I remember sitting in an institute class during college. I loved my institute classes. Although typically a Mormon college kid will take just one religion class during a college semester, I tc! But I loved having a religion class almost every day of the week, and so you could nearly always find me at some point in the institute building across the street from my college campus.
The institute teachers are individuals who love the gospel of Jesus Christ. So much so that they taught gospel classes full time to the college kids who would register for institute classes. Well, that would be me. And one semester one of the many classes I chose to sign up for was the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is such a long thick section of the Bible that the O.T. institute classes were actually divided into two semesters – there was so much to cover.
I’d taken Old Testament before – both semester classes! But again, I loved being able to hear, talk, and study about the gospel of Jesus Christ … and so I signed up for one more pass at the Old Testament. And what a treat it was!
The instructor stood in front of us in the class and expressed his love for the Old Testament. In fact, he said that by the end of the semester he hoped we would all feel the same love for this great book that he did.
I was a bit astounded. I’d had the Old Testament before. I thought the Bible stories therein were great and all, but I could not imagine loving the Old Testament more than any other book of scripture.
Well, I have to say that by the end of that semester I did. This instructor had opened to my eyes the wondrous world of the Old Testament and the power of its words in witnessing of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was in awe.
I hope you too have the opportunity to study the Old Testament. I’m going to include some resources here for your enjoyment and excitement. I think that if you take advantage of them you too will join that institute instructor in his enthusiasm for this ancient book and part of the Bible.
As Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the Mormon church), we believe in modern day prophets. Here is what one said about studying the scriptures. It can apply to you too!
“Search the scriptures – search the revelations which we publish, and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation. No; for when men receive their instruction from Him that made them, they know how He will save them. Then again we say: Search the Scriptures, search the Prophets and learn what portion of them belongs to you” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, pp. 11-12.)
And again, here are two resources to aid you in your study of the wondrous Old Testament world:
The Old Testament (online)
Study Manuals (online)
Enjoy!
