Please Help Me

[symphony]

Hi everyone, I am having a complete panic attack. I was asked to sub in RS this Sunday and teach this talk One Step Closer to the Savior - general-conference

I have absolutely no idea what to do with this or even where to start. Our RS is full of sisters who rarely participate. Plus, this exact thing was just taught to us combined at the end of last month with priesthood.

What should I do? Seriously, I have nothing. This used to be my calling in our old ward and I never had an issue, but now I have been looking at this for almost two weeks and it is at the point where I open the talk and I just start to cry. Please help me.

[MarginOfError]

If you just had a lesson on this talk, I advise you pick a different talk with the following in mind: sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.

But seriously, if you've spent two weeks trying to come up with something and drawing blanks, I would invoke the stupor of thought rule and move on.

[Vort]

Hi everyone, I am having a complete panic attack. I was asked to sub in RS this Sunday and teach this talk One Step Closer to the Savior - general-conference

I have absolutely no idea what to do with this or even where to start. Our RS is full of sisters who rarely participate. Plus, this exact thing was just taught to us combined at the end of last month with priesthood.

What should I do? Seriously, I have nothing. This used to be my calling in our old ward and I never had an issue, but now I have been looking at this for almost two weeks and it is at the point where I open the talk and I just start to cry. Please help me.

What a great talk! I suggest you also read Elder Bednar's address, which also discusses conversion (in his case, conversion vs. testimony), and use elements from both talks.

[Windseeker]

Why don't you just play the conference talk in its entirety, set a time for people to share their testimonies and close with prayer?

[Anddenex]

To be frank, I am personally a little confused as to why you feel you have no idea what to do? Your assignment from your RS leader has been given -- follow it.

The inspiration from the Lord, as you seek to fulfill your leaders request is most important. It appears to me you may be more concerned with two aspects:

1. This was addressed in combined meeting, thus what will I be able to add to the lesson.

2. Fear of a RS group of women that rarely participate.

In relation to these two ideas, I have been a part of similar situations where people have been asked to give a talk or a lesson on the same subject already previously given. I do find it amazing when they are approached differently, and the spirit is able to direct the individual into a different idea and thoughts regarding the same topic.

I would be less concerned with a group of people rarely participating. Our minds should be focused on what the Lord wants me to address, not how rarely the group participates.

If you still feel, after reading and pondering the subject and nothing is coming, then address your concern with the RSP, and ask if you might be able to give a lesson on a similar but different talk.

[symphony]

To be frank, I am personally a little confused as to why you feel you have no idea what to do? Your assignment from your RS leader has been given -- follow it.

The inspiration from the Lord, as you seek to fulfill your leaders request is most important. It appears to me you may be more concerned with two aspects:

1. This was addressed in combined meeting, thus what will I be able to add to the lesson.

2. Fear of a RS group of women that rarely participate.

In relation to these two ideas, I have been a part of similar situations where people have been asked to give a talk or a lesson on the same subject already previously given. I do find it amazing when they are approached differently, and the spirit is able to direct the individual into a different idea and thoughts regarding the same topic.

I would be less concerned with a group of people rarely participating. Our minds should be focused on what the Lord wants me to address, not how rarely the group participates.

If you still feel, after reading and pondering the subject and nothing is coming, then address your concern with the RSP, and ask if you might be able to give a lesson on a similar but different talk.

I'm not trying to get out of it...I am completely drawing a blank on what to do that isn't either blatantly copying what the priesthood did or will completely pale in comparison.

I brought up the participation factor because it has been drilled into us (at least in my stake) to stop reading or lecturing from the stand and create a discussion. I am filled with anxiety at the thought of posing questions and hearing crickets.

Thank you Vort for your kind advice without making me fel like even more of an idiot. I will definitely check out that other talk.

[Apricotpopcorn]

We have been hit by plagues of crickets one too many times in our RS, including the many times when I have given the lesson! It's definitely not a very unpleasant feeling when you're the one standing at the front and you feel really silly. However, having said that, when I have done my best to prepare according to the guidance of the Spirit, I feel that as i ask questions I'm providing them with the opportunity to be active in the learning process (as Elder Bednar has said - when they choose to participate, they're acting instead of being acted upon. Sorry don't remember where this was from, I'll research the reference if you wish). If they don't participate, that's their choice and there's not much you can do about it.

Seek the Lord's help and do your best, leave the choice of learning up to them. Easier said than done I know... Good luck!!

[MorningStar]

You might find that they will have more to say because they have had time to ponder things from the last lesson. I can't tell you how many times I have walked out of a class thinking, "Oh yeah! This would have been nice to share!" Maybe give them a handout at the beginning of the lesson, let them think about the questions, and maybe you will have more participation? Whenever a teacher asks, "Does anyone have a story to share?" I can't always think of something that second.

You can also have the sisters read some quotes to fill in the time. I have also been in classes where the teacher asks specific women in advance to share a personal experience.

[Guest gopecon]

In our stake the 4th Sunday lesson talks are chosen by the Stake Presidency shortly after Conference. If it is a similar situation in your ward, I would talk with the RS Pres about picking a different talk. She probably won't mind.

If she felt strongly about that talk being used for a lesson, then I would give it a go and do your best.

[Dravin]

We have been hit by plagues of crickets one too many times in our RS, including the many times when I have given the lesson! It's definitely not a very unpleasant feeling when you're the one standing at the front and you feel really silly. However, having said that, when I have done my best to prepare according to the guidance of the Spirit, I feel that as i ask questions I'm providing them with the opportunity to be active in the learning process (as Elder Bednar has said - when they choose to participate, they're acting instead of being acted upon.

First I'll give a caveat, sometimes there are plagues of crickets, but one thing to keep in mind as someone teaching a lesson is that thoughtful responses take time. When one is up front seconds of silence can seem like hours so I've noticed a tendency to ask easily answered questions. The problem is that easily and more importantly, quickly, answered questions are generally uninteresting. I can almost be embarrassing to be asked the equivalent of, "Who was the first prophet of this dispensation?"* Furthermore such questions don't always lend themselves well discussion. Are we going to have a rousing discussion on if it was Joseph Smith or not?

Thoughtful questions though, questions that require introspection that can lead to fulfilling discussion among the class take time to respond to. If you want me to look into my past and/or soul I need more than 10 seconds, and 10 seconds feels like an eternity to the teacher. So the teacher either answers the question or moves on. As awkward as it can be, there is nothing wrong with giving a class a minute to think about a question.Now one needs to be careful not to attempt to shame the class with awkwardness into answering, but some silence here and there as people ponder can be a good thing.

*Possibly appropriate in Gospel Essentials, not so much so in Gospel Doctrine, Priesthood, or Relief Society in normal circumstances.