Enriching Lives through Online Training

THE GIFT OF TEACHING (World-wide Leadership Training, 2/10/07)

There is great value in listening to older, experienced people.
One-on-one teaching is very powerful.
Retire to bed early and arise early.
To get good at anything, keep at it! .. Be determined.
Tell new teachers to pray for the gift of teaching … ask & receive (the gift has to be earned by our diligence). He will support you.
Using stories and parables makes the lesson “memorable.”
Everyone is a teacher .. we have a responsibility to learn.
Parents teach by example via love and personal attention.
Ask (open ended) questions and stimulate discussion when teaching.

“Go ye therefore and teach all nations … I am with you always ...” (Matt. 28:19-20)
Inspired instruction in the home and at church.
Preparing for class takes time & effort! Start a week early.
Don’t try to cover too much material (better to have good discussion).
An unrushed atmosphere is absolutely essential!
All gifts come to every man. (Moro 10:17)

1. Ask and receive, seek and find, knock and it will be opened.
The Holy Ghost will teach you in your moment of need (Luke 12:12)
He will teach us what to say. (Ex 4:12)
The church provides good teaching material for teachers!
2. Teach from the scriptures.
Preaching the word had more powerful effect than the sword (Alma 31:5)
The word of God healeth the wounded soul. (Jacob 2:8)
Make the scriptures come alive.
Feeding is not necessarily the same as nourishing … what we teach must be beneficial … And must be received (before it can be nourishing).
3. Teach with/by the Spirit,
We were called to teach the Gospel by the Spirit (D&C 50:13-14)
Teach and receive by the Spirit (jointly) (D&C 50:21-22) (i.e. invite participation!) (Learner verbalization leads to learners’ confirmation)
4. Help the learner assume the responsibility for learning!
Stimulate the minds of the students that they will ask questions!
Call class members by their name.
Love them today that they may be responsive tomorrow (“prime the pump”).
Audio-Visual aids are like spice, to enrich the lesson … they are not the lesson.
5. Testify … let the fire of our faith come through.
Close book, look them in the eye, share your feelings on the lesson.
“Never let your faith be difficult to detect.” (J. Reuben Clark)
Bear your witness from the depths of your soul.
“I know of myself that these things are true.” (Alma 5:46)
Whatever we are and will be we owe to great teachers (that includes parents)!

Teaching should be ongoing and occur each time you meet with your teachers.
Listening is an important element of teaching.
Help/Enable students to live/practice the lesson/principle … even as you teach/discuss it.
Call students who were absent
Have them learn (not just memorize) the Articles of Faith.
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel … “ (Rom. 1:16)
“Teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. “ (D&C 88:77)
“treasure up ... the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion …” (D&C 84:85)
“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you …” (1 Pet. 3:15)
The best teaching statement – “Follow thou me.”