Lead Student Lesson Plan
L09: Jacob 1-7
Objectives
By the end of the gathering, students will be able to:
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Learn a study skill and decide how to use it to better understand the scriptures
Learn from and teach others gospel principles found in the Book of Mormon through a selected directed study
activity
Take deliberate action to develop Christ-like attributes
Student Preparation
Students were asked to prepare for gathering by completing specific activities and/or pondering certain
questions. Please refer to the gathering instructions in this week’s unit or lesson in the course.
Lead Student: Review this lesson plan and prepare the things listed under “Lead Student” in each activity
below.
Lesson Outline
There will be a Lead Student to lead the Gathering each week. Your role this week is to facilitate the Thursday
Gathering using the agenda listed below. The times given for each activity are suggested times. You may need
to adjust them depending on your gathering group's size; however, the Gathering should not last more than
60 minutes. Try to make sure that the objectives of the gathering are met each week.
OPENING
Hymn and Prayer
(5 minutes)
Learn: Review
and Introduction
(10 minutes)
Opening Hymn: Chosen by the missionaries
Opening Prayer: By Invitation
Follow-up from previous week: Begin with asking the following question: Is there
anyone who would like to share their successes or challenges in applying
principles/concepts discussed during last week's gathering? (3 minutes)
Discuss this week's content: Next, share with the group what you learned this week as
you studied and pondered the week's reading assignment in the scriptures and/or how
you applied principles and concepts from the previous week. (2-3 minutes)
Ask questions: Prepare a few thoughtful questions which will encourage students to
share new insights and thoughts that they gained through their scripture study this
week. Break up into pairs if desired and then share with the larger group. (4-5 minutes)
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*HINT*: Consider questions that are open-ended and allow classmates to make
connections and to provide support to their answers, etc. Using "what, when, why, or
how" questions are great ways to begin.
LARGE GROUP
ACTIVITY
Application and/or
demonstration of
study skills
(10 minutes)
Purpose: (Study Skills)
The purpose of "doing" leads us to "becoming" the person we can be and the one Heavenly
Father needs us to be. Make sure that you create meaningful examples of application in
studying the scriptures. Everything in this course is designed to help you and your classmates
become strong disciples of the Savior through thoughtful and engaged scripture study.
Lead Student:
Choose one of the nine study skills listed in the Book of Mormon Study Skills document that has
yet to be presented. If all have been presented, then you should choose one that you would like
to review. During gathering, take up to 10 minutes to provide a short demonstration on how to
personally apply the study skill as well as presenting a reason as to why/how this skill can
deepen one's understanding of the scriptures. You can include the audio explanation/example.
Be creative! Invite others to share their experiences and examples too. Come up with a few
questions to have people share their own experience in using the study skill presented that
evening. Remember that you should only spend a total of 10 minutes on this activity so use
your time wisely.
Encourage the students to practice the items that will be discussed in the gathering this week
and to come next week ready to discuss the new insights that they gained.
Study Skills Example:
Choose a few scriptures that you read this week in which you substituted your name within the
scriptures. Read a few of them aloud and ask everyone else to substitute their own name in the
appropriate places etc.
SMALL GROUP
ACTIVITY
For the activities below, the class will be divided into small groups of 6-8. Encourage
students not to sit with the same people each week, but to have some variety in the
groups.
The lead student and missionaries should walk around and listen to the discussion,
giving input as needed.
Application and/or
demonstration of
concepts and
principles with a
Directed Study
activity
(30 minutes)
Purpose: (Directed Study)
The prepared directed study activities help you to dig deeper in applying and demonstrating
learned concepts and principles that are found in the week's scripture readings. Encourage
everyone to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as they work in groups to complete a selected
Directed Study activity—found at the end of this lesson plan
Lead Student:
Review the Directed Study activity at the end of this document. Print copies to bring to
the gathering. Or you could have the students pull up this week’s lesson plan on their
computers and scroll down to the directed study when it’s time.
Night of Gathering:
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1. Divide the large group into smaller groups so that they can select the Directed Study option
that they wish to complete as a group. Remind each group that they will need to choose an
option quickly so that they can complete it within 20 minutes. Remind each group that
everyone is to have a responsibility in completing the activity. Group members can decide how
to divide up the completion of their selected activity, as long as everyone is involved. (5
minutes)
2. For the next 20 minutes, groups will work together to complete their selected Directed Study
activity. Once completed, it is important to note that even though groups work together to
complete the activity, each member of the group will need to report the completion of the
assignment separately to the online instructor through the Gathering Attendance Report in ILearn. They can include the same information as other group members, as well as providing
some personal insight to describe the overall learning experience.
3. Once the 20 minutes has passed, reconvene together as a class and briefly review what
everyone discussed. (5 minutes)
Possible questions to help you wrap up the experience:
 How can/does this activity apply to you personally?
 How can the outlined activity better help you to study the scriptures?
 How do you plan to apply learned concepts and principles in the upcoming weeks?
 How does this activity prepare you for becoming a better disciple of Jesus Christ?
 If you could teach someone else this week one of the principles learned through the
outlined activity you chose, what would you share and why?
CLOSING
Become:
Reflection & Call
to Action
(5 minutes)
Bring the class back together for closing.
Share your testimony of what you have learned through this activity. Invite everyone to
reflect upon what they have learned this evening and consider the following questions:
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How does their learning this evening affect the person they want to become?
Does it affect their Disciple Progress project? How?
What action item are they going to perform as a result of the learning this week?
Remind the class to report their attendance in their Learning Report in I-Learn and
invite them to share their learning in their "Post-Gathering Discussion Board" in I-Learn.
Hymn and Prayer
(5 minutes)
Closing Hymn: Hymn of your choice
Closing Prayer: By Invitation
OPTIONAL POSTGATHERING
DISCUSSION
Remind students that if they would like to continue the conversation with their classmates in
the online class, they can visit the "On-Going Gathering Discussion Board" as a way to share
with their classmates the new insights they gained from attending the gathering. This is not
required or graded.
Remember: You need to be able to contact each other and stay organized. Use the method that works best for
your gathering group (texts, email, Facebook, etc.).
Note
Please download and print a copy of these instructions to use as a reference during Thursday's Pathway
Gathering.
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Lesson 09 - Directed Study
Focus on particular passages of scripture by selecting an option from those listed below.
Complete the related questions and/or activities
Option 1—Jacob 1. Jacob Obtained His Errand from the
Lord
Part A: Read Jacob 1:15–19 and write responses to the following questions:
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What did Jacob list as his motive for laboring diligently?
What “wicked practices” were the Nephites beginning to observe?
Why did Jacob labor “with all diligence” among his people?
What are some good examples you have seen of people magnifying their callings?
How will knowing Jacob’s motives and seeing the example of others motivate you in fulfilling your callings
now and in the future?
Part B: Search Jacob 4:4–11. For each of the verses below, record a phrase that you feel reveals something about
Jesus Christ’s life and mission. The first one is done as an example:
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Verse 4 (Example: Jacob and all the holy prophets knew of Jesus Christ and had faith in Him hundreds of
years before His coming.)
Verse 5
Verses 6–7
Verses 8–9
Verse 10
Verse 11
Option 2—Jacob 7. Sherem, the Anti-Christ
Part A: Study Jacob 7:1–9 and make a list of the strategies that Sherem the anti-Christ tried to use to dissuade
people from the truth. Write a paragraph explaining why you will be better prepared for the anti-Christs of today
by understanding this chapter.
Part B: Review Jacob 7:5, 8, 10–12, 21–22 and write a paragraph describing why Jacob “could not be shaken” (verse 5)
by Sherem’s learning or power of speech. What can you do to have similar strengths in your life?
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Option 3—Points to Ponder
Answer the following questions in a few short paragraphs:
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Jacob mentioned that he received his “errand from the Lord” (Jacob 1:17). What must a person do in order
to receive an errand from the Lord?
Jacob taught that we should treat everyone as a valued child of God (see Jacob 2:21). How can you do this
more fully?
What are some of the consequences, immediate and extended, that comes when someone violates the
law of chastity? What have you
chosen to do so that you will not violate this sacred commandment of
God?
What does it mean to “counsel the Lord” rather than to “take counsel from his hand?” (Jacob 4:10).
Option 4: Points to Ponder
Answer the following questions in a few short paragraphs:
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What does Zenos’s allegory teach concerning God’s efforts on behalf of His children?
President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “Today, Latter-day Saints are going to all parts of the world as servants in
the vineyard to gather this fruit and lay it in store for the time of the coming of the Master” (Answers to
Gospel Questions, 4:142). In addition to missionary work, how can you assist the Lord in gathering fruit?
Why are the tactics Sherem used so successful in today’s world? How can you fortify yourself against
them?
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