Daily Scripture Reading and Reading Requirements

Prophets have taught us to study the scriptures to learn of Jesus Christ. A daily reading habit is a focus in seminary because it invites deeper conversion to Christ. Each year, teachers encourage students to read from the Book of Mormon and the scriptures being studied for Come Follow Me and help students set goals to develop daily scripture study habits. 

Understanding the New Reading Requirements and the Role of the Teacher

Deepening conversion to Jesus Christ involves studying the scriptures with intrinsically motivated goals to connect with God.

The seminary credit reading requirements align with the S&I objective to deepen students’ conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. Since every student has a different level of family support, gospel understanding, commitment, and ability, the reading requirements are intended to support them in their present circumstances.

The Seminary Reading Requirements include roughly 60 pages from the book of scripture for the course (30 pages per traditional term/semester). These pages have been carefully selected because of their doctrinal depth and richness. In addition, the scripture passages should be the standard for makeup work for previously missed reading requirements. These selected passages are the minimum reading requirement for all seminary students to receive credit.

Reading Requirements - Selected Passages

Students should report to their teacher when they have read these passages or record it in mySeminary. The selected passages are designed to be a beginning point for student gospel study, we hope that students will set additional, intrinsically motivated goals to study the scriptures and deepen their connection to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost. Brother Webb explains, "[Students] will then be asked to set an additional intrinsically motivated personal reading goal with high expectations for upward growth [emphasis added]. These personal goals should reflect a student’s abilities and acknowledge individual effort and progress" (Messengers of the Good News, 2023). 

Parents and seminary teachers are encouraged to assist students in taking personal responsibility for their scripture reading and conversion to Jesus Christ. They encourage students to set and monitor personal scripture study goals. Examples of personal goals could include reading the assigned Come, Follow Me chapters and passages or reading in the Book of Mormon. Because of the personal nature of these goals, students will not report them to the teacher (and they will not be tracked in WISE). Students may choose to track their goals for their own benefit. Students will still require support and encouragement in their personal scripture study.

What are teachers being asked to do?

• Help students understand the significance of the reading requirements, encourage them to complete them and track and report their completion.

• Ask students to set an additional intrinsically motivated personal reading goal with high expectations for upward growth.

• Encourage students to track the progress of their individual goals and encourage them to follow through.

• Encourage students to read the assigned scripture passages for Come, Follow Me in the seminary week, either individually or with their families. 

• Encourage students to consistently study the Book of Mormon individually or with their families.

• Support students in their efforts to study the scriptures and learn the gospel with more intrinsically motivated goals so that students develop habits and patterns that will stay with them long beyond their time in our classes.