“Actions That Invite the Holy Ghost into Scripture Study: Creating an Environment for the Spirit to Teach,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)
“Actions That Invite the Holy Ghost into Scripture Study: Creating an Environment for the Spirit to Teach,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual
Scripture Study Skills: Lesson 169
Actions That Invite the Holy Ghost into Scripture Study
Creating an Environment for the Spirit to Teach
We have all had occasions when we approached scripture study in a more casual way and in a more careful way. As we make deliberate efforts to approach our scripture study carefully, Heavenly Father sends the Holy Ghost to help us recognize and apply scriptures to our lives (see 2 Nephi 32:3, 5; John 14:26). In this lesson, 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.
Possible Learning Activities
Two different experiences
To begin class, consider drawing two stick figures on the board, such as the following, leaving room to write between and around them. You might also invite students to draw two similar stick figures on a sheet of paper or in their journals.
Pretend that these are two typical teenagers.
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What might be some things they have in common?
Write students’ comments between the two stick figures.
Invite students to imagine that these two individuals are having very different experiences as they study the scriptures. Write “Having meaningful experiences with scripture study” next to one figure and “Struggling with scripture study” next to the other.
Consider writing students’ responses to the following question below the stick figure.
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What are some actions that can positively or negatively affect scripture study?
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following that could apply to our scripture study:
Spiritual matters cannot be forced. You can cultivate an attitude and an environment that invite the Spirit, and you can prepare yourself, but you cannot dictate how or when inspiration comes. Be patient and trust that you will receive what you need when the time is right. (“Promptings of the Spirit,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 45)
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How might Elder Stevenson’s words apply to scripture study?
If students did not express it, help them identify that we can cultivate an attitude and environment that invites the Holy Ghost into our scripture study.
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What blessings can come from inviting the Holy Ghost into your scripture study?
Consider inviting students to ponder the following question.
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How confident do you feel in your ability to invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study?
As you study today, pay attention to ideas or impressions that could help you better invite the Holy Ghost into your personal scripture study.
Actions that invite the Holy Ghost into scripture study
Before inviting students to answer the following questions, read the questions and tell students to just think about their responses for five to ten seconds.
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What has helped you invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study?
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What have you tried that hasn’t seemed to work?
Consider listing students’ answers to the first question on the board. Some answers may include removing distractions, praying, and pondering. If they didn’t provide these answers, you could add them to the board. This lesson will address these three ideas. You may want to address other actions listed on the board that you think will help your students better invite the Holy Ghost into their scripture study.
You could do each of these sections as a class. Alternatively, you might set up each section as a station. You could assign in advance a student to lead the discussion at each station. Make sure the discussion leaders have sufficient time before class to prepare. In class, students could be divided into groups and rotate through the different student-led stations.
Removing distractions
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What are possible distractions that can make it more difficult to feel the Holy Ghost during scripture study?
Consider listing responses on the board. Students might mention things like phones, energy level, their surroundings, etc.
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Why do you think removing distractions could help invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study?
You may want to point out that the Savior Jesus Christ often sought quiet places when He wanted to be with God (see Matthew 14:22–23). This was one way He removed distractions.
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What are specific things you could do to remove the distractions mentioned?
Consider listing students’ answers on the board next to the distraction they apply to.
If your students use smart phones or other mobile devices, it could be helpful to show them or invite a student to demonstrate how to turn on airplane mode on those devices. This setting turns off notifications from mobile apps that could distract students while studying their scriptures. Students can still use the Gospel Library app while in airplane mode.
Prayer
Praying to Heavenly Father is an effective way to invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study.
Invite a few students to share how they would respond to the following question. Invite them to reverently share what words they might say (without vocalizing a formal prayer).
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What might you say in a prayer to Heavenly Father before studying the scriptures?
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency shared how he uses prayer to invite the Holy Ghost into his scripture study.
Before I begin to read the scriptures each day, I bow my head, and ask the Lord to bless me that I will have His Spirit to enlighten me on the meaning of what I am reading and to be with me throughout the day to help me make decisions, and to resist temptation. I urge you to make that your practice. (“2.3.1. I Love My Daily Scripture Study,” Welcome to Seminary, 2012)
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What other insights did you gain from President Oaks?
Ponder the scriptures
To help students understand how they can ponder as they study the scriptures, you could share one or both of the following statements. Invite students to share what stands out to them from these teachings.
The Guide to the Scriptures teaches that to ponder is “to meditate and think deeply, often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Ponder,” Gospel Library).
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described what pondering the scriptures might look like.
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. (“When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 11)
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What stands out to you from what Elder Christofferson taught?
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Why do you think pondering the scriptures can invite the Holy Ghost?
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What experiences have you (or has someone you know) had pondering the scriptures? Be sure not to share anything too personal or sacred.
Make a plan
If students rotated through stations, have them gather back together as a class and share anything that stood out to them. Invite each of them to do something based on what they learned. You could share the following invitation with them to help them do this.
Thinking about what you have learned today, make a plan to better invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study. Answer the following questions in your study journal:
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What actions could you take to better invite the Holy Ghost into your personal study?
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What might result from having the Holy Ghost with you as you study the word of God?
You might share your testimony of how the actions discussed today have helped you invite the Holy Ghost into your scripture study and brought you closer to Jesus Christ.