How would you respond to this e-mail? I will share my own thoughts in the future, but was wondering how others would respond.Dear Bro Beardall,
I teach the Gospel Doctrine class in my Ward, and have done so for the past four years. There are many elderly people in our Ward who do not have access to the internet, so each week I have prepared a newletter for them with comments from the Gospel Doctrine site. I am very careful to check those comments to make sure there is nothing that is doctinally unsound.
The class members really enjoy the newsletter, some have even commented that they show this to non-member friends to explain some of the principles of the Church.
Arecent move-in attended the class, was very outspoken in his opinions and then went to the Bishopric to complain about the contents of the newsletter and that I was using these comments in the class and not teaching directly from the manual. A Bishopric member sent me an email, very thoughfully and kindly expressing that I needed to use only the manual and only official Church approved statements. eg. the Ensign [which I frequently use anyway].
What advice can you give about this situation? I have already replied and said I would bow the knee to Priesthood Authority and do as asked, but I feel hurt that this could have been done and that my class members will suffer a loss of something they really enjoyed.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The Lesson Manual Only?
I recently received the following e-mail from a concerned sister:
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8 comments:
This same comment has been discussed among the teachers in my ward. My belief is that we should use the General Authorities as examples. When you listen to their conference talks or read their Ensign articles, they usually tells stories to illustrate their points. Even the Savior told stories. Listeners like stories. It helps them relate the doctrine to their own lives. The manuals are written for ages 16 - 100. Teachers need to be sensitive to the age of their students and supplement with age-appropriate stories, quotes, and discussions that best fit their class members.
If all we did was read from the manual, why would we need to Spirit?
For background on this letter. I have been Sunday School President for 2 years, Counsellor in a Branch Presidency for 4 years, Gospel Doctrine teacher for 9 years and Gospel Essentials teacher for 6 years and taught in youth classes ages 14 - 17 for 8 years. I have had people complain about me to Presiding officers, had people complain to me as a counselor and been an Executive Secretary to both a Bishop and District Presidents and seen the complications of people not following the proper procedures.
My 1st point is that the member of the Bishopric was clearly out of line sending the teacher an e-mail. By dealing with her himself and most especially by using an e-mail and not meeting with her in a one to one counseling opportunity, there was no option for prayer together, for any input from her and the Spirit was not part of the process; he was not sustaining the Sunday School President in his calling and was not following the way the Lord deals with such "disagreement" issues.
No teacher is any counsellors direct responsibility. The only person who has the responsibility and authority to talk with this teacher about her teaching stewardship, is the Sunday School President.
In my view, the worst problem was that the counsellor should never have accepted the criticism from the angry class member in the first place. His responsibility was to direct the person with the complaint back to the teacher so he could work it out with the teacher one to one and if that didn't work then the class member could ask to sit down with the teacher and the Sunday School President. That is the Lord's only authorized way of dealing with these kinds of issues. Any time that procedure is not followed, matters always get worse.
Just like it would be equally totally out of line for a counsellor in a Stake Presidency to hear a complaint from a ward member about his Sunday School President and then for the counsellor to send and email to the Sunday School President telling him something, this is not acceptable. How would the Bishop feel? Who is responsible to and for who?
Second Point is that every teacher has the right to inspiration for how and what they teach their class members. The people at Church headquarters also had the same right to inspiration as they worked for years to harmonize all the teachings in all the classes but the teacher is the one blessed and charged with the responsibility of the final delivery to these people in that class. They are her direct stewardship.
If this "complainer" could do a better job, you would hope God might have figured that out and would have inspired the Sunday School President. Maybe the "complainer" needs to learn a different kind of lesson. The goal of the lesson is to get the points of doctrine across that are in the manual but to make sure that the points can be understood and applied by the students.
In the early days of the Church, there were 100 missionary discussions for prospective converts before baptism. In the 60's when I joined, I believe there were 7 or 8. Normally what happens is that somebody feels impressed to initiate a change and if it works very well, it is tried in other places and eventually becomes the new system. There are always those who complain simply because anything changes or doesn't change. There are very few things in the church that are the same now as they were when the church was first organized or in 1900 or in 1950, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 2000. We can hope that this "complainer" isn't a dentist using original @ 1600's equipment.
Some years ago, a person who was a great scriptorian in my ward and ever ready to prove he knew more than everyone else in the class, was called as the Gospel Doctrine teacher. He certainly knew his scriptures but he didn't know and showed little interest in class members. His lessons were technically perfect but totally unspiritual and within 3 weeks over half the class had moved down the hall into Gospel Essentials where I taught far. far less perfect lessons.
However many of "my" class members said they felt the Spirit much of the time and we had people decide to be baptized because the class focused on what they personally wanted to know, answers to questions that were important to them.
I remember one lady in her 70's, Peggy. Absolutely convinced the Gospel was true but would not commit to baptism for at least 2 years after she started coming to Church. Then I was called to teach Gospel Essentials. One day, months later, I had a "great lesson" planned but gave it up totally after the opening prayer. I taught from my heart about a remotely similar subject, almost no chapter and verse. About half way through I told the class that I was out of material and needed their help. It was like I was just watching the class happen and it wasn't me teaching. I asked them to each provide me with a question they would ask an angel, if they had the chance.
I got some "good" doctrinal questions but Peggy's sounded almost insincere. She asked "If someone had been a farmer and had not abused animals but didn't ever think of them as having spirits or needing to be treated any better than just for work or for food, could that person ever go to the Celestial Kingdom?"
Usually when I just open my mouth and start talking, I get into trouble. This time was different. I reminded Peggy that animals were given to man for food and for work and that as long as the animals were worked, housed and fed appropriately and honestly, I was certain that Heavenly Father would ask no more. No person would be expected to do or feel more unless they had be taught more.
Peggy replied "How soon can I be baptized?" Her husband had been the farmer. He had died many years before and had never heard of the Church. She loved him so much that she never wanted to go to the Celestial Kingdom if it wasn't with him and she was worried that his feelings about the farm animals might disqualify him from going to the Celestial Kingdom. He was a wonderful husband and father, a good provider, looked after his milk cows and other livestock better than most farmers.
As long as we teachers were busy teaching only pre-planned doctrine instead of teaching people, we hadn't answered the question that eventually made all the difference to Peggy and her husband. She was baptized in short order and lived out her life as a truly wonderful lady and Saint.
The challenge every teacher always has is to discern the difference between teaching doctrine from the book in a way that inspires the class to value the scriptures and edifies the class members or using material, other than scriptures that may detract from that goal but is fun to tell.
If it comes down to teaching technique or supplementary materials used, I always tend to trust the teacher who has been given the keys for the job. If the presiding officers were inspired in calling the teacher, in the first place, based on my experience, they would do well to let her honour and magnify her stewardship as she feels inspired to so do.
My advice is to follow the counsel of the church leaders, you can't go wrong. I do agree that the "interview" should not have been given throuh an email. Second I believe the class member who spouted off should have expressed his concerns to the gospel doctrine teacher or the Sunday School president and not the Bishop. We have order in the priesthood for a reason.I love bills Gospel Doctrine Class and use it all the time for my personal study. I believe the church has us follow a standard so that we don't lead people astray with our own veiw points. I don't remeber any occasion where Bills gospel doctrine class was not backed up by scripture. Any thing that is not backed up by scipture is a viewpoint and should be taken as that. Well I don't know if I have made any sense but I do know if we follow the prophets counsel and teach with the spirit we will be the type of teachers we are suppose to be.
I also make up my own handout but use most all the quotes researched by this web site. I have noticed that all the quotes are from general authorities or repected sources. The lessons closely follow the manual. My class enjoys the additional ideas and thought provoking questions. These lessons are based on the scriptures and the prophets...that is what we are asked to adhere to. (See intro materials to Gospel Doctrine Manual) Specifically, "Covering all the lesson material is less important than helping class members better understand the scriptures and commit themselves to increased discipleship. If class members are learning from a good discussion, it is often helpful to let it continue rather than try to cover all the lesson material." p. viii of Gospel Doctrine Manual.
These lessons use the scriptures and make them come alive. They encourage the very discussion mentioned and allow me to better seek the spirit as I watch where the discussion takes us. To think that there is only one way to foster this Spirit and Love of the scriptures is fairly narrow minded. The counselor is just trying to respond to the concerns of a member. Do not try and please that member...just ask yourself what you can do to better reach the goal of inspiring a love for and knowledge of the scriptures...if you have to realign yourself...do it...if not...then keep on..(after a private discussion with the counselor and the Bishop. Maybe you could involve the complaining member more...that is probably the main reason for the complaint. Have him present a section of your next lesson and ask him to give his thoughts on a specific passage. No matte how good you do...someone will complain eventually....(ie..checkout the complainers in lessons 13 and 14)
WE LISTEN TO THE LESSONS TAUGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR THAT COMES FROM THE SCRIPTURES, BUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE MOST OF THE CONGREGATION HAS OR HAS ACCESS TO THE COMMENTS FROM BEARDALL2000. WE ALL LEARN FROM THE INFORMATION FOUND IN THE E MAIL. THOSE COMMENTS EXPLAIN A LOT OF WHAT THE SCRIPTURES CONTAIN. IT IS LIKE STUDYING FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES. OUR SCRIPTURES ARE FIRST BUT IT DOES NOT AND WILL NOT PUT A LIMIT ON WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM OTHER SOURCES. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THE SPIRIT WILL TELL US, IF WE KEEP INTUNE, WHAT WE SHOULD BE READING AND WHAT NOT TO READ.
Article of Faith 13:
"We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. IF THERE IS ANYTHING VIRTUOS, LOVELY, OR OF GOOD REPORT OR PRAISEWORTHY, WE SEEK AFTER THESE THINGS".
I would not name my credentials and callings for my words are of the spirit to build credibility., But I hope and wish that my contribution would be that of the spirit as well, when we took upon ourselves the baptism of either conversion or accepting our Savior's plan we are thought to follow our promptings of the spirit, and if within righteousness and worthiness desires we will testify of the scriptures, I'll said to you my dear sister, you are a true inspiration with your humbleness and humility to share this question with us.
Teachers are those who pursue, go after and use to tools that through the general authority has been giving us.
I am very grateful knowing that there is still people who stand up as once I receive a letter and advise from a general authority "The church is true with all its precepts and principles, the organization is of God, it is the man who are call to the work, whom when presiding and acting will dictate his own decision whether when following and applying these principles, it is the man, who is not perfect as of yet and it will not, it could not reach such perfection while on this life". It is under these guidelines I have learned to live and accept such situations.
Nevertheless, my prayer and wishes for a better understanding in your ward and class members. May the spirit of all us who gathered in Zion bring us to the realm of worthiness and righteneous enough to carry on our own cross in this
life.
I appreciate your site, it was given to me when I was asked to substitute for a Gospel Doctrine teacher. Later I was called to teach the class so I use it all the time. I always read the manual first, and read from your site afterward. There are times when I feel it helps to use your material in presenting the lesson. I greatly appreciate the references that you provide to the resources you use, so that if there is any question about the authenticity of quotations they can be checked. I have also used your site to help get ideas on how to present different lessons. I find that we teach each other, in our class. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, research, and time. I have learned a lot from you but I know that I must use the manual provided and depend on the Spirit for direction on when and how to present the lessons. Thank you again.
I have been teaching gospel doctrine for 2 years. I spend 5-10 hours a week studying and preparing each week, so that those that attend my class will learn something new or at least have a better understanding. I love it when I hear someone say "Ohhhh, that's what it means." As I prepare, I read the lesson manual, the scriptures, the Ensign, past talks, and a number of books written by general authorities. Many of these talks and books quote others, from other general authorities to lay members of the church. The quotes and statements are often useful to explain a principle or doctrine. Many times the way someone else explains something is better said than anything I could write or say. I use their words and recognize them. This is a part of fulfilling our calling.
The manual says to use it as a "tool". So the manual is a tool, which implies there must be other tools. It can't be the only tool, just one of them. When I frame a wall for a new home, I use a hammer. It is the main tool I use, but if I only used a hammer, the wall would never get done. No one would understand what it is. So I use other tools that help define it, like a level and chalk. Eventually, I use a drill with a wood bit, to drill holes for electrical wiring. There are other tools I use. Ultimately, I have a beautiful wall that has dimension and understanding, it's clear what it is, but the main tool (my hammer) was supplemented with other tools to help define it.
Our manual is a tool. We should follow the lesson outlines, but another tool (like this website and the insights of others) are tools that can be used to better define the lesson material. We should not get into the mysteries. We should not get off track and teach our own philosopies and opinions of doctrine. We should stay on course with the doctrine from the bretheren, BUT not be deaf to others who can explain things better than any one of us.
Last, the manual says, "When preparing for Gospel Doctrine class, it is important that you seek inspriration and guidance from the Spirit of the Lord." Just as there isn't just one way to seek "inspiration and guidance" from the spirit, i.e. prayer, reading, fasting, temple, etc., there isn't any one way to prepare for these lessons.
I do admonish to use the manual as the single most important tool in our preparation. I teach as much of the priciples as time permits. But "perspective" is important too and others "perspective" helps teach these important principles and helps bring the spirit into our classrooms.
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