Sharing Scriptures
Sharing Scriptures in Class
Making the scriptures come alive for our students
Reading vs. Searching
One of my religion teachers at BYU once said: "What good is reading the scriptures? Do you know what happens when you read the scriptures? You get good readers!" Joseph Fielding McConkie's statements in class were intentionally provocative, unlike many religion classes I took. And, thank goodness for that! I always preferred gadflies to drones :) ... And so, he was basically asserting that just reading them will do more for your reading ability than for your gospel learning. Some may disagree, but ...
...If you were to go to the scriptures themselves on the topic of reading the scriptures, you would see that the verb "read" doesn't even appear as much as the following deeper verbs:
- Search: "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" John 17:7
- Feast: "Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold,the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do" 2 Ne 32:3
- Study: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Tim 2:15
- Meditate: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein Josh 1:8
- Ponder: "I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures" D&C 138:1
- Seek: "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord" Isa. 34:16
- Treasure: "Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived" JS—M 1:37.
- Delight: "My soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them" 2 Ne. 4:15
A skill to both master and teach
Skilfully sharing the scriptures involves multiple teaching principles and skills: Following the spirit, bearing testimony, asking good questions, telling relevant stories, sharing insightful analogies and (ultimately) really knowing your students' needs.
It's also something that you teach -- both by example in your lessons, and explicitly as you show your students how to do it themselves. In-class practice and review can be powerful in them retaining this skill. I recall that my SS13 students, when they were assigned to speak in Church (over a year later), even made reference to how "Brother Nahas told us we need to show the background and context of the scripture" before they introduced it over the pulpit. I didn't need any shout-outs, but was happy our repeated in-class role playing had seemed to stick.
It's also something that you teach -- both by example in your lessons, and explicitly as you show your students how to do it themselves. In-class practice and review can be powerful in them retaining this skill. I recall that my SS13 students, when they were assigned to speak in Church (over a year later), even made reference to how "Brother Nahas told us we need to show the background and context of the scripture" before they introduced it over the pulpit. I didn't need any shout-outs, but was happy our repeated in-class role playing had seemed to stick.
"Best Practices" for Scripture Sharing
Knowing how to effectively share scriptures with your audience will (1) bring the Spirit into the classroom, (2) inspire those you teach to study them more deeply, and (3) help to make the gospel relevant in their lives. It’s actually easy to make the scriptures come alive. A little preparation can make a big difference! Here are what I would call "best practices" in how to share scriptures with our students.
- Set-up: Provide the context of the passage and how it relates to your lesson.
- Who is talking to whom? Why are they talking with each other?
- What is happening in their environment... spiritually, socially, politically?
- Key Words: Know the words or phrases to emphasize … Have your audience read portions of the passage. Pause on those keywords or phrases to introduce the next steps (3 and 4).
- Ask Questions: Stop them at the right time and ask open-ended probing questions such as “Why did …”, “How does it make you feel …”, “What is happening ...”?
- Explain it: Use the footnotes, particularly if you see ones like GR , HEB or JST. Compare other scriptures that are similar. Use commentary (such as Gen Conference talks) that reference or expand on your scripture.
- Liken it: Tell how it relates your audience today. Use examples, analogies, stories, personal experiences, etc.
- Impact it: Have your audience understand why the scripture is important, what the big deal is that the scripture addresses. Point out what actions or attitude this scripture inspires in us.
This is not to say that we should use every 'best practice' in every instance. 1 Nephi 2:15: "And my father dwelt in a tent" may require (1) and (6) and nothing else, for example.
As an aside, sometimes, we employ scripture-verbiage to help convey our own thoughts. For example, Elder Neal A Maxwell often interlaced partial scriptural verses into his own sentences. You'll see this in his General Conference talks, where he may reference multiple verses in a single sentence!
The long-lasting effect
Giving our students tools and methods for opening up the scriptures to them can last forever. One reason I feel so strongly about this topic is that scriptures are the key to revelation and feeling the spirit. The reasoning behind this is self-evident, but often not viewed as causal like it should:
Finally, consider this a method for encouraging "360 degree appreciation" of the scriptures. So often, young people compartmentalize the standard works as something to be brought to Church, opened up in Seminary, and memorized by rote in order to lock in a specific gospel principle (D&C 19:16 = Atonement, Moro 10:3-5 = Testimony, 1 Cor 15:29 = Baptism for the Dead, etc). While the "scripture mastery" and single threaded approach has its value, best practices above help to open up the big picture and illuminate history, culture, context, and (most importantly) personal relevance about the passage in question.
- 1st: You cannot be saved without knowing the Savior John 17:3
- 2nd: You cannot know the Savior without having a testimony 1 Cor 12:3
- 3rd: You cannot have a testimony without receiving revelation Rev 19:10
- 4th: You likely won't receive revelation without searching the scriptures (as in James 1:5, among others)
Finally, consider this a method for encouraging "360 degree appreciation" of the scriptures. So often, young people compartmentalize the standard works as something to be brought to Church, opened up in Seminary, and memorized by rote in order to lock in a specific gospel principle (D&C 19:16 = Atonement, Moro 10:3-5 = Testimony, 1 Cor 15:29 = Baptism for the Dead, etc). While the "scripture mastery" and single threaded approach has its value, best practices above help to open up the big picture and illuminate history, culture, context, and (most importantly) personal relevance about the passage in question.
Once your students begin to practice this skill to learn the scriptures and how to teach from the scriptures in this way, it can even begin to enhance their leadership capabilities and spiritual gifts. In fact, I think knowing how to really search and teach from the scriptures is a crucial aspect of their maturation as they transition from YM/YW learners to adult teachers of the scriptures.
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