D&C 88:122 & D&C 50:22
“Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.” -- “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.”
Prepare and Teach by the Spirit
- Lessons should be prepared well in advance, with much thought and prayer so that the Spirit can guide us as we prepare the lesson.
- Thoughts and ideas need an incubation period to fully develop and stand on their own. (Over a period of several days at least.) When thoughts and Ideas occur, write them down, and use them in the lesson.
- Those who are called and set apart to teach, are entitled to the inspiration necessary to know what the Lord would have us say, that will bless and edify the very individuals who will be in attendance for the lesson.
- If we have prepared by the Spirit, we will be teaching by the spirit, and not by some other way. For if it is by some other way, it is not of God. (See D&C 50:17-18) We can have confidence if we have prepared by the Spirit, that the Spirit will be there when we present the lesson, and will testify of the truthfulness of what is being taught.
Focus on One Central Idea
- Most lesson materials contain more suggestions than can be used in the allotted time period.
- Don’t feel like you have to cram everything in — if you do, you will probably not be able to fully develop concepts such that they will have much meaning or much impact. — It will be like reading newspaper headlines.
- Select the main idea. — Usually this main idea is stated at the beginning of the lesson. Outline the subtopics that you wish to use to support the main idea, based on the needs of your quorum. If you are not sure what the needs are, consult with your quorum leader as you prepare for the lesson.
- Carefully read your lesson materials. Note any sections that may not apply to your situation (or the central theme you have chosen.)
- Use the lesson in the manual, and other approved supplementary material (such as scriptures, church magazines and handbooks, etc.) that will support the main objective of the lesson.
- Teach with the one central theme clearly in mind. All teaching aids and classroom activities should support this main idea.
- Use methods to involve class members in the lesson, such as by asking good questions, or by giving assignments to class members. Try to get everyone to participate in some way – each week if possible.
- As you lead class discussions, you need to direct your comments and thoughts back to this one idea. If class discussion strays from the central theme, guide them back to the theme of the lesson. You may even want to write the theme on the chalkboard, to help remind everyone of the topic at hand.
Real-life application, and commitment of what is being taught
- Make sure as you discuss the theme of the lesson, that you also discuss how it can be applied in the lives of your quorum members today.
- The objective of the lesson is to not only to inform and have a nice discussion, but to change hearts and lives.
- The end of each lesson should conclude with a testimony, and by committing each to better live the truths that have been taught. If the lesson is taught with the power of the Spirit, hearts will be prepared to commit to change.
Regarding Properly Prepared Instruction, Elder Jeffery R. Holland Said:
“[Real spiritual food] is what our members really want when they gather in a meeting or come into a classroom anyway. Most people don't come to church looking merely for a few new gospel facts or to see old friends, though all of that is important. They come seeking a spiritual experience. They want peace. They want their faith fortified and their hope renewed. They want, in short, to be nourished by the good word of God, to be strengthened by the powers of heaven. Those of us who are called upon to speak or teach or lead have an obligation to help provide that, as best we possibly can. We can only do that if we ourselves are striving to know God, if we ourselves are continually seeking the light of His Only Begotten Son. Then, if our hearts are right, if we are as clean as we can be, if we have prayed and wept and prepared and worried until we don't know what more we can do, God can say to us as He did to Alma and the sons of Mosiah: "Lift up thy head and rejoice. . . . I will give unto you success."
“When crises come in our lives‑‑and they will‑‑the philosophies of men interlaced with a few scriptures and poems just won't do. Are we really nurturing our youth and our new members in a way that will sustain them when the stresses of life appear? Or are we giving them a kind of theological Twinkie‑‑spiritually empty calories?” (Elder Jeffery R Holland, “A Teacher Come From God”, Ensign, May 1988.)
See also The following Posts on Lesson Preparation:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment