Scripture Study Skills: Overview

Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Teacher Manual
Old Testament Lessons
- Welcome to the Old Testament
- Moses 1; Abraham 3
- Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5
- Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5
- Genesis 5; Moses 6
- Moses 7
- Genesis 6–11; Moses 8
- Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2
- Genesis 18–23
- Genesis 24–33
- Genesis 37–41
- Genesis 42–50
- Exodus 1–6
- Easter
- Exodus 7–13
- Exodus 14–18
- Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34
- Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19
- Numbers 11–14; 20–24; 27
- Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34
- Joshua 1–8; 23–24
- Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16
- Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–7
- 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16
- 1 Samuel 17–18; 24–26; 2 Samuel 5–7
- 2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 6–9; 11
- 1 Kings 12–13; 17–22
- 2 Kings 2–7
- 2 Kings 16–25
- 2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30
- Ezra 1, 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8
- Esther
- Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42
- Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46
- Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86
- Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150
- Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12
- Isaiah 1–12
- Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35
- Isaiah 40–49
- Isaiah 50–57
- Isaiah 58–66
- Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
- Jeremiah 31–33; 36–38; Lamentations 1; 3
- Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47
- Daniel 1–7
- Hosea; Joel
- Amos; Obadiah; Jonah
- Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah
- Haggai 1–2; Zechariah 1–4; 7–14
- Malachi
Life Preparation Lessons
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth Guide
- Building Self–Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Succeed in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders
Appendix

“Scripture Study Skills: Overview,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Scripture Study Skills: Overview,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Scripture Study Skills

Overview

The scriptures are the means God has given for us to learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel. However, there are tools we can use to help us be more effective in our efforts to draw closer to Jesus Christ through scripture study. These lessons can help students understand and practice using the following tools: focus on the Savior, find gospel truths, annotate scriptures, invite the Holy Ghost, and make comparisons to identify implied truths.

Pacing suggestion: These lessons can be taught at any time. However, it may be effective to teach one or more scripture-study skills lessons toward the beginning of the school year, then introduce another skill every few weeks. This would allow students to learn and practice these skills throughout the year.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare for each lesson.

Focusing on Jesus Christ in the Scriptures

Lesson purpose: To help students focus on the Savior while studying the scriptures.

Student preparation: Invite students to look for insights they learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they do their personal or family study of the scriptures. Invite them to come prepared to share what they found.
Content to display: Statement from Elder Christofferson; picture of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace; Steps to help focus on the Savior in scripture study
Video: D. Todd Christofferson “The Blessings of Scripture” from time code 10:49 to 11:21

Finding Gospel Truths in the Scriptures

Lesson purpose: To help students increase their ability to find gospel truths in the scriptures that help them come closer to the Lord.

Student preparation: Invite students to mark or record in their scriptures something that they learn from their personal scripture study. They could then ask a friend or family member to read the same scripture passage, share what they learn from it, and compare insights.
Materials: Bring a banana or fruit with a peel that is not normally eaten; otherwise, display an image of one
Handout: “Finding Truths in the Scriptures”
Content to display: Display questions from the “Define” portion of “Identify implied truths”; display instructions from the “Practice” portion of the same section

Annotating Scriptures

Lesson purpose: Students will learn to annotate their scriptures in a way that can help them feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to ask a few people in their family, ward, or branch what they have found helpful when marking the scriptures. Students should come prepared to share what they learned.
Items to display: Bring personal set of scriptures, ideally a first set of personal scriptures
Content to display: Display or write a verse of scripture (preferably a Doctrinal Mastery verse) on the board
Handout: “Practice Annotating the Scriptures”
Videos: D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture” from time code 13:51 to 15:05; “A Marking System That Works for You” (1:56); “Highlighting” (not yet published); “Note Taking” (not yet published); “Linking” (not yet published)

Actions that Invite the Holy Ghost into Scripture Study

Lesson purpose: Students will practice skills that invite the Holy Ghost into scripture study.

Student preparation: Invite students to create a list of ideas that they could give to a friend to help them improve their personal scripture study. They could ask others for ideas to add to their list.
Images: Two stick figures that will be drawn on the board
Materials: Small piece of paper for each student who doesn’t have a journal
Video: Elder Stevenson, “Promptings of the Spirit” from time code 10:20 to 10:41; President Oaks, “2.3.1. I Love My Daily Scripture Study” from time code 0:24 to 1:08; Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted” from time code 3:25 to 4:19
Display content: There are four points of instruction in the “Practice” portion of the “Ponder the scriptures” section

Making Comparisons

Lesson purpose: To help students make comparisons in the scriptures to identify implied truths.

Student preparation: Invite students to study Moses 4:1–2, looking for similarities and differences they see between Jesus Christ and Satan. Invite them to ponder why it can be useful to make comparisons in the scriptures.
Content to display: Three questions toward the beginning of the lesson; the image of the Council in Heaven
Materials: Bring a small amount of sugar and salt; otherwise display an image of them
Image: Image of salt and sugar; image of the Council in Heaven