, which can help you better understand the geographical context of scripture accounts.

• The Bible Photographs tool, which has pictures of places in the Holy Land that can help you visualize Bible stories better.

• The Harmony of the Gospels, which is an index of where to find various stories in each of the Gospel accounts, helping you increase your understanding of those events.

Supplemental Learning Activity

Harmonizing gospel accounts

Consider using this practice in addition to or instead of the Joseph Smith Translation footnotes activity. Students might benefit from studying the same account in the New Testament from the perspective of multiple writers. This can help students gain additional insights on the Savior. One account to practice with might be of the Savior suffering in Gethsemane, found in Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:40–46. After students study these accounts, they can share insights they received by studying the scriptures this way.