“Ideas for the First Day of Class,” Old Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2026)
Ideas for the First Day of Class
The Old Testament records God’s earliest dealings with His children on earth. In this sacred book of scripture we learn of Jesus Christ through His teachings and actions as the premortal Jehovah. We also learn of prophecies and symbols that testify of Him. The Old Testament describes covenants God made with His children. The Lord promised to honor the covenants He made with the house of Israel, both anciently and in the latter days.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: Old Testament, “Introduction to the Old Testament”
The learning activities in this lesson can be used as you begin your Old Testament course that aligns with Come, Follow Me—regardless of when your class begins. They can also be used if you are teaching Old Testament 301 or 302.
Learning Activity Options
To introduce students to this course, you might choose one or more of the following activities to use on the first day of class. Since there is more material here than can likely be discussed in one class, prayerfully consider which options will be most meaningful for your class. If desired, you could use more of these activities in future classes. You could also seek input from your students.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Create a feeling of belonging. Throughout this course, consider what you can do to create an environment of love and trust so students feel like they belong. When students feel that they belong, they are more likely to express their feelings, share experiences, and ask questions. One way to help create a feeling of belonging is to help students strengthen their connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “Being one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is without doubt the ultimate in belonging” (“The Doctrine of Belonging,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 56).
What role do I play in creating a Christlike learning environment?
Invite students to think about a time when someone showed Christlike love to them, or when they showed Christlike love toward others. They could also show a picture on their smartphone or other device that illustrates Christlike love being shown.
Read together Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 10:19. Invite students to discuss principles the Lord taught about love in the Old Testament. (Students could identify truths like these: The Lord commands us to love others as ourselves. The Lord invites us to show love to those we do not know.)
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How do you think these truths could relate to your experience in this class? (As part of your discussion, consider inviting students to share some of the challenges someone may face when they attend an institute class for the first time.)
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What are some specific things you could do to help our class become a learning environment of respect, belonging, and Christlike love?
You could watch the video “Personal Invitation to Attend Institute” (2:45). Invite students as they watch to think of who they might invite to join this class. (Students could send a message to someone while they are in class or consider how they could reach out to them before the next class.)
Consider inviting each student to ponder and record a specific action they will take to help create a learning environment of respect, belonging, and Christlike love in this class.
How can I take charge of my testimony?
Consider reading together the statement by President Russell M. Nelson. Then invite students to discuss the questions that follow with a partner:
I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with the false philosophies of unbelieving men and women and then wonder why your testimony is waning. (“Choices For Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library)
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What do you think it means to “take charge of your testimony”? Why do you think it is important?
Consider inviting students to ponder how they are taking charge of their testimonies. Invite them as they study to look for truths that can help them recognize improvements they can make.
Consider writing the following heading on the board: How can I take charge of my testimony? Invite students to find truths from the scriptures or statements from Church leaders that help answer this question. They could use Gospel Library to find resources on their own, or they could study some of the following passages:
Invite students to share answers they found to the question on the board with a partner or small group. You could also invite students to write some of the answers they found on the board. As needed, you could also share the following statement by President Nelson to help students identify additional ways they can take charge of their testimonies:
Engage in daily, earnest, humble prayer. Nourish yourself in the words of ancient and modern prophets. Ask the Lord to teach you how to hear Him better. Spend more time in the temple and in family history work.
As you make your testimony your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life. (“Choices for Eternity”)
Consider asking questions like the following to help students personalize the truths they have been studying:
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How do you think more fully taking charge of your testimony could influence:
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Your approach to this class?
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Your scripture study?
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Your prayers?
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What efforts have you made to take charge of your testimony? How has the Lord blessed you?
Invite students to consider actions they will take to help them more fully take charge of their testimonies. Encourage them to record specific ways they will work to achieve their goals. You could periodically follow up throughout the semester and invite students to report on their progress.
How can studying the Old Testament increase my faith in the Savior?
Consider displaying the following questions and inviting students to discuss them with a partner:
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What story or person comes to mind when you think about the Old Testament? Why?
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What do you think are some of the purposes of the Old Testament?
Invite a few students to share responses to these questions with the class. Then share the following statement by President M. Russell Ballard:
The first testament of Christ is the Bible’s Old Testament, which predicted and prophesied of the coming of the Savior, His transcendent life, and His liberating Atonement. (“The Miracle of the Holy Bible,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 82)
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What does this statement teach about one of the purposes of the Old Testament? (Students could identify a truth like this: The Old Testament testifies of Jesus Christ. You could also help students find support for this truth in the following passages: John 5:39; 1 Nephi 19:23; and 2 Nephi 11:4.)
Explain that the Old Testament writers used different methods to help people learn about Jesus Christ, including objects or symbols, prophetic teachings, and even experiences people had.
Invite students to practice looking for Jesus Christ in the Old Testament by choosing at least one of the activities in the handout “Finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.” Students could complete the handout with a partner or small group. (For additional information and practice, see “Focusing on Jesus Christ in the Scriptures,” in Scripture Study Skills.)
Give students time to discuss together as a class what they learned from their study. You might also consider a question like the following:
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How can looking for Jesus Christ in the Old Testament bring you closer to Him?
Invite students to make a diligent effort to look for the Savior as they study the Old Testament.
What can the Old Testament teach me about my covenant relationship with God?
Share the following statement by Sister Emily Belle Freeman and invite students to discuss the questions below with a partner.
A covenant is not only about a contract, although that is important. It’s about a relationship. (“Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 78)
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How is making a covenant with God like a relationship?
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What makes a good relationship?
Explain that throughout the Old Testament, God lovingly sought to deepen His relationship with His children by making covenants with them. We often refer to the covenant God made with Abraham and His descendants as the Abrahamic covenant. The Israelites of the Old Testament saw themselves as the Lord’s covenant people.
Invite students to study Genesis 12:1–3; 17:4–8; and Exodus 19:5–6, looking for some of the blessings God promised Abraham and his descendants as part of His covenant with them. Invite students to share what they found. You could also ask a question like the following:
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What can these verses help you understand about God? (Students could identify truths like this: God wants to make covenants with His children. As we enter into covenants with God, He promises us great blessings that will lead us closer to Him.)
Consider discussing together the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:
Once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever. God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged such a bond with Him. In fact, all those who have made a covenant with God have access to a special kind of love and mercy. In the Hebrew language, that covenantal love is called hesed (חֶסֶד). …
Hesed is a special kind of love and mercy that God feels for and extends to those who have made a covenant with Him. And we reciprocate with hesed for Him. …
Because God has hesed for those who have covenanted with Him, He will love them. He will continue to work with them and offer them opportunities to change. He will forgive them when they repent. And should they stray, He will help them find their way back to Him.
Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together. Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. He has high hopes for us. (“The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 5, 6)
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What is meaningful to you in this statement?
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What do you think it means to “reciprocate with hesed” for God?
Help students understand that the Old Testament is filled with examples of God demonstrating His covenantal love (hesed) with His people. Invite students to choose some of the following scripture passages (or others they find on their own), looking for evidence of God’s covenantal love.
After sufficient time, invite students to share with a partner or small group what they learned or felt about God from their study. You could also discuss questions like the following together as a class:
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What have you learned about making and keeping covenants that you want to remember?
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What experiences have helped you recognize the special love and mercy God has for you?
Invite students to look for covenant relationships as they study the Old Testament. Students could also record impressions they have received from the Holy Ghost about their covenant relationship with Heavenly Father and how they could make their relationship with Him deeper and more meaningful.