Christ in the Old Testament

This year, we'll be studying the Old Testament. The purpose of seminary is to help youth understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven.

I’m particularly excited for this year as we’ll be studying the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ, through his prophets in the Old Testament! This will be my third year teaching seminary, but my first teaching in the Olathe Stake as well as the Old Testament. It’s going to be a great year!

Seminary Makeup Idea

Our purpose as seminary teachers is to help the youth and young adults:

• Understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ
• Quality for the blessings of the temple
• Prepare themselves, their families and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven

Here's an idea for students to makeup work:

The New Era is a church publication. If you don't subscribe, you can read it for free by browsing to http://NewEra.LDS.org. Encourage students to research and answer some or all of the following questions:

1. How many scripture mastery verses are mentioned in the current issue of the New Era?
2. Which article was your favorite?
3. What principles stood out to you in your favorite article?
4. What will you do today, this week, this month, etc. to apply what you've learned about these principles? (Try starting your sentences with "I will..." and write it down! Then you'll have a goal!)

I'm going to try this out in the coming weeks.

Human Tic-Tac-Toe Scripture Mastery

Many thanks to Sister Douglas for this great scripture mastery game!

1. Setup 9 chairs like a tic-tac-toe board
2. Divide the class into two teams
3. 1 member from each team is designated as the "searcher" for each round
4. Read a scripture mastery passage, historical setting, doctrinal teaching, personal application, missionary application or give some clue.
5. The first "searcher" to find the correct scripture mastery passage and bring their scriptures to the front of the room gets to pick a spot on the tic-tac-toe board.
6. When a team gets "Tic-Tac-Toe", they have to "Prove It!" by quoting the last scripture mastery.

Back In The Saddle

Seminary is officially under way! Despite my frequent nightmares of sleeping in and missing seminary, I've been able to make it there on time. I'm excited to study the Book of Mormon with my students this year!

The Cookie Experiment

Romans 12:4-6

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same ^aoffice:

5 So we, being many, are ^aone ^bbody in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the ^agrace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of ^bfaith;

So each party of the body has a purpose and one should not think itself greater than another? Does this work with cookies? We made chocolate chip cookies yesterday and discussed the ingredients. Each ingredient played a vital role in the success of the cookie as a whole. Even salt? Salt enhances the flavors of all other ingredients.

While they were baking, we discussed D&C 38:31:

Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be ^aone; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

Are we "one"? Collectively, in purpose, in testimony? Perhaps we're close. But where is our "left hand" today? And I haven't seen our "right foot" for awhile? Do these two passages correlate? Who are we missing? What steps can I take today to make our little class "whole"?

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Nick went to get the cookies. They had been gone awhile. We found them returning when we went searching for them. Apparently the cookies weren't quite done when they pulled them out of the oven. So, following clear logic, they decided to put all the cookies on a plate and microwave them so they'd cook faster. :-) This is how we learn.

Each came up with their own challenge of action to do something about it. Some decided to talk to those who didn't make it to class that day about how great the cookies might have been if Hillary was sent to get them. Others decided to talk to non-member friends about the parable of the cookies.


Oh, what might have been:

Quotes from the Class

A couple quotes from class in the last few weeks:

"God needs people who will actually DO what he wants them to do." - Cailyn regarding faithfulness

"That's not scripture mastery, that's scripture 'jistery'" - Josh A. during a scripture mastery game

Scripture Mastery: Principles & Cross References

We had a quick exercise earlier this week that was pretty interesting. Students teamed up in groups of 3-ish and were assigned a "principle" such as faith, opposition, repentance or obedience.

Each group was given 3-5 minutes to to find one scripture mastery passage that contained the principle and any other scripture that could be used to support it. Some used the topical guide while others the bible dictionary or footnotes to find cross-references.

Some learned that a scripture doesn't have to come right out and SAY the principle for the principle to be taught. For example, obedience and John 14:15.

One group taught about repentance by using 1 Corinthians 10:13. Though the scripture points out that the Lord ALWAYS provides a way for us to escape temptation, the underlying principle of repentance can be found when looked at in a new light. When (emphasis on "when") we give in to temptation and become subject to the devil, we are blessed with an escape route. The way to escape Satan is made possible in the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. When humbly upon our knees we approach our Heavenly Father each of us can find solace in the principle of repentance.

A 10 minute exercise turned into a great learning experience...for me.