Teaching and Learning
Finding Themes in the Scriptures

“Finding Themes in the Scriptures,” Scripture Study Skills Teacher Manual (2024)

Finding Themes in the Scriptures

Define

You might share the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

Elder David A. Bednar

Themes are overarching, recurring, and unifying qualities or ideas, like essential threads woven throughout a text. Generally, scriptural themes are broader and more comprehensive than patterns or connections. In fact, themes provide the background and context for understanding connections and patterns. The process of searching for and identifying scriptural themes leads us to the fundamental doctrines and principles of salvation. (David A. Bednar, “A Reservoir of Living Water” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Feb. 4, 2007], 5, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Note: It may be helpful to complete “Finding Connections in the Scriptures” and “Finding Patterns in the Scriptures” before doing this skill training.

Model

Display the following passages, or provide them on a handout. Read the passages together, and look for how Jesus Christ is a theme in the Book of Mormon. When we understand that the central theme of the Book of Mormon is to increase our faith in Jesus Christ, then we can read each page looking for Him. (Note: Italics have been added to highlight this theme.)

Title Page of the Book of Mormon—Moroni

  • “[The Book of Mormon leads to] the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”

1 Nephi 6:4—Nephi

  • “For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.”

Omni 1:26—Amaleki

  • “And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.”

Mosiah 3:17—King Benjamin

  • “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.”

Helaman 5:9—Nephi, son of Helaman

  • “O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.”

3 Nephi 11:10–11—Jesus Christ

  • “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

  • “And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”

Moroni 10:32—Moroni

  • “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.”

Practice

Select passages from the book of scripture you are studying that highlight a theme. Or you could ask students to study one of the following groups of scripture passages. Invite students to study the passages, looking for a theme. Then invite them to share the theme they discovered and their thoughts and insights about that theme.

Additional passages for practice:

Invite and Follow Up

Encourage students to look for themes in the scriptures during their personal study. Follow up with students by inviting them to share themes they discover in their personal study of the scriptures. You might ask them how finding themes enhances their study and understanding of the scriptures. Look for opportunities during class to review and continue practicing this skill.