“James,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
Joseph Praying, by Brian Call
James
The letter of James emphasizes practical gospel living. James taught that “pure religion” (James 1:27) includes caring for the poor, the fatherless, and widows. He taught that we demonstrate faith through the works of righteousness. He warned the Saints that friendship with the world is enmity with God and that misuse of riches brings misery.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “James”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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What wisdom do you seek? Carefully study James 1:5–8, and watch the video “Origin” (4:57). Then reflect on how God can help you.
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Would you like to have stronger faith in Jesus Christ? Read James 2:14–26, looking for what you can do to strengthen your faith.
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Words have power! When have you experienced the power of your words—for good or bad? Read James 1:26; 3:1–12 to learn more about the power of words.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of James.
Skill Training
James 1:5–8 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Using Teachings of Church Leaders to Understand the Scriptures” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
What wisdom do I lack?
You could begin by displaying the following questions by President Russell M. Nelson. Then have students fill in the blanks below the quote.
What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)
I need wisdom about so I can .
Explain that James, the brother of Jesus, taught the Saints of his day how to seek for wisdom from God. Invite students to study James 1:5–6, looking for what James taught about how we can obtain wisdom.
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What do these verses teach you about wisdom? (Students may identify a truth like the following: Heavenly Father generously gives wisdom to those who ask Him in faith.)
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What experiences have helped you know the promise in James 1:5–6 is true?
Give students a moment to study James 1:6–8, looking for what James taught about how we should approach Heavenly Father for wisdom. To deepen students’ understanding, consider asking:
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What do you think it means to ask in faith?
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What most helps you avoid wavering in your faith?
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How would being “double minded” (verse 8) keep you from wisdom? (For further insight you could read 1 Kings 18:21; Matthew 6:24; 1 Corinthians 10:21).
To help students further consider the significance of James’s teachings, display the following study options. Give students time to complete one or both:
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Use Gospel Library to search for teachings from Church leaders or scriptures that relate to James 1:5–6. You could use search terms like “James 1:5” or “Ask of God” in the Gospel Library search bar. Consider linking resources you find to James 1:5–6. Record your thoughts about how these teachings can strengthen your confidence that you can obtain wisdom from God.
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Study Joseph Smith’s search for truth in Joseph Smith–History 1:10–17. Record what stands out to you about Joseph Smith’s experience, including what you learn or feel about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
After students finish, invite them to share some of their insights in small groups or as a class.
Consider concluding by discussing the rest of President Russell M. Nelson’s statement:
What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)
Invite students to review what they wrote at the beginning of this learning activity. Give them time to ponder how they can apply what they have learned and felt today to help them seek the Lord’s guidance. Encourage them to record their thoughts and spiritual impressions.
How can acting with faith in Jesus Christ bring me greater power?
Begin by showing the following image and ask:
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What power or potential do you see here?
Show the next two images and ask:
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If the woodpile represents God’s blessing for us, what might the match represent? What about the fire?
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How might this analogy be compared to faith and works?
Point out that James taught important lessons about the relationship between faith and works (efforts and actions). Invite students to study James 2:14–26, looking for how James’s teachings can be applied to the analogy of a wood pile, match, and blazing fire. (To help students understand these verses, consider pointing them to “James 2:14–26. What did James teach about faith and works?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
To help deepen students’ understanding of these verses, consider asking questions like the following:
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What do you think is meant by the phrase “faith without works is dead” (verse 26)?
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How do good works (actions and efforts) relate to our faith in Jesus Christ? (Students may identify a truth like the following: True faith in Jesus Christ is demonstrated by our righteous works.)
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How has your faith in Jesus Christ influenced your actions and efforts?
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How have your efforts and actions influenced your faith in Jesus Christ?
You could display and read the following statement by Elder Dale G. Renlund, or you could watch the beginning of “Abound with Blessings” (time code 1:15 to 3:27) that discusses the analogy used earlier in the class.
Most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is a principle of action and of power. First we act in faith; then the power comes—according to God’s will and timing. The sequence is crucial. The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive. (“Abound with Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 70)
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How has your life been blessed by acting in faith?
To help students apply what they are learning, consider dividing the class into small groups. Display the following situations, and invite the groups to choose one or more to discuss. For each situation they choose, invite them to discuss what actions a person might take if they (1) focus on works and neglect faith in Jesus Christ, (2) focus on faith and neglect works, or (3) demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ through their righteous works.
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Overcoming an addiction
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Receiving the Lord’s guidance about an important life decision
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Gaining a testimony
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Serving a mission
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Dealing with mental health challenges
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Invite students to share insights they gained in their group discussions.
To conclude, invite students to think about ways they can better demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ through their actions. Give them time to record promptings they receive from the Holy Ghost and to set a goal. Encourage them to act on their plans.
How do my words influence myself and others?
Share the following statement by Elder Ronald A. Rasband:
Words matter a lot. Let me say that again. Words matter! They are the bedrock of how we connect; they represent our beliefs, morals, and perspectives. Sometimes we speak words; other times we listen. Words set a tone. They voice our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, for good or bad. (“Words Matter,” Liahona, May 2024, 70)
Invite students to think about the words they have used today.
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What impact have your words had on others? What about on yourself? (You might invite a few students to share experiences that are not too personal.)
Point out that James used symbolic imagery to warn the Saints about their words. Invite students to study James 1:26; 3:2–12, looking for imagery James used. Invite them to read “James 3:1–12. What did James teach about the mouth and tongue?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament to better understand this imagery.
You could display and invite students to discuss the following questions with a partner or in a small group:
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Which of the symbols James used to teach about our words do you relate to most? Why?
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What did you learn from these symbols that can impact the way you communicate with others?
Invite a few students to share with the class some of the truths they discovered from the teachings of James. (Using their own words, they could identify truths like the following: As we learn to control our speech, we can learn to control the rest of our actions [see James 3:2]. The words we use can have a large impact, for good or for bad [see James 3:3–8]. Followers of God strive to use their words for righteous purposes, not to spread evil [see James 3:8–12].)
Consider discussing questions like the following to help students better understand these truths:
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Why might what you say influence how you act?
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How can our words be like a fire (see James 3:6) and cause trouble, pain, and suffering?
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What can we learn from the Savior about how to talk with others? (If helpful, you could invite students to find scripture passages that tell how the Savior blessed someone through His words. The following could be used as examples: Matthew 16:21–27; Luke 23:34; John 8:1–11; John 11:5, 23–26, 40–43; John 14:27; 3 Nephi 17:15–17; Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–9.)
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Emphasize the example of Jesus Christ. One way to focus on Jesus Christ no matter what you are teaching is to emphasize how He is the perfect example of all gospel principles. Even when the Savior’s example is not directly referred to in a scripture passage, you can help students make connections between the truths in the scriptural account and the Savior’s example.
Consider sharing the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson. Invite students to pay attention to ways we can be more Christlike in our communication with others.
How we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. … “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication. (“Peacemakers Needed,” Liahona, May 2023, 99–100)
To help students think about higher, holier ways to speak to and about others, display the following words as headings on the board:
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Uplift
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Heal
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Hurt
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Criticize
Invite students to consider some of their own words they have used in the past that might relate to each heading. (You could invite them to scroll through some of their recent digital communications to look for examples.) After sufficient time, ask them to prayerfully ponder and record ways they will strive to be more like the Savior in how they speak to and about others. You could ask a few willing students to share plans that are not too personal with the class.
Testify of the truths you have discussed. Encourage the students to be more like the Savior in their communications with others.