It’s a new year of study for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! For 2026 we are studying the Old Testament this year. The study guide of the Church for the OT is over here. I’m excited to increase my knowledge of this part of the Bible. So many, many beautiful stories of God’s covenantal grace abound in the Old Testament. The word “testament” means “covenant.” So when we study the Old Testament we are studying the ancient evidences of God’s covenantal love and grace. This helps us live to feel this love and grace more as well. I love learning about Jesus, aka, Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament/Covenant, who fulfills His promise in the New Testament/Covenant.

Here’s a great video of scholar Dr. John Hilton III introducing the Old Testament. I love the overview he gives in the images above and below.

You can access Brother Hilton’s OT masterclass here. Then you can get the free ebook about the Dead Sea Scrolls that he mentions in the video from the QR code below.

Then Brother Hilton’s aunt, Sister Lynn Hilton Wilson, has an introduction to the OT in the video below.

As Sister Wilson says in the video above, the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Christ is one of the best commentaries on the Old Testament. She also says that the OT has more references to women than any other book of scripture.

Speaking of women, I encourage you to get the book below by Heather Farrell to learn more about women in the Old Testament. I believe it is a compilation of what she has in her blog over here. (I was so blessed to find this book when thrifting this past year. I saved it to give to my daughter as one my Christmas gifts.)

How about some music to connect to the Old Testament stories? I raised my children on Scriptures Scouts music. The Old Testament music is here to buy and over here in Spotify.

Then there’s the beautiful music by Shawna Belt Edwards. The video below shows clips from her OT songs. The whole playlist is here.

Today in Sunday School in our intro to the OT lesson the teacher mentioned Dr. Ross Baron. I thought, “Hey, I know him! He was the favorite professor of two of my children at BYUI.” I don’t know him personally, but I feel like I do after listening to so many of his speeches. He is amazing! Here are his thoughts below to keep in mind as you read the OT this year.

Lastly, here’s a fun intro to the OT video by Kristen Walker Smith.

I had the thought last night that when I take down my Christmas picture books that I have up for decorations in my front room, on the ledges above my windows and doorways, I can put up my few winter picture books, my few Valentine picture books, and….the books I have about the Bible. I’ve also got my heart garlands, my snowflake garlands, and my pom pom garlands. I’m excited!!!