How can studying the scriptures help me learn about Heavenly Father?
Throughout the ages, prophets have revealed truths about the nature of God. As we diligently study their testimonies in the scriptures, we can learn about Heavenly Father’s attributes and increase our faith and testimonies. The better we understand the nature of our Heavenly Father, the better we understand our own divine potential as His spirit children.
Prepare yourself spiritually
How has your personal study of the scriptures strengthened your faith in Heavenly Father and your testimony of Him? What methods have you used to study the scriptures that might be beneficial to the youth?
Why is it important that the youth know and understand the nature of Heavenly Father? What scriptures do you feel would be most helpful to them?
As you prayerfully study the scriptures and these other resources, look for passages or statements that the youth can use to learn more about the nature of Heavenly Father.
Omni 1:17; Mosiah 1:3–7; Alma 37:8–9 (The scriptures help us understand the nature of God)
D&C 1:37–39; 18:34–36 (In the scriptures we can hear God’s voice)
Bible Dictionary, “God”
D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 32–35; see also the video “The Blessings of Scripture”
Teaching in the Savior’s way
The Savior used the scriptures to teach and testify about His mission in the Father’s plan. How can you help the youth learn to use the scriptures to learn more about their Father in Heaven?
Video: “Help Us Discover the Gospel”
Make connections
During the first few minutes of every class, help the youth make connections between what they are learning in various settings (such as personal study, seminary, other Church classes, or experiences with their friends). How can you help them see the relevance of the gospel in daily living? The ideas below might help:
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Invite one of the young men in the class to share with the young women something he has learned about the Godhead in a recent Aaronic Priesthood quorum meeting. Then invite a young woman to share with the young men something she has learned in her Young Women class.
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Ask the youth to ponder the question “What happens to those who do not have or do not use the scriptures?” Invite them to look for answers to this question as they read one of the scriptures suggested in this outline or the section titled “The Scriptures Enlarge Our Memory” in Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk “The Blessing of Scripture.” Ask them to share what they find.
Learn together
Each of the activities below will help the youth understand how to use the scriptures to deepen their understanding of the Godhead. Following the inspiration of the Spirit, select one or more that will work best for your class:
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Invite the youth to list on the board some truths they know about God. Ask them how they learned those truths. Show them how to use the Topical Guide to find scriptures that teach the truths about God they have listed (for example, they could search “God, Love of” or “God, Wisdom of”). Invite them to write on the board the references they find. Encourage the youth to share any additional truths they learn about Heavenly Father as they read these scriptures and write them on the board. Why are the scriptures important in helping us understand God?
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Select a chapter or passage from the scriptures, and demonstrate to the youth what they can learn about Heavenly Father from that chapter. For example, you could show them how 1 Nephi 1 teaches about His glory (see verses 8–9) and His mercy (see verses 14, 20). Give the youth time in class to read a chapter or a passage of scripture and make note of anything they learn about Heavenly Father as they read. You may want to suggest the following passages: Isaiah 55; 2 Nephi 26:23–33; Mosiah 2:19–25; Doctrine and Covenants 1:17–39. They could do this individually, in groups, or as an entire class. Ask the youth to share with each other what they discover.
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Invite the youth to read individually the entry “God” in the Bible Dictionary and write down one thing they learn about God the Father from what they read. Encourage them to look up any related scriptures referenced in the entry. When everyone is finished, invite each class member to find someone in the class who wrote something different, and ask them to share with each other what they learned (including any scriptures they found). Share how you have come to know Heavenly Father through reading the scriptures, and invite a few of the youth to share their own experiences.
Ask the youth to share what they learned today. What feelings or impressions do they have? Do they understand how studying the scriptures can help them learn about Heavenly Father? Do they have any additional questions? Would it be worthwhile to spend more time on this topic?
Teaching tip
“Often a lesson will contain more material than you are able to teach in the time you are given. In such cases, you should select the material that will be most helpful for those you teach” (Teaching, No Greater Call [1999], 98–99).
Invite to act
Encourage the youth to use what they learned today to improve their personal scripture study. In future lessons, invite them to share any insights they have gained about Heavenly Father from their study.