Category: Uncategorized

The Christmas before my 19th birthday, I received a set of scriptures. At the time, I was deciding on whether or not I wanted to serve a mission. I didn’t have much family pressure or precedent, as I was not aware of any family members who had served missions before me. Growing up in a predominantly LDS community, there was some social pressure to serve, but not much. I was only moderately active in the Church as a youth. In my decision making process, I figured that reading the Book of Mormon was a good place to start, since I would be teaching from it and testifying of it. So, I made it a personal goal to read from the Book of Mormon every night. Surprisingly, I followed through with that goal, though it wasn’t easy. Being a senior in high school, I had many late nights out with friends. However, each night, sometimes as late as 3 AM, I read for at least 10 minutes.

I still vividly remember these nights. I can picture in my mind the way I would prop up my pillows against the wall, sitting sideways on my bed. I can picture the lamp that I used. Since I had started the Book of Mormon a few times previously, I had decided to start in Mosiah. This decision proved to be providential. I instantly was captivated by the teachings of King Benjamin. His powerful testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the mighty change of heart that the Atonement provides, resonated with me deeply. This sermon dovetailed into the ministry of Abinidi, who also bore powerful witness of the Savior.

I had continued reading faithfully for several weeks when, one day, I found myself washing dishes by myself while working at a restaurant. I was pondering the decision to serve a mission, when I had a powerful impression. I came to the realization that my heart had changed. In just a short time of daily reading the scriptures, my mindset was drastically altered. I was more patient and kind, and less selfish and quick to anger. Perhaps the greatest part of it all is that I wasn’t even looking for that. I was reading in hopes to have a spiritual confirmation that the Book of Mormon was true. What I got was a softened heart. I experienced what President Ezra Taft Benson described when he taught that, “There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” Once I had this experience with the Book of Mormon, the decision to serve a mission was an easy one.

Let’s examine how this works, how the scriptures have power in them to change our hearts. First, an example from the Book of Mormon. Alma was facing a sticky situation. The Zoramites, who were a people that Alma was responsible for, were heavy with iniquity. They were perverting the ways of the Lord, and bowing down to idols. Alma shows his wisdom in how he handled the situation, “And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just–yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them–therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.”

In Doctrine and Covenants section 84, the Lord lays out the process by which His words have this power. “And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.”

First, we start with the word of God, or revelation. This is communication, or the transfer of a thought or idea from a Perfect Being to imperfect man. Like our earth is dependent upon the sun for energy and light, we are dependent on our Father for light and truth. This light and truth is communicated to our minds and hearts through the Spirit. As we respond favorably to this light, like a plant leaning towards sunlight, we draw closer to God, and become more like him. This light also chases away darkness, which can be sin, ignorance, or a sinful nature.

We already have within us the seeds of divinity. We have agency, or the power to think, act, and choose independently. We have the capacity to love, to know, to be merciful and just, and to influence the physical world. However, our capacity to do so is very limited. Our divine Father, has these same characteristics, but in full measure. He is “full of grace and truth.”

This fullness can be transferred, line upon line. It happens as we receive light and truth, and obey it. The Lord explained it in the Doctrine and Covenants this way: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

When we comprehend the power of God’s word, why on earth would we, as teachers, not rely heavily upon it? Can you imagine a golfer deciding to not use any clubs, or a barber that doesn’t use scissors? To a gospel teacher, the scriptures should be our primary tool. Remember by what means the scriptures come to us, as Paul taught to Timothy: “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

As you properly use the scriptures in your teaching, the Lord will ratify His words through the ministration of the Holy Ghost. I believe that the most spiritual lessons are the ones where the scriptures are examined and discussed, in a way where the Sprit can act as the true teacher. I also believe that as you find ways to better implement God’s word into your teaching, that you will be a better gospel teacher, and better feed the sheep that the Lord has lovingly put into your care.

Most teaching callings in the Church consist of a weekly lesson, either Sunday School/Primary or Relief Society/Priesthood. Naturally, this gives about 1 week of preparation time for each lesson. I have found a way to prepare that works well for me. It maximizes the limited time that I have. I assume that I am not alone in that I don’t have a lot of discretionary time. After work, spouse, and children, my day is pretty much spent.

Let me walk you through what I would consider my ideal 1 week lesson preparation. I’ll explain it first, and in the next post I will illustrate with a hypothetical(ish) scenario.

My preparation starts immediately after my previous lesson. After the class, I try to engage some in the class regarding the topic and anything that was discussed during class. Maybe someone wanted to ask question that they were embarrassed to ask during class. Or, someone had a story that they wanted to share but didn’t due to time constraints. Either way, I like to talk about the lesson immediately afterwards to get realtime feedback from the most important people, those in the class. This typically lasts for no longer than 5 minutes.

After church, I will talk with my wife about the lesson I taught that day. Our drive to church is about 20 minutes. I’ll spend 10 of that discussing the lesson with my wife. We’ll discuss what went well. Before the lesson started, I had already discussed with her what I was hoping to accomplish with the lesson. We will discuss the positive aspects of the lesson first. Then, I will ask 2 questions. First, “If I could go back in time to immediately before the lesson, what would I do differently?” This allows me to critique my teaching techniques and methods, and evaluate if there was some room for improvement. The second question that I ask is, “If I could go back in time to a week ago, what would I do differently?” This allows me to critique my preparation. In answering these questions, I am able to hone my skills. Much like a professional athlete watching game film, this self assessment is a powerful way to improve your Gospel teaching.

We typically get home and eat a quick bite. Then, the kids run around like chimpanzees have some quiet play time. This gives me some time to myself. I’ll try to take 30 minutes to start the preparation for the next weeks lesson. Preferably, this would happen at the same place each week. This should be at a desk or table with some space to spread out. I usually have my scriptures, lesson manual, laptop, and my $100 noise cancelling headphones. I find that if I stay on task for 30 minutes, that’s all I need to accomplish the goal. What is that goal? To plan the preparation (I don’t know if that can be trademarked, but I call dibs). I will skim the entire lesson in the manual, identifying the scripture blocks, the main points, and the overall feel of the lesson. If you have been in the Church for at least 4 years, then you will already be familiar with the majority of the content in the manual. I will then plan out how I will prepare through the week. This is much simpler than it sounds. I try to read all the scripture blocks in the first 3 days, which is Wednesday for those keeping track at home. So, I basically divide the assigned reading in thirds- Monday’s reading, Tuesday’s reading, Wednesday’s reading. I am assuming that as a result of my reading and pondering, there will be additional scriptures or outside resources that I will want to study. I leave Thursday of Friday for that. In a nutshell, that is how to Plan the PreparationTM; review the lesson manual, divide the reading for Mon-Wed, leave Thur-Fri open. If I have any spare time on Sunday, I will start reading the scriptures for the lesson.

I feel that I need to insert here an explanation. To me, the magic happens during the week. I don’t spend much time formally preparing the lesson, about 10 minutes per day. I do, however, spend a significant amount of time pondering the lesson. If I can get some good source material in my head (ie scriptures), then I find myself thinking about it and getting flashes of inspiration throughout the day. I think I have received the majority of my inspiration while showering or driving. Washing dishes, mowing the lawn, and other low focus physical activities provide a great opportunity for pondering. Functional meditation, if you will (is that trademarke-able as well?).

Having said that, let’s move into the work week. Once Monday morning rolls around, life in general pretty much consumes every waking minute. I try to get a solid 10 minutes of study and prayer in the morning. That is enough to put it into conscious thought and allow the Spirit to work on it throughout the day. I usually get a few new or deeper insights each day. These insights often take my mind on a tangential thought, which can guide my preparation on a slightly different path than expected. Sometimes, it’s additional scriptures that I will want to incorporate, or a conference talk, or a life experience that supplements the lesson material.

After 5 days of this process, I usually have a significant amount of thoughts and ideas floating around my head. Hopefully, it is much more than could be conveyed in a 50 minute lesson. Note that I have not even mentioned teaching methods yet. At this point, I am formulating concrete thoughts and ideas. I am learning the truths that I will hope to convey to the class. I have not yet considered how I am going to do that. Okay, maybe a little bit, but I am intentionally trying to not box myself in at this point with some clever teaching technique that I want to do.

My brain undergoes a significant change after work on Friday. I try my best to put work behind me and have a good weekend with my family. After some good quality kid time comes the best time of the week: date night! The typical date night is the clichéd dinner and a movie, but most important a chance to converse. I’ll leave the importance of communication in a marriage for another day, but as part of the conversation, I’ll talk about the lesson with my wife. Just a few minutes is all, the things that I have learned and ask for her thoughts on the topic. This actually helps a lot in my preparation. After 5 days of rumination, I can sometimes get lost in the weeds. Getting a fresh perspective helps at this point.

This brings us to Saturday. Blessed Saturday. The “special day that we get ready for Sunday.” By this stage of the game, I have 2-3 major ideas that have crystallized, with several related ideas and illustrations. I’ll get out a blank sheet of paper and a pen and start an outline. I really like the “mind mapping” approach. Basically, you write the main point in the center of the paper in a circle. Then, you write branches coming off the circle for the ideas, and sub-ideas. The website mindmapping.com is a great resource if you are new to the concept. This takes about 10 minutes to get on paper the thoughts that I have accumulated throughout the week. The task now is to convert these ideas into a lesson plan. Another way to look at it is to find a way to replicate the personal experience that you had (in preparing for the lesson) for the individuals inside the classroom. I like to start at the punchline and work my way backwards. What is the underlying doctrine or principle taught? How is this illustrated in the scriptures? What teaching method will be effective in allowing the students to extract the principle from the scripture passage?

I have a list of teaching methods that I keep handy while preparing lessons. A few examples include: stories, likening, chalkboard use, guest speakers, drawing activities, comparisons, object lessons, pictures, panel discussions, role playing, work sheets. The list can go on. I try to use a variety of methods in each lesson.

Another matter to consider when making a lesson plan is to find a balance between the intellectual and emotional aspect of teaching. Maintaining a good balance and alternating between the two are some principles of public speaking that apply to Gospel teaching. A powerful teacher will appeal to the mind and the heart, as the Holy Ghost does (DC 8:2).

After making a paper and pen outline, deciding on the teaching methods, considering the emotional and intellectual components, I will make an electronic outline. This exercise represents what I consider the most difficult challenge of Gospel teaching; taking something that is eternal (the Gospel), beyond space and time, and translating it into something very much bound by space and time (50 minutes in a classroom). By reconstructing the outline from a free-flowing mind map into a linear word document, it forces a degree of organization. I try not to kill all of the creativity, which is a risk we take by over-structuring a lesson plan.

This entire process takes up about an hour of my Saturday. Then, I let it sit on the computer and give it one last nights sleep before a final touch up on Sunday morning and printing out the outline. This final touch should include seeking a confirmation from the Lord that you have prepared the lesson that He would have you give. Once you receive that confirmation, you should feel more confident and the burden of preparation is lifted. Now all that is left is to get up and deliver.

A good practice that was recommended to me years ago is to picture in your mind some of those that you assume will be in the class. Think of their needs, wants, fears, desires. Try to see them the way the Savior sees them; as flawed individuals that are in need of love and service. How will this lesson heal their wounds? How will this help them to become better people? This outward focus will improve your teaching exponentially. Once you come to the realization that teaching is about the student, and not about the teacher, you will prepare and give much more powerful lessons.

I haven’t mentioned enough about the role of the Holy Ghost in this whole process. From start to finish, the Holy Ghost is critical. Only the Spirit can take your feeble efforts and take the teaching deep into the hearts of those in the class. When we bring an old horse yoke to class to illustrate how the Savior shares our burdens, we rely on the Holy Ghost to touch the hearts of the class. Only the Spirit can build testimony, build faith, and bring about a mighty change. Constant prayer, pondering, and seeking for inspiration and confirmation are vital components to lesson preparation. While gospel teaching has a lot in common with secular teaching, if you neglect the importance of the Holy Ghost you will never be able to fulfill your calling as a teacher. It is though the Holy Ghost that our words become the words of Christ. The Lord spoke to Orson Hyde, as well as to us: “And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.”

I love teaching the gospel!  I enjoy preparing and teaching lessons.  I have spent a significant amount of time trying to become a better gospel teacher.  I feel that I have picked up a lot of good information along the way.  Quite a while ago, I had an itch to organize the things that I have learned about teaching the gospel.  I let that itch simmer, until I could no longer hold it in.  I decided to write articles covering different topics related to gospel teaching.  Eventually, it made sense that I should put these into blog form, in the hope that it could help others.

I feel that there is a great need in the Church today for powerful gospel teachers.  My hope is that I can be used as an instrument to improve the quality of teaching in the Church.

I have been on a quest to improve my teaching for many years. This journey started as a teenage missionary. I quickly discovered that I had virtually no ability to communicate an idea to another human. I figured that if I’m going to be doing this for 2 years, and then the rest of my life, I’d better learn how. I dedicated myself fully to becoming a better gospel teacher. Since those “best two years”, I have continued on my teaching journey, both inside and outside of the church.

Inside the church, I have served as a Ward Missionary, Sunday School instructor, Sunday School President, Elders Quorum President, Stake Institute teacher, and Stake Seminary teacher.

Outside of the church, I have been involved in training for 3 different companies, been on panels, given several presentations, and taught classes for a test preparation relating to my profession.

Through all of these experiences, I have been forced to grow as a teacher. This has brought me to the bookstore, the internet, and to my knees in prayer. This blog will comprise the lessons I have picked up along the way.

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]