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Life Preparation lessons deepen gospel learning for seminary students and teachers

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers online resources explaining the new Life Preparation seminary lessons. The lesson curriculum was introduced to teachers in Jan. 2024. (Annie Warner)

Life Preparation seminary lessons offer a Christ-centered perspective to challenges — big and small — that church members of all ages struggle with.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website detailed the new lesson curriculum, which was introduced to seminary teachers in Jan. 2024. The curriculum was implemented globally in Jan. 2025.

“Designed to help youth develop life skills rooted in gospel teachings,” the Church web page said, Life Preparation lessons are meant to be included in the curriculum one to two times per week.

Tyler Smith, a seminary teacher in Lehi, Utah, has taught seminary full-time for six years. He has been teaching Life Preparation classes for one year.

Smith said that Life Preparation lessons — focused on skills such as succeeding in school, lifelong learning, controlling anger and emotional self-reliance — are beneficial for all students, many of whom struggle with anxiety, depression or other challenges.

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A seminary class meets in a classroom. Life Preparation classes were implemented globally starting January 2025. (Courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

“We can focus on some real life challenges they’re facing and then show them how the gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution to everything,” Smith said.

And it’s not just the students who benefit.

“I’ve noticed a lot more answers to questions that I’ve personally had, in ways that I hadn’t noticed before,” Smith said. “It’s helped me to see how relevant the gospel is to our daily lives.”

Amy Fish, an early-morning seminary teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota, agrees.

“We’re applying the Savior’s teachings to be better prepared to live life,” Fish said. "That applies to everyone.”

She said that so far, many of the Life Preparation lessons she has taught have been about physical and emotional health, mission prep and building self-reliance. They all have the same focus: applying the gospel.

“No matter what I’m teaching in the gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s relevant today for my students right now — no matter what they’re dealing with,” Smith said.

Fish said the lessons will soon expand into areas such as preparing to go to the temple.

“We’re just getting started,” Fish said.