You can explore the actual lesson 5 outlined in Teaching, No Greater Call here. Below is a summary outline of the discussion held in class. If you have any questions, email Marshall Snedaker at sne00005@gmail.com.
Lesson 5: Invite Diligent Learning PDF Class Notes
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Since I had the opportunity to teach, I wanted to share some of the things that I learned from the lesson:
1. I learned that teaching is all about empowering others to use their agency to find truth for themselves. It is about leading them with true doctrine to the Savior. When we teach we should be thinking longterm as to how our lesson can inspire them to make correct choices in the future. The only way to do this is to teach them how to find the answers from the source. We don't give them the answers directly, we teach them how to learn.
2. Teachers can only do so much: individuals have the weightier responsibility for learning. Salvation is an individual affair and obtaining the highest degree is a family affair. Not only do we as individuals need to accept the responsibility for ourselves, but we also need to accept the responsibility for helping our family desire to learn about the gospel.
3. Teachers need to respect the free agency of the learners. Teaching should not be by force, but only through invitation. If we recognize that the learners have a choice to not only accept the truths being taught but also the agency of how they will apply what they have learned.
4. I love Alma 32 as it relates to teaching and applying the word of God. It is full of insight. One key aspect of planting the seed is nourishing what has been learned. We know that memorization as a skill can be developed and the more we learn the more equipped we are to be able to comprehend and retain information. The word of God is purely true. If we neglect to nourish it or continue to learn and develop that good seed can waste away. As Alma says, it isn't because the seed was not good, but it was the err of the learner.
5. There is no room in any selfish or prideful ambitions when teaching. Teaching as we learn from the Savior is all about the hearer. As we focus on listening to the response of those we teach, we can respond accordingly and do our best to instill the word of God in their hearts. I believe the minute we begin cultivating any form of pride in our lessons - as to how great of a teacher we are: we will quickly lose the Spirit.
5. There is no room in any selfish or prideful ambitions when teaching. Teaching as we learn from the Savior is all about the hearer. As we focus on listening to the response of those we teach, we can respond accordingly and do our best to instill the word of God in their hearts. I believe the minute we begin cultivating any form of pride in our lessons - as to how great of a teacher we are: we will quickly lose the Spirit.
If a challenging trial in life comes up: where do you go to find answers?
How do we as teachers help others to find answers to learn independently?
Here’s a fundamental insight: If people were perfectly willing to take responsibility for diligent learning in the gospel – would teachers be necessary? Let’s draw a line between secular and spiritual learning:
Secular Learning
Teacher | Student | Coursework Student x (Teacher + Coursework) = Learning If you remove the “Teacher” will this equation, will still work?
Spiritual Learning
Teacher | Student | Doctrine | Spirit Student x (Teacher + Doctrine) x Spirit ∞ = Learning If you remove the “Teacher” will this equation still work?
This equation illustrates the focus on the source of teaching: doctrine and the Spirit. An individual must learn independently and a teacher’s goal is to encourage individuals to learn from the source.Individuals need to take responsibility.
In a letter about studying the gospel, Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “Now let us come to ... a conclusion that will have an important bearing on our eternal salvation. It is that each person must learn the doctrines of the gospel for himself. No one else can do it for him. Each person stands alone where gospel scholarship is concerned; each has access to the same scriptures and is entitled to the guidance of the same Holy Spirit; each must pay the price set by a Divine Providence if he is to gain the pearl of great price.
“The same principle governs both learning truth and living in harmony with its standards. No one can repent for and on behalf of another; no one can keep the commandments in the place and stead of another; no one can be saved in someone else’s name. And no one can gain a testimony or press forward in light and truth to eternal glory for anyone but himself. Both the knowledge of the truth and the blessings that come to those who conform to true principles are personal matters. And as a just God offers the same salvation to every soul who lives the same laws, so he offers the same understanding of his eternal truths to all who will pay the truth seeker’s price. Bruce R. McConkie
Where is the chief teaching center in life?
The home (Bruce R McConkie)
How can we encourage others to take responsibility for learning?
- Nurture our own enthusiasm & credibility
- Draw people to the doctrine
- Ask learners to find answers
- Show learners how to use the study helps in the scriptures
- Give assignments that draw people to the doctrine
- Help learners understand scriptural figures were real, w/ relatable experiences etc.
- Show learners how to find answers to life’s challenges
- Encourage study of the scriptures etc.
- Bear Testimony
Knowing that individuals are responsible to learn the gospel, we may ask, What is the role of teachers? We are not perfect and all need encouragement to continue learning. As teachers we help individuals take responsibility for learning the gospel—to awaken in them the desire to study, understand, and live the gospel and to show them how to do so.
Well Concept: Teach from the source
“When I drink from a spring I like to get the water where it comes out of the ground, not down the stream after the cattle have waded in it. ... I appreciate other people’s interpretation, but when it comes to the gospel we ought to be acquainted with what the Lord says” Marion G. Romney
Do our best to encourage others to seek the source
Sister Virginia H. Pearce, who served as first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, said:
“A teacher’s goal is greater than just delivering a lecture about truth. It is to invite the Spirit and use techniques that will enhance the possibility that the learner will discover the truth [and] be motivated to apply it. ...
“... Imagine hundreds of thousands of classrooms every Sunday, each with a teacher who understands that ‘the learning has to be done by the pupil. Therefore it is the pupil who has to be put into action. When a teacher takes the spotlight, becomes the star of the show, does all the talking, and otherwise takes over all of the activity, it is almost certain that he is interfering with the learning of the class members’ [Asahel D. Woodruff, Teaching the Gospel (1962), 37].
Agency for learning
An individual’s decision to study the gospel diligently is a righteous use of agency. Teachers who understand the doctrine of agency will not try to force others to learn the gospel. Instead, they will strive to teach in a way that will encourage others to put forth diligent effort to learn the gospel.
“Agency, given us through the plan of our Father, is the great alternative to Satan’s plan of force. With this sublime gift, we can grow, improve, progress, and seek perfection” (James E Faust, in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 42; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 35).
What difference does it make in our teaching to realize that individuals have agency and are responsible for their own learning?
Seek Learning
As President Spencer W. Kimball taught, this commandment should be obeyed diligently: “One cannot become a ‘doer of the word’ without first becoming a ‘hearer.’ And to become a ‘hearer’ is not simply to stand idly by and wait for chance bits of information; it is to seek out and study and pray and comprehend” (“How Rare a Possession—the Scriptures!” Ensign, Sept. 1976, 2).
“The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones—but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them. ... Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one’s life” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 389–90).
Learners must rediscover the scriptures again and again.
“It is a common thing to have a few passages of scripture at our disposal, floating in our minds, as it were, and thus to have the illusion that we know a great deal about the gospel. In this sense, having a little knowledge can be a problem indeed. I am convinced that each of us, at some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves—and not just discover them once, but rediscover them again and again” (“How Rare a Possession—the Scriptures!” Ensign, Sept. 1976, 4). Spencer W. Kimball
Preparation
Alma 32: 5And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, awhat shall these my brethren do, for they are bdespised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have ccast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have dno place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?
6And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their aafflictions had truly bhumbled them, and that they were in a cpreparation to hear the word.
What can we do to prepare to learn?
- Humility
- Patience
- Desire
- Faith
- Repentant
Give Place
Alma 32: 27But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28Now, we will compare the word unto a aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a bseed may be planted in your cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to eenlighten my funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
33And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
What are some points of advice we can give to learners to help them embrace the gospel?
- Start with fundamental principles
- Don’t get caught up in theological questions
- Faith
- Give the gospel time
- Be patient
What does it mean to “enlighten my understanding, yea it beginneth to be delicious to me?”
Nourish the Word
38But if ye aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
41But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree bspringing up unto everlasting life.
What are some specific things people can do to “nourish the word”? (Write class members’ answers on the chalkboard. Note that some possible answers are listed below.)
- Study and ponder the scriptures daily.
- Search the scriptures for specific answers to questions.
- Study addresses from general conference.
- Study articles in Church magazines.
- Fast and pray for understanding.
- Seek understanding while doing temple work.
- Discuss gospel principles with family members and friends.
- Follow the guidance of the Spirit.
- Strive faithfully to obey the commandments.
What blessings have come to you as a result of your diligent efforts to learn the gospel?
Avoid Diminishing a Desire for Others to Learn
What are some things teachers might do that could detract from people’s desire to learn the gospel?
- Read lessons to them from the manual.
- Spend most of the lesson time lecturing.
- Try to impress them with knowledge or teaching skills.
- Criticize or treat lightly their questions and comments.
- Make comments or ask questions that might undermine their faith.
- Use language or examples that could cause the Spirit to withdraw.
- Fail to center lessons on gospel truths.
“Every gospel teacher who seeks to follow the Master will focus all of his efforts on others and never on himself. Satan said, ‘Send me, ... I will redeem all mankind, ... and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.’ Contrast that proposal with the example of the Savior, who said, ‘Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever’ (Moses 4:1–2). A gospel teacher will focus his teaching on the needs of the sheep and the glory of the Master. He will avoid the limelight. He will teach the flock that they should always look to the Master. He will never obscure their view of the Master by standing in the way or by casting a shadow of self-promotion or self-interest” (address given 31 March 1998). Elder Oaks
- - -
- Ask someone to prepare to assist with a lesson. Help him or her prepare.
- Ask someone to prepare an object lesson.
- Share personal experiences as appropriate.
- Ask those you teach to ponder the blessings the Lord has given them and their families.
- Teach how to read the scriptures with understanding.
- Acknowledge the worth of each individual’s contribution to the lesson.
- Listen to and make use of ideas expressed during discussions.
- Ask questions that stimulate thought and invite contributions to
discussions.
- When someone asks a question, invite others to suggest answers.
- Ask those you teach to think about how they can apply the things they have learned.
A Skilled Teacher
“A skilled teacher doesn’t think, ‘What shall I do in class today?’ but asks, ‘What will my students do in class today?’; not, ‘What will I teach today?’ but rather, ‘How will I help my students discover what they need to know?’ [Teaching the Gospel: A Handbook for CES Teachers and Leaders (1994), 13]. The skilled teacher does not want students who leave the class talking about how magnificent and unusual the teacher is. This teacher wants students who leave talking about how magnificent the gospel is!” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 13–14; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 12).
Excellent teachers do not take the credit for the learning and growth of those they teach. Like gardeners who plant and tend crops, they strive to create the best possible conditions for learning. Then they give thanks to God when they see the progress of those they teach. Paul wrote, “Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
