The Modern Lds Church

[Calm]

When I was teaching the gospel doctrine class, I was instructed (by Church manuals as well as other sources) not to cut off a good discussion just for the sake of "getting through" the planned material. I was also told repeatedly that there was far more in the printed lesson material than could be covered in a single class period, so I was to be selective according to the needs of the class and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

It has been nearly two years since I was released, but having attended general Sunday School auxiliary training as a news reporter, as far as I know, these things are still emphasized.

When I was teaching Doctrine and Covenants to the youth, I would list the scriptures referenced in the lesson on the board so the students would know where we would headed, but I made a point of telling them if we didn't finish, that wasn't an issue. Each student would have a turn reading them and then we would discuss them. There was no way they were reading the manual ahead of time, so it was more of walking them through the scriptures themselves and having them do their thinking aloud, but I have hopes I helped at least some of them actually think about what they were reading rather than just reciting it. Edited August 12, 2013 by calmoriah

[Scott Lloyd]

When I was teaching Doctrine and Covenants to the youth, I would list the scriptures referenced in the lesson on the board so the students would know where we would headed, ...

For the same reason, when I taught gospel doctrine, I would print out the lesson title and all of the main ideas and post them in large, easily seen lettering on the chalkboard/whiteboard. My class soon came to understand that we would not necessarily cover all the main ideas within the allotted time.

Once, while interviewing the Sunday School general presidency, I mentioned that I was a gospel doctrine teacher. One of them asked how I determined which portions of the respective lessons to cover or teach. I replied that I prepared to cover all portions, but I relied on the Spirit to give me to understand "in the very moment" what I should present. I then, added, "Because how can you know a thing like that until you have the opportunity to look into their eyes?"

My response seemed to meet with the presidency's approval.

[19nazzy]

When I was teaching the gospel doctrine class, I was instructed (by Church manuals as well as other sources) not to cut off a good discussion just for the sake of "getting through" the planned material. I was also told repeatedly that there was far more in the printed lesson material than could be covered in a single class period, so I was to be selective according to the needs of the class and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

It has been nearly two years since I was released, but having attended general Sunday School auxiliary training as a news reporter, as far as I know, these things are still emphasized.

After struggling for a while on how to properly teach (as I see it) and to try to do it the best that I can, I've tried to learn from people that I believe have done a great job in teaching classes that I've been in. The approach that I try to take is that I think of myself as a captain of a rowing boat. I am there to get us where we need to go (learn about the lesson/subject) but really, the students are doing the work (doing the vast majority of the discussion) while I correct course here and there (if we're going off into a direction we don't need or one point has been hammered home for too long). I was always trying to cover every single point that I had outlined.. but that often stifles most discussion and doesn't encourage individuals to participate.

I am far from perfect at this but I believe overall that my teaching has improved and I think the class has been able to learn more this way and hopefully had more spiritual experiences.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

In my opinion I think they would be concerned about the "Corporate Church", but happy with the church itself (meaning the ecclessia or assembly/congregation of believers), ie. the real church.

Yeah they would be pissed that all of the money isn't going to the government to be redistributed to the "poor" of the world. I think sometimes people don't understand what all the the church, in all of it's form does in the world. Edited August 12, 2013 by Mola Ram Suda Ram

[cinepro]

Yesterday we had the lesson on "Nauvoo", where the lesson covers some significant events that happened in Nauvoo.

One of these was:

4. The Relief Society Was Organized in Nauvoo

I was going to point out that it was also disbanded in Nauvoo, but the lesson got focused on women "finding nobility in motherhood", at which point some of the women in the room took exception to the direction the conversation was going and wanted acknowledgement that the spirit could tell them to work outside the home...

Edited August 12, 2013 by cinepro

[Scott Lloyd]

Yesterday we had the lesson on "Nauvoo", where the lesson covers some significant events that happened in Nauvoo.

One of these was:

4. The Relief Society Was Organized in Nauvoo

I was going to point out that it was also disbanded in Nauvoo, ...

Whether it was disbanded or suspended or merely faded into inactivity for a few turbulent decades is debatable -- but probably not a topic for this thread.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Scott Lloyd

[Ahab]

Yesterday we had the lesson on "Nauvoo", where the lesson covers some significant events that happened in Nauvoo.

One of these was:

4. The Relief Society Was Organized in Nauvoo

I was going to point out that it was also disbanded in Nauvoo, but the lesson got focused on women "finding nobility in motherhood", at which point some of the women in the room took exception to the direction the conversation was going and wanted acknowledgement that the spirit could tell them to work outside the home...

I'd be thinking they should receive enough acknowledgement from God before they would choose to do that.

If they didn't, why would they?

[Calm]

I'd be thinking they should receive enough acknowledgement from God before they would choose to do that.

If they didn't, why would they?

Isn't that just what they said? That the spirit could tell them...thus implying that they would seek the spirit first?