“Finding the Meaning of Words and Phrases,” Scripture Study Skills Teacher Manual (2024)
Finding the Meaning of Words and Phrases
Define
You could display a few words or phrases from scripture passages that might be difficult for your students to understand. Explain that finding the meaning of words and phrases can help us better understand the scriptures and the truths they teach us.
Display the following list of resources that students could use to find the meaning of words and phrases in scripture. If needed, show students how to access these resources.
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Dictionaries
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Define feature in Gospel Library app
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Footnotes
Model
You could use one or more of the following resources or one of your own to model this skill.
Dictionary or Define Feature in the Gospel Library App
Read Isaiah 7:14, and find the word “Immanuel.” Look up “Immanuel” in a dictionary or on your phone, and read the definition. Then demonstrate how to use the Define feature in the Gospel Library app by highlighting the word “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14. When the toolbar appears, tap on the Define icon to search an online dictionary.
Footnotes
If using the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version of the Bible, you could point students to Isaiah 7:14, footnote e, which provides the Hebrew meaning “with us is God.”
Guide to the Scriptures
Show students how to search “Immanuel” in the Guide to the Scriptures, which defines the word as “God with us.”
Share with students what the meaning of Immanuel teaches you about Jesus Christ.
Practice
Select a passage from this week’s scripture reading, or choose from the passages listed below. Invite students to study the passage and practice finding the meaning of words and phrases they may not understand. Invite students to share the following in pairs or small groups:
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The meaning they found for a word or phrase and how they found it
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How knowing this meaning helps them better understand the scripture passage or a truth it teaches
Additional passages for practice:
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Word: transfigured | |
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Phrase: take up his cross. If students need help, point them to Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:26. | |
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Phrase: great and abominable church | |
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Word: mysteries |
Invite and Follow Up
Encourage students to take time during their scripture study to find the meanings of words and phrases that they may not understand. Invite students to come to the next class prepared to share how using this skill influenced their personal scripture study. Give them time to share the meanings they found to words and phrases and how understanding these meanings helped them better understand the scriptures. Look for opportunities to continue practicing this skill in class.