Need Advice on Being a Gospel Essentials Teacher

[Guest mormonmusic]

Just got called to be the Gospel Essentials teacher in my Ward.

I was wondering if anyone had any practical advice about teaching such a class. I actually have a lot of teaching experience, so the nuts and bolts of gospel teaching and even secular teaching is something I'm pretty comfortable with.

But, I was wondering if anyone had any pointers about the peculiarities of teaching a Gospel Essentials class? And how to do a particularly good job of that class? Even if you've never done it, you might've been a full-time missionary, or a Ward mission leader, or even just a regular attender, and have seen things that went right, and things that went wrong? Things you'd rather a gospel essentials teacher stopped, started, or continued doing?

As far as prayer, preparing well in advance, seeking the Spirit, and loving the students goes -- I'm ready to do all that -- what I'd like to hear is the voice of exprience or observation on the quirks of this particular class.

Edited December 20, 2009 by mormonmusic

[Wingnut]

Congratulations! I've taught that class twice in the past (aside from having to teach it sometimes in the mission field), and though it can be redundant at times -- teaching every single week -- I enjoyed it for the most part. My favorite lesson to teach out of the manual was on gifts of the Spirit.

Advice:

1) Dumb it down. That sounds really patronizing, but this is definitely a milk-then-meat class. Deal with the basics.

2) Be really familiar with your lesson each week, and maybe even a few weeks ahead. The Gospel Essentials manual goes pretty progressively, so something you say in Lesson 10 might cause someone to ask a question which relates more to Lesson 11 or 12.

3) Be prepared to wing it. This is a fine line to tread. On one hand, you want to stick to the lesson. On the other hand, if someone is asking an off-topic or tangent-ish question, sometimes it's worth following. You definitely need to be able to follow the Spirit, and know how to appropriately table or engage different topics.

4) Be flexible. You'll have a variety of people in your class over the course of a year. Some will be comfortable participating in the lesson or reading scriptures, and others will be very reticent or unaccustomed to contributing to a Sunday School lesson. Sometimes you'll have a lot of class participation, and sometimes you'll be teaching more in lecture format.

[LDSVALLEY]

Just released from doing that as Ward Mission Leader. If you have teaching experience then allow me to add these important points.

1 keep in mind that the members in your class mostly have no idea of the Gospel by our standard. Many are not just trying to learn the gospel but learn what it means to become LDS.

2 Communication is the key, what we consider normal or easy to follow is out to lunch to them. Take into account what their understanding level is.

3 I used to take 10 minutes at the start of each class and explain something about church life.

4 I put up my name, number and email address and let them know they could contact me anytime with questions.

5 I had a sign, the only dumb question you can have is the one you don't ask.

6 I went over it every week. The class belonged to them not members, not missionaries. Without them it did not happen, we would go where they needed the lesson to go.

7 I spent much time fire fighting because non members can easily mix up what is taught and get upset over something that happened in their life.

8 I would work out a lesson plan then be ready to ignore it depending on who was present and where they needed the information to go.

9 In our ward some members attended as well for filler. I made it clear I would ignore them to meet the needs of the Investigators and new members.

10 As an aside we created a mormon english dictionary to help them out.

Sorry it was fast but I was working on a christmas list with my wife when she got a call. I started to answer this when she of course got off so i have been called twice to go back and work on it.

[Prodigal_Son]

I'll just reiterate a couple of things already mentioned:

* Keep it simple, tempting as it may be to delve deeper. This class is neither the time nor the place.

* Keep it on track! Very often the active members will make comments that put the class in waters way too deep for them to swim in. Be ready and prepared to curb those wanderings and focus on the pure, plain, and precious teachings of the Gospel.

[Guest mormonmusic]

7 I spent much time fire fighting because non members can easily mix up what is taught and get upset over something that happened in their life.

Today was my first time teaching this course. This is what happened.

I had a lady today who seemed floored by what I presented. It was The Final Judgment lesson, and we went over the plan of salvation in it's most basic form, and then identified the ways we are "judged" temporary assigment to Spirit paradise and prison, and then the final judgment before assignment to kingdoms. All this was straight from the manual. I didn't introduce any ideas from my own reading, study etcetera -- only scriptures and ideas listed in the lesson.

This lady came up to me at the end telling me who scared she was about judgment, that all this seemed so terribly strange. She also said she almost felt she didn't want to know any more about the gospel because then she would be accountable for what she knew. Better to be ignorant and avoid a negative judgment, she said. She commented on how the first 25 chapters she'd read so far in the Book of Mormon were so terribly boring. I encouraged her to skip 2 Nephi and Jacob, and focus on Mosiah and Alma which are less allegorical.

The missionaries told me later she'd only had one meeting with them, so the amount of information was overwhelming to her.

I have a question:

1. Doesn't gospel essentials interfere a bit with what the missionaries are doing? By throwing heavy topics at people out of synch with the natural flow of lessons in their discussion? Someone once said it's not good to have two teachers at the same time for the same "topic" (the gospel as a whole being one topic)

2. Also, I have to teach the exhaltation lesson next week, where we talk about eternal progression, more detail about evidence in the scriptures of the celestial kingdom, etcetera. I read it and I think "Wow, this is heavy stuff for someone who may have had only one or two discussions!".

Do you just deal with these topics head-on? Ever feel inspired to teach a different lesson than the one that falls on the schedule due to specific needs of people in the class?

[Dravin]

I have a question:

1. Doesn't gospel essentials interfere a bit with what the missionaries are doing? By throwing heavy topics at people out of synch with the natural flow of lessons in their discussion? Someone once said it's not good to have two teachers at the same time for the same "topic" (the gospel as a whole being one topic)

Depends how well the Missionary can point things back to the Gospel Essentials teacher, tell them that the question they have is an excellent one to ask next Sunday.

Doesn't work in all cases and situations but sometimes you have to teach out of order because that is what the person needs. The second lesson I taught to one lady was about temple work. That is not the order, in fact as far as Preach My Gospel goes we don't even touch that with an 11' pole until after baptism. You teach what the investigator needs and what the spirit directs. And sometimes you've got to tell them that they need to learn some more foundational stuff before you can really answer their question and gear the lesson with that in mind.

Much as they might come out of left field if a 'gator has a question that's a teaching opportunity. That's bread and butter right there. :)

As a practical matter they need somewhere to go for that hour and a class of some kind seems like an obvious answer. Gospel Essentials, while it may spark 'premature' questions is gonna be far better than Gospel Doctrine where good ol' Brother Blather goes on and on about Kolob and his favourite Gospel hobby horse. And if their wasn't a class, it'd be something they heard from their Fellowshipper or the internet. *shrug*

[Wingnut]

She also said she almost felt she didn't want to know any more about the gospel because then she would be accountable for what she knew.

I love it when they say that, actually. It shows that they're internalizing -- they "get" it. but it does become a really fine line.

1. Doesn't gospel essentials interfere a bit with what the missionaries are doing? By throwing heavy topics at people out of synch with the natural flow of lessons in their discussion?

I don't think that much of anything in the Gospel Essentials manual is very "heavy," but timing is important. It starts very basic at the beginning of the year and then progresses. However, if the missionaries meet someone in November and they start coming to church, it could definitely be overwhelming. I would suggest developing a good relationship with the missionaries and keeping in contact with them regarding lesson material. Let them offer suggestions on what might be most helpful or appropriate for their current crop, or at least what might be too much at a given point in time.

Do you just deal with these topics head-on? Ever feel inspired to teach a different lesson than the one that falls on the schedule due to specific needs of people in the class?

Here's where you definitely need to follow the Spirit. If you feel you should skip a lesson, repeat one, or make one up, do it. The last time I taught the class, for some reason, we ended up three or four lessons short at the end of the year, having already finished the manual around the beginning of December. So I developed a lesson on the Articles of Faith, one on Patriarchal blessings (most of the people in my class had been there for several months...I wouldn't recommend this for really new people), a nice Christmas lesson, and maybe one other. I felt they were topics worthy of covering, and then I could get back on schedule come January 1st.

[NeuroTypical]

Teaching Gospel Principles is my most favorite calling in the whole church. After 30+ years of being dumb as a post, getting called to teach those lessons was how I finally learned the gospel.

A few things that have helped me:

* Don't be afraid or ashamed to say "Ya know, I really don't know the answer to that question - let me write it down and I promise I'll have an answer next week."

* To the best of your ability, try to present the lessons that the attendees need. For example:

The missionaries told me later she'd only had one meeting with them, so the amount of information was overwhelming to her.

This lady needs to start at lesson 1. You may notice that her reaction is completely understandable - she just got a lesson about how she'll be judged - and she doesn't even know the 'ground rules' of the church! Of course, if she'd had the 40+ lessons prior, she'd realize that Christ's yoke is easy, and His burden is light. But dang - I'd be scared too.

Not sure how big your class is, but if she's a big part of it, you might want to consider just starting over with lesson 1.

LM

[Hemidakota]

Just got called to be the Gospel Essentials teacher in my Ward.

I was wondering if anyone had any practical advice about teaching such a class. I actually have a lot of teaching experience, so the nuts and bolts of gospel teaching and even secular teaching is something I'm pretty comfortable with.

But, I was wondering if anyone had any pointers about the peculiarities of teaching a Gospel Essentials class? And how to do a particularly good job of that class? Even if you've never done it, you might've been a full-time missionary, or a Ward mission leader, or even just a regular attendee, and have seen things that went right, and things that went wrong? Things you'd rather a gospel essentials teacher stopped, started, or continued doing?

As far as prayer, preparing well in advance, seeking the Spirit, and loving the students goes -- I'm ready to do all that -- what I'd like to hear is the voice of experience or observation on the quirks of this particular class.

I would fast each Sunday prior to teaching a class or Sacrament talk. During my fasting, I would ask for Father’s Spirit in allowing me to be HIS mouthpiece. You maybe facing articulate attendees in your class, your knowledge of that section must be on the order of seeking any answer that you do not understand as a teacher. I have attended many Gospel Doctrine classes where the teacher would state something that was not correct. Though, it is a change from the First Presidency for all members to go back to the basics, we still need to understand even the fundamentals of the gospel.

Last, in preparation of teaching or giving a talk, I would open the manual or put down the thoughts that Sunday night and allow the Spirit to fester for that week. Ensure when you state the objective of what is being taught, at the end, you mentioned again, we covered so-and-so that area of what was given is left undone. When you look over the classroom and knowing the level of experience of the gospel, teach it that level and nothing higher that your presentation can be understood to the average attendee.

God bless and good luck in your new calling. .

[LDSVALLEY]

I have a question:

1. Doesn't gospel essentials interfere a bit with what the missionaries are doing? By throwing heavy topics at people out of synch with the natural flow of lessons in their discussion? Someone once said it's not good to have two teachers at the same time for the same "topic" (the gospel as a whole being one topic)

2. Also, I have to teach the exhaltation lesson next week, where we talk about eternal progression, more detail about evidence in the scriptures of the celestial kingdom, etcetera. I read it and I think "Wow, this is heavy stuff for someone who may have had only one or two discussions!".

Do you just deal with these topics head-on? Ever feel inspired to teach a different lesson than the one that falls on the schedule due to specific needs of people in the class?

We are told with the GP manual we should teach the lessons the Investigators need. I honestly stuck with the chapter by chapter method because with several Investigators, New Converts and Less Actives there was no logical way I could bounce around and cover everyone's needs.

I identified some chapters as Hot Button Lessons. (Try teaching a woman attending for the first time who has 3 kids by 3 men and not married to any the law of chastity!) What I usually did for Hot Button lessons was explain at the start that I considered this lesson about to be taught a hot button to some people. I then carefully explained that new comers should not get worked up about this because they have yet to get a full understanding of the basics and can not fully grasp what the intent behind them is.

I also tell them that it is normal for people to take these personally and this narrows the information input they allow in. If they have an issue then please come talk to me or the Missionaries about it.

It was easier for me to taylor lessons because as Ward Mission Leader I had an idea of the issues they had from the Missionaries, you might be surprised at how little they actually report on however. One big thing is get the WML to provide you with some basic info on brand new Investigators.

The Investigator walking through the door destroys any chance for the Missionary natural flow of teaching the lessons to occur. Remember if they stay for all three hours they are going to end up in really heavy gospel doctrine as well. We cannot isolate Investigators or New Members from heavier discussions until they are ready. Even Sacrament is heavier doctrine and sometimes slightly off course doctrine for them to hear.

The most important thing you can do is create an atmosphere of safety for them. That they come to trust you and know they can ask questions without ridicule. I made sure to repeat over and over that no one in this building today knows everything, everyone in this building does know something about many things. You might ask a question that is obvious to the person next to you but I guarantee that you will know things they don't on other topics. We are here to learn together, we will have misunderstandings, some will be caused by someones world view clashing with the gospel view. Some will be by the manner I teach. Or by something someone else has said. Expect this, assume that when you feel offended it is simply a misunderstanding or poor communication and lets get it fixed. I will not be offended by having someone say they don't understand what I have taught. And I can't help others if you don't help me fix something I might do wrong.

It is a narrow course you must steer, remember as the instruction you are in charge of the class. I have had to ban regular members from attending a few times because they wanted to go deeper or started joking around when it was not proper.

Switch your world view to an Investigator. As you plan and pray about your lesson think at each stage if I knew nothing about the Gospel what traps would I find in this lesson. What might I misunderstand. What might I need to know. Actually I found the Less actives who were back for a refresher were harder to teach then an Investigator. They seem to have more baggage with them and it was harder to keep their negative experiences from infecting the class.

The best advice I can give is to watch body language. People will say one think and mean another but if you watch facial expressions and body position it will tell you how things are being received and allow you a chance to alter or explain what you are saying without them even realizing you saw it was upsetting them.

Don't get too stressed about this, having seen many of the responses you have posted you appear able to respond at a level best for the situation and people involved. You are simply the first step in Gospel teaching, creating a safe haven is far more important then what you teach. Keep it simple, allow leeway for those the class is for to go where they need to as long as you don't get deeper. Pick out one or two key points, the rest is just filler. From a personal opinion don't just pass manuals around and read line by line. People tune that out and don't learn. I varied how each lesson was taught, who read how much, even what order of teaching within each lesson.

Wish you were the new GE teaching in our Ward. Since my release I have been hearing lots of complaints about the teaching in it. ( Not because I was so good, I simply tried my best), but because no one is working on the atmosphere simply pushing info by reading the manual and referencing the scriptures.

[Vanhin]

We have a wonderful GP class, that I help teach from time to time. It's my favorite Sunday school class and I think it's plenty deep and simple at the same time. Our class is huge and we have plenty of "seasoned" members in attendance, whose comments and input are invaluable to the discussion. We teach each other, both new and old members, and I always leave the class edified. Our teachers are good at presenting gospel truths and asking questions that promote the sharing of thoughts and feelings, which are easy for people to answer and it promotes the presence of the Spirit.

As a teacher, in any capacity, I adhere to the following advice from President Ezra Taft Benson:

“If there is one message I have repeated to my brethren of the Twelve, it is that it’s the Spirit that counts. It is the Spirit that matters. I do not know how often I have said this, but I never tire of saying it—it is the Spirit that matters most” (mission presidents’ seminar, 3 Apr. 1985).

Do what it takes to facilitate influence of the Holy Ghost in class and during preparation. He is the teacher after all. That would be my advice. :)

Sincerely,

Vanhin

[Misshalfway]

It's ok for people to struggle. It's part of the process. I think this lady prolly felt comfortable enough to share her concerns with you. Just listen and try to discern her real feelings. And then offer lots of understanding, encouragement, and empathy. She prolly just needed someone to help her know its ok that the gospel is overwhelming and to give herself time to digest it. Maybe she needed help to understand how the spirit helps us understand things. OR maybe she was afraid about something in her past.

The cool part about this class is that its flexible and you can adjust the material to fit the needs. Maybe it would be a good idea to stay in contact with the missionaries and WML so that you can adjust things if necessary.

Good luck. Listen to the spirit as it guides and constrains you. And at the end of the day, you just gotta do the best you can and let the chips fall where they may.

[Guest mormonmusic]

What I'm hearing is that you can't predict what's going to happen in that class. And that you can't take it personally or consider it a flaw in your teaching. People will react differently depending on their life's experiences, the current level of knowledge they've received from the missionaries, as well as the comments from others in the class etcetera.

One of my goals is to try to be proactive in inviting the Spirit rather than just teaching and hoping the Spirit just comes.. Next week I think I'll teach the lesson on baptism given this golden investigator -- baptism must be on her mind and a lesson will help. Plus have the scheduled lesson in my back pocket in case she isn't there.

I'm also thinking of leaving time at the end where we say a prayer, inviting the spirit, and then have one of the ward's better singers sing a hymn. After that everyone can pray for revelation for their life, and for testimony of the truth. Ask the members present to pray for the others who are new converts or investigators -- that the Spirit will touch them. I hope then to help everyone recognize the Spirit should I feel moved.

Then end with a closing prayer.

Have you ever tried to conscious methods like this in a lesson to bring in the Spirit? What did you do and how did it work out?

[Dravin]

Just be careful with that hymn. For instance, "If I could Hie to Kolob" or even "Praise to the Man" may not be the best choice . :) Depends how far along the 'gator is of course. But the idea that we worship Joseph Smith is alive and kicking and somebody who was just invited to Church or just has a lesson or two under there belt may raise some eyebrows. And Kolob just makes people ask, "What in the heck is Kolob?"

Music is great for inviting the spirit. That's why it is used in Sacrament meeting. If you've got a pianist (and a piano) or a CD player I recommend starting and ending with a song, particularly ones meant to go with the lesson. And don't overlook the Children's Hymn Book, while "Popcorn Popping off the Apricot Tree" may not be a wise choice there are plenty of other hymns that communicate gospel principles in a very clear manner (they have to).

Edited December 21, 2009 by Dravin

[Guest mormonmusic]

Just be careful with that hymn. For instance, "If I could Hie to Kolob" or even "Praise to the Man" may not be the best choice . :) Depends how far along the investigator is of course. But the idea that we worship Joseph Smith is alive and kicking and somebody who was just invited to Church or just has a lesson or two under there belt may raise some eyebrows. And Kolob just makes people ask, "What in the heck is Kolob?"

Actually, I was going to kick it off with a hymn I wrote. Not approved, but containing sound doctrine. The first verse explains the beauty of Adam-God theory, the second verse launches into a musical analysis of blood atonement, and then the final verse ends with speculation on the role of Heavenly Mother as a co-creator of the world who holds a qualified version of the priesthood.

In between each verse is a chant which was inspired by a show on indingent tribes in the Amazon; we don't have a pianist, but there will be bongo drums accompanying us.

[just kidding Dravin -- your point is well-taken. I was thinking of something like Come Follow Me or something else simple]

[Vanhin]

Actually, I was going to kick it off with a hymn I wrote. Not approved, but containing sound doctrine. The first verse explains the beauty of Adam-God theory, the second verse launches into a musical analysis of blood atonement, and then the final verse ends with speculation on the role of Heavenly Mother as a co-creator of the world who holds a qualified version of the priesthood.

In between each verse is a chant which was inspired by a show on indingent tribes in the Amazon; we don't have a pianist, but there will be bongo drums accompanying us.

[just kidding Dravin -- your point is well-taken. I was thinking of something like Come Follow Me or something else simple]

Don't forget to add how the Three Nephites come by and visit you on a regular basis.

But seriously, I don't sweat it too much. There will be occasions where "deeper" things come up. I would answer the questions, or have someone else in the class answer it, and just find a way to tie the lesson back to the basics. The last thing you want to do is react awkwardly to someone bringing up deeper topics. Many investigators and new members have these questions. If they don't get the answers from us they will get them on the Internet, quite often from sources whose purpose is to tear down their faith, and oppose the Church.

Regards,

Vanhin

[beefche]

Actually, I was going to kick it off with a hymn I wrote. Not approved, but containing sound doctrine. The first verse explains the beauty of Adam-God theory, the second verse launches into a musical analysis of blood atonement, and then the final verse ends with speculation on the role of Heavenly Mother as a co-creator of the world who holds a qualified version of the priesthood.

[Dravin]

In between each verse is a chant which was inspired by a show on indingent tribes in the Amazon; we don't have a pianist, but there will be bongo drums accompanying us.

I'm assuming that chant covers that polygamy is a requirement for exultation?

[Guest mormonmusic]

I'm assuming that chant covers that polygamy is a requirement for exultation?

I also intend to have some belly dancers do a dance around the perimeter of the room during that portion, just to jazz things up a bit :)

[LDSVALLEY]

I also intend to have some belly dancers do a dance around the perimeter of the room during that portion, just to jazz things up a bit :)

I RETRACT MY STATEMENT EARLIER. I NO LONGER WISH YOU WERE TEACHING IN OUR WARD

[Wingnut]

[just kidding Dravin -- your point is well-taken. I was thinking of something like Come Follow Me or something else simple]

Whew! I read "Adam-God theory" and smacked my forehead, thinking "you idiot!!"

I RETRACT MY STATEMENT EARLIER. I NO LONGER WISH YOU WERE TEACHING IN OUR WARD

[Guest mormonmusic]

Whew! I don't think I could've handled the commute all the way up to Eastern Canada anyway!

[Guest mormonmusic]

Originally Posted by LDSVALLEY

I RETRACT MY STATEMENT EARLIER. I NO LONGER WISH YOU WERE TEACHING IN OUR WARD

Me neither -- if my belly dancers aren't welcome, neither am I :)

[skippy740]

The GE class is the ONE class of all where a person should be able to ask questions of doctrines from other faiths and get additional clarity.

Be ready to ask a lot of quesitons... and get a lot of different responses. Having a general concept of the doctrines of other faiths (and how they were originated) may help.

Also, we're getting a new Gospel Essentials manual for Priesthood/Relief Society for 2010. Those classes may go much deeper than the GE class, but it's the same manual. Try to be on a different lesson schedule than they are so you may avoid some other deep doctrinal or other church history questions that aren't pertinent to our salvation. (Such as Masonry, etc.)

Try to keep the class taught with a "missionary tone". This is the "milk before meat" class. Try to keep the teachings correct, but don't get too caught up in any "doom and gloom" without showing the way out. The Savior is the way out of the "doom and gloom" (like the Judgment).

Share your testimony often as this is what will help bring in the Spirit the most.

[eternalpromise516]

MM,

yay! i loved this class and the teacher I had before i was transferred out and called as a Primary teacher :) in sunbeams no less so speaking as a recent convert, maybe this will help a little bit.

definitely keep things simple, but follow the spirit and allow things to go deeper or on a slight tangent as appropriate. when i started meeting with the missionaries, and actually stayed for all 3 hours, my first lesson was about the priesthood. so i guess it was pretty good timing on my part, but none the less, the teacher (our WML) made things simple enough but not completely dumbed down...more reachable maybe?

don't be afraid to ask any of the investigators to pray, provided that you think they'd be comfortable with it. i have a feeling i was asked to do the closing prayer a couple of times because i was not used to and was a bit uncomfortable praying vocally lol.

most of all, love your pupils. get to know them as individuals, say hello to them when you see them before sacrament, talk to them a little before and after class as time permits. this i feel really helped me become more comfortable and really encouraged me in staying the whole 3 hours because i knew one more person i could count on and always took notice when i wasn't there, and was concerned for me.

glad to hear it's gone pretty good so far. keep us updated! :) and sorry if i rambled a bit too much in this haha.