“Introduction,” Old Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2026)
Old Testament Institute Teacher Manual
Introduction to the Course
The purpose of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion
“Our purpose is to help youth and young adults deepen their conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven” (“The Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion,” Gospel Library).
What will students experience in this course?
This course is designed to help teachers fulfill the Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion by helping students to:
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Focus on Jesus Christ’s example, attributes, and redeeming power in their study of the Old Testament.
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Deepen their understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Old Testament.
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Develop scripture study skills that increase their ability to understand the scriptures on their own.
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Recognize how the truths they study from the Old Testament can help with their questions, needs, and circumstances.
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Explain, share, and testify of truths found in the scriptures.
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Apply the teachings of the scriptures to their lives as they strive to become more like Jesus Christ.
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Seek, recognize, and act on personal revelation from the Holy Ghost.
How is the course designed?
The teacher material contains 50 lessons that align with the Come, Follow Me schedule. It is designed to support the traditional 14-week semester approach of Religion 301 and 302 when used with the “Pacing Guides for Religion 301 and 302” that are found at the end of this introduction.
Alternatively, this course may be offered as an elective titled Religion 210R: Come, Follow Me. In this format, teachers focus only on content that corresponds with the Come, Follow Me schedule, allowing classes to start and end at any point in the year based on to local needs and schedules. Teachers could also combine several lessons from this manual to create a shorter and more focused learning experience. For example, lessons on the book of Genesis could be used for a five-to-seven-week workshop.
The first lesson, “The Living Christ,” can be taught at any point during the course. For example, you could teach this as the first lesson of the course or during the weeks before Easter or Christmas.
How are the lessons structured?
The teacher material is intended to help teachers create learning experiences that are Christ centered, scripture based, and learner focused and invite the influence of the Holy Ghost. The following elements of the teacher material can help in this effort:
Encouraging Personal Study
Consider ways to invite, encourage, and help students to study their scriptures throughout the week. For example, you might send messages that help students study the assigned scripture block for the week and come to class prepared to share questions and insights. Ideas for messages you could send to students are found at the beginning of each lesson outline.
You could also assess students’ needs by inviting them to send you questions they have about the scripture block. In other communications, you could invite students to begin discussing a topic with classmates or friends and family members before class. Think of ways to help students meet their study goals and gain a deeper love for their personal scripture study.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and experiences. This can help them relate the scriptures to their lives. It also allows you to better assess students’ needs and desires. This may also be a good time to follow up on invitations and experiences from previous classes.
Providing time for students to ask questions and share insights about the scripture block allows them to influence the direction of the discussion. The amount of time spent sharing should be flexible. You will need to discern when to help students move on to one of the learning activities, which can help them apply what they are discussing.
To prompt questions and sharing, consider the following ways to start the activity:
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Review the messages you sent to students during the week or any questions they sent to you.
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Display pictures or words illustrating the events or main teachings in the scripture block.
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Ask students what questions or insights they would like to discuss.
You can invite students to ask questions and share insights as a class, in small groups, with a partner, or in other creative ways, like using social media. Consider giving students some time to review or study the scripture block before they share.
Note: If a particular question or insight leads off topic, look for ways to bring the discussion back to core truths in the scriptures. Also, it may be best to address some questions after class or after additional study. It is OK to say, “I don’t know. Let’s study this more on our own and see what we can learn before the next class.”
Skill Training
This course helps students to develop skills that will increase their capacity to understand and talk about the scriptures. Usually these skills are integrated into learning activities. For more help in using the suggested skills in the learning activities, teachers and students can go to Scripture Study Skills in Gospel Library. This resource provides guidance on how to define, model, and practice each skill.
As students practice these skills repeatedly throughout the course, they will feel greater confidence in their ability to learn from the scriptures. Find time to follow up and invite students to share their experiences using these skills.
Learning Activity Options
Each lesson includes multiple learning activity options. You do not need to use all of a lesson’s learning activity options in one class session. Focus on students’ conversion, not coverage. Assess the needs of your class members, and seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you select the learning activities you will use. You could also ask class members which lessons and learning activities would most benefit them.
How can Scripture Helps: Old Testament enhance the learning experience?
Scripture Helps: Old Testament is a resource that provides insight into the context of the scriptures (setting, culture, history, and geography), clarifies the meaning of words and phrases, and assists with understanding difficult passages. Many learning activities in the teacher material contain references to Scripture Helps: Old Testament. Help students find this resource in Gospel Library. Encourage them to use this resource as they study the Old Testament both in class and at home.
What other resources can help me become a more Christlike teacher?
In addition to participating in teacher training meetings with your coordinator or local faculty, consider reviewing the following resources:
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Teaching in the Savior’s Way: For All Who Teach in the Home and in the Church (2022) shares principles to help you teach more like the Savior.
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Teacher Development Skills (2022) can help you practice applying the principles in Teaching in the Savior’s Way.
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Teaching tips called “Improving Our Teaching and Learning” are included in the lessons in this manual and can help you practice certain skills during each class.
What is expected of students to receive credit?
For information about how to receive credit toward institute graduation or credit that can be transferred to Church schools, see InstituteCredit.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
How can I adapt lessons for people with disabilities?
As you teach, be mindful of students who have special needs. Adjust activities and lessons to include these students and help them succeed. For more resources on how to teach people with disabilities, see disabilities.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Pacing Guides for Religion 301 and 302
The following are examples of pacing guides you could use to adapt the lessons to the traditional 14-week semester schedule of Religion 301 and 302. Adjust these options to match your program’s needs.
Religion 301
Moses–Abraham; Genesis 1–1 Kings 11
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Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week Lesson | 1 Introduction to the Old Testament | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Week |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week Lesson | 8 | 9 | 10 Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19 | 11 Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34 | 12 Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–7 | 13 | 14 |
Religion 302
|
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week Lesson | 1 Introduction to the Old Testament | 2 | 3 Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8 | 4 Esther | 5 Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46 Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86 | 6 | 7 |
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Week |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week Lesson | 8 Isaiah 13–14; 22; 24–30; 35 | 9 | 10 Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20 | 11 Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47 | 12 | 13 Amos; Obadiah; Jonah Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah | 14 Haggai 1–2; Zechariah 1–4; 7–14 Malachi |