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New Effort Aims to Promote “Teaching in the Savior's Way”

The website teaching.lds.org and a new manual focus on the simple but powerful principles the Master Teacher used.
Monthly teacher council meetings and a new booklet are part of a new effort to promote “teaching in the Savior’s way” that is now being rolled out to local priesthood leaders in the Church.
As reflected at the Church website teaching.lds.org, the new effort, introduced during general conference leadership meetings, includes these elements:
  • Teacher council meetings, to be held monthly during the Sunday block of meetings.
  • Orientation for all existing and new teachers.
  • Teaching in the Savior’s Way, a resource that supports teacher council meetings and new teacher orientation. The booklet can also be used for independent study of principles of Christlike teaching.
“In the next few months, training about this effort will be provided in area council meetings, coordinating councils, and stake and ward councils,” reads a notice sent May 1 to general, area, and local Church leaders.
The notice sent out to priesthood leaders indicates the initiative is “part of the ongoing effort to help members grow as they build faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and improve Sabbath worship.”
Digital copies of the booklet can be found online at the website and in the Gospel Library app that is accessible on digital devices. In addition, 30 print copies of it are being shipped to each unit of the Church for teachers and leaders who need printed materials, intended to be distributed in stakes and wards when training occurs.
In a conversation with the Church News, Elder Craig A. Cardon, a General Authority Seventy and Assistant Executive Director in the Priesthood and Family Department, put it in the context of the first two of the spiritual gifts mentioned in Moroni 10, that one “may teach the word of wisdom” and one may “teach the word of knowledge.”
“These gifts of the Spirit are available to the Saints,” he said, “and what has now been put in place is a marvelous framework within which teachers, under inspired leadership, may meet together on a regular, sustainable basis.
“Throughout their teaching careers, in whatever organization, whether brand new or whether they are longtime, experienced teachers of the gospel, they may refine their efforts. They may better understand how this can be done under the influence of the Spirit and can practice together and strengthen and help one another.
“We believe this has a great potential to make a significant improvement.”

Teachers meet in a teacher council meeting to share recent teaching experiences, ask questions related to teaching, share ideas for overcoming challenges, and learn the principles found in the Teaching in the Savior's Way booklet.
Elder Cardon said such improvement will not only occur at church but in the home and elsewhere as teachers begin to engage the principles being taught.
Brother Tad R. Callister, Sunday School General President, explained that the vision of the teaching councils is to provide a regular format whereby teachers can exchange ideas on how they can improve and how they can learn from others in overcoming problems they have as they discuss together principles that will help them teach more like the Savior.
“It is more of a council than a meeting,” he said, “and it is designed to discuss the principles of teaching in the Savior’s way and concrete ideas as to how we can apply them in our classes.”
He said the new booklet has compiled the Savior’s teaching principles as taught in the scriptures and by the living prophets, “and from years of experience, added concrete suggestions of how those might be applied in our individual classes.”
Brother Callister highlighted some points of emphasis in the booklet for teachers:
  1. Read the specified scriptural blocks before they read any other material and record their spiritual impressions in an effort to enhance spiritual self-reliance and revelation.
  2. Prepare well in advance so they can receive impressions of the Spirit when the Lord is ready to give them, “not just … when they sit down to work on their lessons.”
  3. Discussion and sharing are important, but should focus on the doctrine.
  4. Teachers should not only teach those who attend a class but also reach out to those who don’t attend.
  5. “Focus on the need of individual people and not just present a lesson.”
 
In teacher council meetings, teachers can counsel together about principles of Christlike teaching.
The new manual consists of four parts: “Love Those You Teach,” “Teach by the Spirit,” “Teach the Doctrine,” and “Invite Dilligent Learning.”
An appendix consists of two sections: “Improving as a Christlike Teacher: A Personal Evaluation” and “Orienting New Teachers: A Responsibility of Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders.”
An introductory section on teacher council meetings is structured as responses to the following questions:
“When should these meetings be held?”
“Who should attend?”
“Who leads these meetings?”
“What should happen in a teacher council meeting?”

What Lack I Yet?

By Elder Larry R. Lawrence If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us home, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way.
 

February 21 - Sunday Service

Sacrament Program for February 21, 2016
  • 1. Speaker - Melvicson Aledo (Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ)
  • 2. Speaker - Vincen John Bagion (Repentance)
Announcements for -
  • District Conference on March 12 - 13, 2016 in IBA District Center
  • Relief Society Activity on March 19, 2016 in IBA District Center
  • Institute Activity on March 26, 2016 in IBA District Center

Sunday School

Priesthood Quorum Instructions

What Shall We Do?Service

By Neill F. Marriott
Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
 
We build the kingdom when we nurture others. We also build the kingdom when we speak up and testify of truth.
 
Soon after the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, the Apostle Peter taught, “Let all … know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The listeners were stricken in their hearts and asked Peter and the others, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” And they subsequently obeyed Peter’s teachings with gladness.
 
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and I hope that we also are stricken in our hearts to acknowledge the Savior, repent, and obey with gladness.
 
In this general conference, we will hear inspired direction given by Church leaders, both male and female. Knowing that our hearts will be touched by their words, I ask you tonight, “Women and sisters, what shall we do?”
 
The Relief Society general president Eliza R. Snow declared to sisters almost 150 years ago, “The Lord has laid high responsibilities upon us.” I testify that her declaration is still true today.
 
The Lord’s Church needs Spirit-directed women who use their unique gifts to nurture, to speak up, and to defend gospel truth. Our inspiration and intuition are necessary parts of building the kingdom of God, which really means doing our part to bring salvation to God’s children.

Building the Kingdom through Nurturing

We build the kingdom when we nurture others. However, the first child of God we must build up in the restored gospel is ourselves. Emma Smith said, “I desire the Spirit of God to know and understand myself, that I might be able to overcome whatever of tradition or nature that would not tend to my exaltation.” We must develop bedrock faith in the Savior’s gospel and move forward, empowered by temple covenants, toward exaltation.
 
What if some of our traditions don’t have a place in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ? Letting go of them may require the emotional support and nurture of another, as it did for me.
 
When I was born, my parents planted a magnolia tree in the backyard so there would be magnolias at my wedding ceremony, held in the Protestant church of my forefathers. But on the day of my marriage, there were no parents at my side and no magnolias, for as a one-year convert to the Church, I had traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, to receive my temple endowment and be sealed to David, my fiancé.
 
When I left Louisiana and neared Utah, a feeling of homelessness swept over me. Before the wedding, I would be staying with David’s step-grandmother, who was lovingly known as Aunt Carol.
Here I was, a stranger to Utah, going to stay in a stranger’s house before being sealed—for eternity—to a family I barely knew. (Good thing I loved and trusted my future husband and the Lord!)
 
As I stood at the front door of Aunt Carol’s house, I wanted to shrink away. The door opened—I stood there like a scared rabbit—and Aunt Carol, without a word, reached out and took me into her arms. She, who had no children of her own, knew—her nurturing heart knew—that I needed a place to belong. Oh, the comfort and sweetness of that moment! My fear melted, and there came to me a sense of being anchored to a spiritually safe place.
 
Love is making space in your life for someone else, as Aunt Carol did for me.
Mothers literally make room in their bodies to nurture an unborn baby—and hopefully a place in their hearts as they raise them—but nurturing is not limited to bearing children. Eve was called a “mother” before she had children. I believe that “to mother” means “to give life.” Think of the many ways you give life. It could mean giving emotional life to the hopeless or spiritual life to the doubter. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can create an emotionally healing place for the discriminated against, the rejected, and the stranger. In these tender yet powerful ways, we build the kingdom of God. Sisters, all of us came to earth with these life-giving, nurturing, maternal gifts because that is God’s plan.
Following His plan and becoming a builder of the kingdom require selfless sacrifice. Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, … purifies our hearts … and makes us more tender and charitable, … and it is through … toil and tribulation, that we gain the education … which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.” These purifying trials bring us to Christ, who can heal us and make us useful in the work of salvation.

Building the Kingdom through Speaking and Testifying

We also build the kingdom when we speak up and testify of truth. We follow the Lord’s pattern. He speaks and teaches with power and authority of God. Sisters, we can too. Women generally love to talk and gather! As we work by delegated priesthood authority given to us, our talking and gathering grow into gospel teaching and leading.
 
Sister Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society general president, taught: “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. … It requires a conscious effort.”
 
Personal revelation from the Holy Ghost will prompt us to learn, speak, and act on eternal truth—the Savior’s truth. The more we follow Christ, the more we will feel His love and direction; the more we feel His love and direction, the more we will want to speak and teach truth as He did, even when we face opposition.
 
Some years ago, I prayed for the words to defend motherhood when I received an anonymous phone call.
 
The caller asked, “Are you Neill Marriott, the mother of a big family?”
I answered happily, “Yes!” expecting to hear her say something like, “Well, that’s good!”
But no! I’ll never forget her reply as her voice crackled over the phone: “I am highly offended that you would bring children onto this overcrowded planet!”
 
“Oh,” I sputtered, “I see how you feel.”
She snapped, “No—you don’t!”
I then whimpered, “Well, maybe I don’t.”
 
She started on a rant about my foolish choice to be a mother. As she went on, I began to pray for help, and a gentle thought came to mind: “What would the Lord say to her?” I then felt I was standing on solid ground and gained courage at the thought of Jesus Christ.
 
I replied, “I am glad to be a mother, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to nurture my children in such a way that they will make the world a better place.”
She replied, “Well, I hope you do!” and hung up.
 
It wasn’t a big thing—after all, I was standing safely in my own kitchen! But in my own small way, I was able to speak in defense of family, mothers, and nurturers because of two things: (1) I understood and believed God’s doctrine of the family, and (2) I prayed for words to convey these truths.
Being distinct and different from the world will draw some criticism, but we must anchor ourselves to eternal principles and testify of them, no matter the world’s response.
 
When we ask ourselves, “What shall we do?” let’s ponder this question: “What does the Savior do continually?” He nurtures. He creates. He encourages growth and goodness. Women and sisters, we can do these things! Primary girls, is there someone in your family who needs your love and kindness? You build the kingdom by nurturing others too.
 
The Savior’s creation of the earth, under the direction of His Father, was a mighty act of nurturing. He provided a place for us to grow and develop faith in His atoning power. Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement is the ultimate place of healing and hope, growth and purpose. All of us need a spiritual and physical place of belonging. We, sisters of all ages, can create this; it is even a holy place.
 
Our high responsibility is to become women who follow the Savior, nurture with inspiration, and live truth fearlessly. As we ask Father in Heaven to make us builders of His kingdom, His power will flow into us and we will know how to nurture, ultimately becoming like our heavenly parents. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sacrament Meeting Attendance





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