Missionary Preparation: 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

“Missionary Preparation: Overview,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)

“Missionary Preparation: Overview,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

Missionary Preparation

Overview

We can participate in gathering Israel by loving others, sharing the message of Jesus Christ, and inviting people to come to the Savior. God blesses missionaries as they serve diligently and teach people in their communities and around the world.

Pacing suggestion: There are many good options to consider for pacing these lessons. For example:

Teach some or all these lessons toward the end of the school year when older students might be working on submitting their mission papers.
Teach some of these lessons as you study portions of the Old Testament that are referenced in these lessons. Some suggestions are next to specific lessons below.

Prepare to teach

The following information gives you some ideas of what you may need to prepare for each lesson.

Our Covenant Responsibility to Share the Gospel

Pacing suggestion: You might consider teaching this lesson around the same time as Lesson 121: “Isaiah 49.” Isaiah 49 contains prophecies of Abraham’s seed helping the Lord fulfill His covenant to gather Israel in the last days (see 1 Nephi 22:7–9).

Lesson purpose: To help students deepen their understanding about their covenant responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Student preparation: Invite students to spend a few minutes of their personal scripture study looking for the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant. They could study the doctrinal mastery passage Abraham 2:9–11 or search “Abrahamic covenant” in Gospel Library. During the lesson, you could invite them to share things they learned or questions they have.
Items to prepare: Four envelopes, each labeled with a number: 1, 2, 3, or 4; print the two-sided handout titled “The families of the earth”; cut along the dotted lines, creating a two-sided puzzle; using the numbers of the headings on the back of each piece, place them in the envelope with the corresponding number.
Content to display: Instructions for groups to study the scriptures and statements on the back of the puzzle pieces found in their envelope
Video: President Russell M. Nelson Introduces Preach My Gospel, Second Edition from time code 0:00 to 0:55

Sharing the Gospel in Natural Ways

Pacing suggestion: A portion of this lesson teaches that the Lord can help students in their efforts to share the gospel just as He promised to help Jeremiah. You might consider teaching this lesson around the same time as you teach Lesson 130: “Jeremiah 1.”

Lesson purpose: To help students practice sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others in natural ways.

Student preparation: Invite students to prayerfully ponder situations where they could share something about the Church or the gospel as part of a normal conversation. Students could think about how this might be done effectively and look for opportunities to do so.
Video: “Simple Ways to Love, Share, and Invite for Youth,” (2:50)
Content to display: Options for students to hold up the number of fingers that best describe how they feel about what was shared; a mirror, statement from Elder Quentin L. Cook; instructions for students to practice the skill of the “mirror quality to conversation”

Choosing to Serve a Mission

Lesson purpose: To help students feel a desire to serve the Lord as His missionaries.

Student preparation: Invite students to ask someone they know who served a mission what blessings they recognized the Lord gave them because of their service. They could do this in person, over the phone, or by text or email. Ask them to come prepared to share what they learned.
Handout: “Blessings God Gives His Missionaries”
Videos: “The Book of Mormon” (2:10); “Missions and Eternal Companions” (1:07); “Missions and Careers” (1:37); “Education” (1:44) (You might only show one or two that you feel would be of most interest to your students.)

The Role of the Holy Ghost in Missionary Work

Lesson purpose: To help students explore ways the Spirit can help them share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Student preparation: Invite students to ask a returned missionary to share an experience when the Holy Ghost helped them in their missionary work. Or students could reflect on experiences they have had when the Holy Ghost helped them share the gospel with others.
Items to prepare: A task that students can only complete with a certain item, such as removing a screw from a piece of wood using a screwdriver
Content to display: On the board, write The Holy Ghost can … along with the following passages: Moses 6:32, 34; 2 Nephi 33:1; Alma 17:3; 3 Nephi 28:11; Doctrine and Covenants 31:11
Video: “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” from time code 4:43 to 5:59

The Importance of Obedience in Bringing Others to Christ

Pacing suggestion: This lesson uses the account of Daniel as an example of how obedience can help us bring others to Christ. You might consider teaching this lesson around the same time as you teach Lesson 145: “Daniel 6.”

Lesson purpose: To help students recognize the importance of obedience in doing the Savior’s work as missionaries.

Student preparation: Invite students to review some of the standards for missionary service found in Section 3 of “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ” in Gospel Library. Alternately, students could speak with someone who served a mission and ask what mission standards they remember.
Content to display: An image of a missionary; Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ; instructions to outline a three- to five-minute talk in the section titled “Share what you learned”
Handout: “The Importance of Obedience when Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and the handout “Create a Lesson Outline”