Teaching, no greater call : a resource guide for Gospel teaching

256 Pages·1999·2.648 MB·English

by  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

TEAching,
No greater call
A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching
TEAching,
No greater call
A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching
Published by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah
Comments and Suggestions
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Curriculum Planning
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© 1999 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
English approval: 8/98
Cover, Page 3: Jesus in the Synagogue at Nazareth,by Greg K. Olsen. © by Greg K. Olsen.
Page 1: Sermon on the Mount,by Carl Bloch. Used by permission of the National Historic
Museum at Frederiksborg in Hillerød.
Page 5: Lovest Thou Me More Than These?by David Lindsley. © by David Lindsley.
Page 22: Pioneer Garden,by Valoy Eaton. © by Valoy Eaton.
Page 29: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman,by Carl Bloch. Used by permission of the National
Historic Museum at Frederiksborg in Hillerød.
Page 31: Storytime in Galilee,by Del Parson. © by Del Parson.
Page 33: Woman Touching the Hem of the Savior’s Garment,by Judith Mehr. © by Judith Mehr.
Page 35: The Good Shepherd,by Del Parson. © by Del Parson.
how to use
this resource Guide
Who should use this resource guide? Part E
This resource guide is for all who teach the gospel, Teaching in Leadership Settings
including: This part of the book helps priesthood and auxiliary
(cid:1) Parents. leaders understand their vital responsibility to teach.
(cid:1) Classroom teachers.
Part F
(cid:1) Priesthood and auxiliary leaders.
(cid:1) Home teachers and visiting teachers. Methods of Teaching
This part of the book describes a variety of different
methods that teachers can use to enrich lesson presen-
What does this resource guide contain?
tations.
Teaching, No Greater Call contains guidelines and
suggestions related to teaching, as shown in the following Part G
outline: The Teaching the Gospel Course
This part of the book includes twelve lessons that
Part A
prepare individuals to teach the gospel. The lessons are
Your Call to Teach
designed to be taught as part of an organized class. They
This part of the book explains the importance of gospel
may also be studied individually or as a family.
teaching in God’s plan. It also includes helps on how
individuals can prepare to teach the gospel.
How should this resource guide be used?
Part B
Teaching, No Greater Call is designed as a resource guide
Basic Principles of Gospel Teaching
rather than a book to be read cover to cover. It is intended
This part of the book helps build a foundation for all to be used as:
gospel teaching.
(cid:1) A personal study guide.
Part C (cid:1) A resource for teacher improvement meetings.
(cid:1) The manual for the Teaching the Gospel course.
Teaching Different Age-Groups
(cid:1) A resource for leaders as they work with teachers in
This part of the book provides information and
their organizations.
suggestions for teaching the gospel to children, youth,
To gain the greatest benefit from the book, teachers
and adults.
should:
Part D
(cid:1) Review the items listed in the table of contents.
Teaching in the Home
(cid:1) Study the articles that address their particular interests
This part of the book provides help for parents to teach or needs at the time.
the gospel to their children. It also includes suggestions
For example, parents may want to make better use of
for home teachers and visiting teachers.
teaching moments to help their children grow spiritually.
Part D, “Teaching in the Home,” includes an article titled
iii
“Teaching Moments in Family Life,” which discusses how Church Materials Catalog(published annually with a
to recognize teaching moments and teach principles that new item number each year)
children are ready to learn. Teachers may want to include
Family Home Evening Resource Book(31106)
a greater variety of teaching methods in their lessons.
Gospel Art Picture Kit (34730)
The articles in Part B under “Use Effective Methods”
provide helpful ideas on how to select and use different Gospel Principles(31110)
teaching methods. “Gospel Teaching and Leadership” section of the Church
As teachers use Teaching, No Greater Call in this way, Handbook of Instructions(35903)
it will become an important resource in their ongoing
How to Teach a Song to Children(53005)
efforts to improve their teaching.
Hymns(see the Church Materials Catalogfor a complete
listing of item numbers)
Superseded Publications
Improving Gospel Teaching: A Leader’s Guide(35667)
This book replaces the following publications:
Index to Periodicals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
(cid:1) All previous versions of Teaching—No Greater Call
day Saints(see the Church Materials Catalogfor the current
(cid:1) The HowBook for Teaching Children
item number)
(cid:1) Primary Sharing Time Resource Manual
“Music” section of the Church Handbook of Instructions
(35714)
List of Items Referenced
My Achievement Daysbooklet (35317)
An alphabetical list of the Church-produced materials
that are referenced in this publication is provided below. Primary Leader Trainingvideocassette (53008)
The item numbers are provided below rather than in the Primary Video Collection (53179)
text of this publication.
Scripture Stories (31120)
“Activities” section of the Church Handbook of
Teaching Guidebook (34595)
Instructions(35710)
Teach the Childvideocassette (53677)
Book of Mormon Stories(35666)
Visual Aids Cutouts (complete collection: 08456; single
Children’s Songbook(35324 and 35395)
sets: 33239, 33242 through 33250)
Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and
Auxiliary Leaders(35209)
iv
Teach the Doctrine
10 The Power of the Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
11 Keeping the Doctrine Pure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
12 Teaching from the Scriptures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Invite Diligent Learning
13 Helping Individuals Take Responsibility
for Learning the Gospel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
14 Conducting Discussions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Contents
15 Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
16 Teaching with Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
17 Helping Learners Be Attentive. . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
How to Use This Resource Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii 18 How to Tell If They Are Learning. . . . . . . . . . . 73
19 Helping Others Live What They Learn . . . . . . 74
Part A: Your Call to Teach
Create a Learning Atmosphere
The Importance of Gospel Teaching in God’s Plan 20 Preparing the Classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
1 No Greater Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 21 Teaching Others to Contribute to a
2 Nourishing the Soul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Learning Atmosphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
3 The Teacher’s Divine Commission. . . . . . . . . . . 8 22 How Teachers Can Contribute to a
Learning Atmosphere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
23 Reverence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
4 Seeking the Gift of Charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
24 Helping Those Who Become Disruptive . . . . . 84
5 Seeking the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6 Seeking to Obtain the Word. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Use Effective Methods
7 Developing a Personal Plan for Studying 25 Teaching with Variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
the Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 26 Choosing Appropriate Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . 91
8 Living What You Teach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 27 Choosing Effective Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
9 Called, Set Apart, and Magnified. . . . . . . . . . . 20 28 Beginning the Lesson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
29 Concluding the Lesson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Improve upon Your Talents
10 Looking for Lessons Everywhere . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Prepare Every Needful Thing
11 Making a Plan to Improve Your Teaching . . . . 24 30 Taking Time to Prepare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
12 Obtaining Support from Your Leaders . . . . . . 28 31 Preparing Lessons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
32 Creating Lessons from Conference Talks
Part B: Basic Principles of Gospel Teaching
and Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Love Those You Teach 33 Adapting Lessons to Those You Teach. . . . . . 102
1 Love Softens Hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 34 Evaluating Lesson Presentations . . . . . . . . . . 103
2 Understanding Those You Teach. . . . . . . . . . . 33 35 Church Resources for Teaching the Gospel . . 105
3 Reaching Out to the One. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Part C: Teaching Different Age-Groups
4 Helping New Members and
1 Teaching Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Less-Active Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
2 Age Characteristics of Children. . . . . . . . . . . 110
5 Teaching Those with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3 Teaching Children in Mixed Age-Groups. . . . 117
Teach by the Spirit
4 Understanding and Teaching Youth . . . . . . . 118
6 The Spirit Is the True Teacher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5 Teaching Youth through Group Activities. . . 121
7 Teaching with Testimony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
6 Understanding and Teaching Adults . . . . . . . 123
8 Inviting the Spirit As You Teach. . . . . . . . . . . . 45
9 Recognizing and Following the Spirit Part D: Teaching in the Home
in Your Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Teaching in the Family
1 Parents’ Teaching Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . 127
v
2 Fathers as Teachers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
3 Mothers as Teachers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Music with Narratives (Sing-a-Story). . . . . . . . . . . 174
4 Parents’ Teaching Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Object Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
5 Teaching through Patterns of Overhead Projectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Gospel Living. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Panel Discussions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
6 Regular Occasions for Teaching Paper Stand-Up Figures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
in the Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Pictures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
7 Teaching Moments in Family Life. . . . . . . . . 140 Puppets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
8 The Teaching Influence of Other Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Family Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Readers’ Theaters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Recitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching
Role Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
9 The Teaching Part of Home Teaching . . . . . . 145
Roller Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
10 The Teaching Part of Visiting Teaching . . . . . 147
Scriptures, Marking and Writing Margin Notes . . 179
Scriptures, Memorization of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Part E: Teaching in Leadership Settings
Scriptures, Reading Aloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
1 To Lead Is to Teach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Scriptures, Study Helps in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
2 Teaching in Leadership Meetings. . . . . . . . . . 152
Scriptures, Teaching from. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
3 Teaching in Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Sing-a-Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
4 When Leaders Teach Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Stations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Stories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Part F: Methods of Teaching
Visuals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Activity Sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
White Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Activity Verses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Work Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Application Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Attention Activities (Attention Getters) . . . . . . . . 160 Part G: The Teaching the Gospel Course
Audiovisual Materials (Videocassettes and
Helps for the Course Instructor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Audio Recordings) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Personal and Family Study of the Course . . . . . . 188
Brainstorming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Lesson 1: The Importance of Gospel Teaching
Buzz Sessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
in God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Case Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Lesson 2: Love Those You Teach . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Chalkboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Lesson 3: Teach by the Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Choral Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Lesson 4: Teach the Doctrine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Comparisons and Object Lessons. . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Lesson 5: Invite Diligent Learning. . . . . . . . . . 208
Demonstrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Lesson 6: Create a Learning Atmosphere
Dioramas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
(Part 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Discussions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Lesson 7: Create a Learning Atmosphere
Dramatizations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
(Part 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Drawing Activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Lesson 8: Use Effective Methods (Part 1). . . . . 222
Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Lesson 9: Use Effective Methods (Part 2). . . . . 227
Flannel Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Lesson 10: Prepare Every Needful Thing. . . . . . 230
Games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Lesson 11: Improve upon Your Talents . . . . . . . 234
Guest Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Lesson 12: Go Forth and Teach. . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lectures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Likening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Memorization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
vi
A
your call to teach
Part A: Your Call to Teach
THE IMPORTANCE OF
gospel TEACHING IN GOD’S PLAN
As teachers you stand upon the highest peak in education, for what teaching
can compare in priceless value and in far-reaching effect with that
which deals with man as he was in the eternity of yesterday,
as he is in the mortality of today, and as he will be in
the forever of tomorrow. Not only time but eternity is your field.
President J. Reuben Clark Jr.
The Importance of Gospel Teaching in God’s Plan
1 Garden of Eden, the Lord sent angels to
teach them the plan of redemption (see
Alma 12:27–32). He later commanded
Adam and Eve to “teach these things
freely” to their children (see Moses
6:57–59).
In every dispensation of the gospel, the
Lord has directed the teaching of the plan
of redemption. He has sent angels (see
NO GREATER CALL
Mosiah 3:1–4; Moroni 7:29–32; Joseph
Smith—History 1:30–47), called prophets
(see Amos 3:7), provided the scriptures (see
Speaking in general conference, Elder D&C 33:16), and helped people know the
Jeffrey R. Holland said: “We are sograteful truth by the power of the Holy Ghost (see
to all who teach. We love you and appre- 1Nephi 10:19; Moroni 10:5). He has com-
ciate you more than we can say. We have manded His followers to teach the gospel
great confidence in you.” He continued: to their family members (see Deuteronomy
“To teach effectively and to feel you are 6:5–7; Mosiah 4:14–15; D&C 68:25–28),
succeeding is demanding work indeed. to other members of the Church (see D&C
But it is worth it. We can receive ‘no greater 88:77–78, 122), and to those who have
call.’ . . . For each of us to ‘come unto not yet received the fulness of the gospel
Christ,’ to keep His commandments and (see Matthew 28:19–20; D&C 88:81).
follow His example back to the Father, is Of the importance of gospel teaching in
surely the highest and holiest purpose of the Church, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said:
human existence. To help others do that “Fundamental to the very program of the
as well—to teach, persuade, and prayerfully Church is the teaching of the gospel to the
lead them to walk that path of redemption membership of the Church. In fulfillment
also—surely that must be the second most of the obligation which was laid upon the
significant task in our lives. Perhaps that is Church in its inception, there has devel-
why President David O. McKay once said, oped within the Church a system of great
‘No greater responsibility can rest upon any teaching organizations—the priesthood
man [or woman], than to be a teacher of quorums, both Melchizedek and Aaronic,
God’s children’” (in Conference Report, the far-flung church school system, and the
Apr. 1998, 30–31; or Ensign,May 1998, 25). auxiliaries . . . , all of which play so impor-
tant a part in the education of our people”
The Role of Teaching in Heavenly
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1962, 72–73).
Father’s Plan
Every Member a Teacher
To be able to fully exercise our agency in
righteousness, we must learn of the Savior When the resurrected Savior taught
and the doctrines of His gospel. Because of the Nephites, He said: “Hold up your light
this, gospel teaching has always played an that it may shine unto the world. Behold
essential role in Heavenly Father’s plan for I am the light which ye shall hold up—
His children. that which ye have seen me do” (3 Nephi
In the premortal spirit world, we “re- 18:24). In this instruction the Lord made
ceived [our] first lessons . . . and were pre- no distinction among those who heard
pared to come forth in the due time of the His voice. All were commanded to teach.
Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salva- The same is true today. The responsibility
tion of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56). to teach the gospel is not limited to those
After Adam and Eve were cast out of the who have formal callings as teachers. As a
3