“Introduction to the Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material (Religion 275),” Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material (2021)
“Introduction,” Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material
Introduction to the Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Teacher Material (Religion 275)
Welcome to the Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon course! Thank you for accepting the opportunity to help institute students come unto Christ through a study of the Book of Mormon. This curriculum is designed to help you be a Christ-centered and learner-focused teacher.
What are the objectives of this course?
The Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion states:
Our purpose is to help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven. (Gospel Teaching and Learning: A Handbook for Teachers and Leaders in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion [2012], 1)
This course is designed to help you and your students fulfill the Objective of Seminaries and Institutes by:
-
Creating learning experiences that help teachers and students feel Heavenly Father’s love and strengthen their relationship with Him.
-
Providing opportunities to increase faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
-
Helping students identify and explain the distinctive teachings and doctrine of the Book of Mormon, consider how these teachings are relevant to their personal growth, and determine how to apply what they are learning to their lives.
-
Fostering a loving and respectful learning environment where students are invited to ask questions, express concerns, discuss their experiences, and share their testimonies.
How are these materials structured?
This course is divided into 8 units, with 28 lessons. Each unit covers a prominent doctrinal theme of the Book of Mormon. The lessons within each unit are topic-based and related to the doctrinal theme.
Each lesson is designed for a 50-minute class period. For classes that meet once a week for 90 minutes, teachers can combine two lessons, since the lessons within each unit are closely connected to the unit theme.
Each lesson is composed of class preparation material and teacher material. This material is designed to invite thoughtful preparation, encourage students to engage in deeper learning, and bring about actions that help them become more like Heavenly Father.
To know how to best leverage this curriculum to bless the lives of your students, you will need to study both the class preparation material and the teacher material as you prepare for class discussions.
As you study the curriculum, pray for the Lord’s help to understand your students’ needs. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Stay open—stay open to the Spirit, especially. Leave some wiggle room in your lesson plan. If you need to shorten a lesson a little in order to bear your testimony and stimulate a discussion on a contemporary issue, please do so when the Spirit prompts and dictates that it is appropriate. …
… Remember that a student is not a container to be filled; a student is a fire to be ignited. (“Angels and Astonishment” [address given at the Church Educational System training broadcast, June 12, 2019], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Class Preparation Material
The class preparation material includes passages from the Book of Mormon, context for those passages, statements by Church leaders, images, videos, and a “Want More?” section that provides additional resources related to the lesson topic.
The class preparation material also contains questions and activities that encourage students to deepen their learning and prepare to participate in class. For example, in the class preparation material for lesson 4, “Search the Scriptures,” students are invited to study how the scriptures can be likened or compared to the Liahona. They are then invited to do the following activity:
Elder Kim B. Clark of the Seventy taught what a learner (and teacher) must do to learn deeply:
If you really desire to learn deeply, if your heart and your mind are open to learning, and if you act on that desire, the Lord will bless you. When you do your part—pray in faith, prepare, study, engage actively, and do your very best—the Holy Ghost will teach you, magnify your capacity to act on what you learn, and help you become what the Lord wants you to become. (“Learning for the Whole Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, Aug. 2017, 27)
Teacher Material
In the introduction of the teacher material for each lesson, you will find a description of the intended learner outcomes. This introduction is followed by suggested teaching ideas that provide lesson structure, content, discussion helps, and application ideas.
As you study the teacher material, pay attention to how it draws on the students’ preparation. Consistently relying on students’ preparation will help them feel the importance of preparing for every class. The following instruction from lesson 4 is an example of how the teacher material draws on the students’ preparation:
Ponder in Preparation for Class
Similar to what you and your students will do before class, take a minute to ponder as you prepare to teach this course. First, look through a lesson or two to become familiar with how the preparation and teacher material are designed to be used together as you prepare to teach. Then ponder the following questions: What are some ways you might encourage students to prepare so they can have a richer experience in class? What can you do to include students who may not have studied the preparation material?
Note: When students have prepared for class discussions, you will find that you can move more quickly in class to deep, meaningful discussions of the topics. This should allow for more time in class to explore how you and your students can plan for and take effective, righteous action.
How can I effectively prepare to teach?
Heavenly Father will assist you as you prepare to teach His children. Your efforts to diligently live the gospel will help you qualify for the guidance of the Spirit in your preparation to teach.
You may find it helpful to ask yourself the following questions as part of your preparation to teach:
-
Have I prayed to receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost and to understand my students’ needs? How can I assess what is most relevant to them?
-
Do I feel sufficiently grounded in the preparation and teacher material? Is there anything I need to adapt to meet the needs of my students?
-
How can I help my students increase their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we study this lesson? How can I help students seek learning through the Holy Ghost?
-
How can I help each of my students fully engage in the lesson? How can I make sure they have the space they need to make personal plans to apply what they are learning?
-
How can I create a learning environment where students feel valued, accepted, and safe to share and learn from one another? (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:78, 122.)
How can I adapt lessons for those with disabilities?
As you prepare to teach, be mindful of students who have particular needs. Adjust activities and expectations so these students feel included and to help them succeed. For more information, consult the resources on the Disabilities page at disabilities.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
What is expected of students to receive credit?
To receive credit toward institute graduation, students are required to:
-
Study the preparation material for at least 75 percent of the lessons.
-
Attend 75 percent of the classes held.
-
Complete one of three learning experiences: keep a study journal, write responses to three essay questions, or design and complete a learning project (with teacher approval) of their own that is related to the content of the course. Find more details on “Institute Elevate Learning Experiences,” available on institute.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
If students record responses to all of the questions and activities in the preparation material, this would also satisfy the learning experience requirement. Students do not need to submit their responses to you. At the end of the semester, they simply need to show you what they completed.
Record Your Thoughts
Consider the kind of experience you hope your students will have in this course. List a few of your thoughts about how you plan to help them have a meaningful learning experience.