TEACHING

G U I D E B O O K

Published byThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Salt Lake City, Utah

TEACHING

G U I D E B O O K

© 1994, 1999, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

English approval: 3/01

ContentsIntroduction 1

Prepare Yourself Spiritually 2

Teach As Jesus Taught 4

Use a Variety of Teaching Methods 9

Prepare Your Lesson 13

Understand Those You Teach 16

Rewards of Teaching 18

Administering Teacher Improvement in the Branch 19

Outline for the Teaching the Gospel Course 21

Obtaining Church Materials and Locating Information on Family History 23

DistributionThe Teaching Guidebook is used in conjunction with the basic curriculum and willbe useful also for teachers and other members in units using general curriculum(see Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum [36363]). Thisguidebook can help members improve teaching in the home and in Church organizations. Each teacher should receive a copy; the head of each family might find it helpful also.

Introduction

This guidebook is designed for par-ents, leaders, and teachers. It can beused as part of an individual effort toimprove as a teacher. It can be used asthe basis for the Teaching the Gospelcourse and teacher improvementmeetings (see pages 21–22).

The Lord taught:

“And I give unto you a command-ment that you shall teach one anotherthe doctrine of the kingdom.

“Teach ye diligently and my graceshall attend you, that you may be in-structed more perfectly in theory, inprinciple, in doctrine, in the law ofthe gospel, in all things that pertainunto the kingdom of God, that are ex-pedient for you to understand” (D&C88:77–78).

The home should be the central placein which this is done. The home issupported by the teaching and learn-ing that takes place at church. We allhave responsibilities as teachers inthese settings and with our neighbors

and associates in daily life. We teachas parents, sons, daughters, husbands,wives, brothers, and sisters. We teachas Church leaders, classroom teachers,home teachers, and visiting teachers.We also teach as coworkers, neighbors,and friends. Sometimes we teach bythe things we say and the testimonywe bear, but even more frequently weteach by example.

On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the resurrected Lord instructed Peter,“Feed my sheep” (John 21:16–17). Thecall to teach requires that we nourishthe souls of others with gospel truthsand thereby lead them to the Savior(see Moroni 6:4). Think of the role ofgospel teaching in the salvation ofHeavenly Father’s children. Can youimagine a duty more noble or sacred?

If you are a parent or newly calledteacher, you may be especially con-cerned about this responsibility.Remember that the Lord is ready tohelp you. He has promised that if weare humble and have faith, He will“make weak things become strongunto [us]” (Ether 12:27). In our effortsto improve as teachers, we can buildon the experiences we have had andskills we have developed in our livesso far. Our abilities will increase aswe prepare carefully, try to strengthenthose we teach, and trust the Lord.

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Prepare Yourself Spiritually

As you prepare yourself spiritually,the Spirit, or the Holy Ghost, willguide and help you in your teaching.The Holy Ghost is necessary to teachthe principles and truths of thegospel. The Lord said, “The Spiritshall be given unto you by the prayerof faith; and if ye receive not theSpirit ye shall not teach” (D&C 42:14).The following suggestions will helpyou prepare to teach with the guid-ance of the Holy Ghost.

Be Set Apart When you are called to teach, youshould be set apart and given a special blessing by your priesthoodleaders. This blessing will help youfulfill your calling. As you do all youcan to serve in your call to teach, the

Lord will enlarge your potential to

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influence others for good. He willeven magnify you beyond your owntalents and abilities when necessary.

Seek the Guidance of the Holy Ghost Seek the Holy Ghost as you teach. Hecan help you to understand the needsof those you teach and to preparelessons that meet those needs. He willsoften your heart and prepare yourmind to receive additional inspirationand guidance.

Pray OftenPray often and ask the Lord to blessyou as you study and prepare. Attimes you may add fasting to yourprayers. Pray to understand and tolove the individuals you teach. Learnto recognize and follow the prompt-ings of the Holy Ghost that will cometo you.

Study the ScripturesPrayerfully study the scriptures. As you do, you will learn about theSavior and grow in the knowledge of the truth. The Holy Ghost will helpyou understand the scriptures andsee how they apply to the needs ofclass members or family members. By adding prayer and fasting to yourscripture study, you will be strength-ened and guided by the Holy Ghostin your teaching.

Live the GospelLive the teachings of the gospel ascompletely as you can. Repent of past transgressions. As you do thesethings, you will receive strength and

understanding. The peace and happi-ness you feel from striving to live the gospel will be evident to others.They will feel the sincerity of yourtestimony and the power of yourcommitment. They will be instructedby the example of your life.

One teacher had a difficult time feel-ing the guidance of the Holy Ghost as she prepared her lesson. As sheprayed for help, she realized she hadangry feelings in her heart toward aneighbor who had been very unkindto her. She humbly asked the Lord toforgive her. The next day she visitedher neighbor and apologized for hav-ing had hard feelings toward her. Sheand her neighbor drew closer, andshe was able once again to enjoy theguidance of the Holy Ghost.

Be HumbleHumility can help you avoid thetemptation to seek attention for your-self or rely too much on your ownknowledge or talents. You can showhumility by following the counsel inProverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lordwith all thine heart; and lean not untothine own understanding. In all thyways acknowledge him, and he shalldirect thy paths.” The Lord taught,“Be thou humble; and the Lord thyGod shall lead thee by the hand, andgive thee answer to thy prayers”(D&C 112:10).

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Teach As Jesus Taught

Love Those You Teach During His life on earth, the Saviorshowed great love and understandingto every person. He taught the poor,the rich, the outcast, and the sinners.He taught us to love everyone and tohelp one another. He said, “A newcommandment I give unto you, Thatye love one another; as I have lovedyou, that ye also love one another”(John 13:34). As we show love forthose we teach, they become moreaware of their eternal worth, more enthusiastic about learning, and more receptive to the Spirit.

Being a gospel teacher means morethan presenting a lesson each week. It also means caring about your class

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members. Make an effort to get toknow each of them as an individual. It will help you teach them more effec-tively. They may need your help whenthey have problems, when they arenot attending, or if they have disabili-ties. Remember the Savior’s parable of the one lost sheep (see Luke 15:3–6).

One teacher of a child who seldom attended class found that every timeshe contacted the child’s family dur-ing the week, he would be at churchthe following Sunday. She made an effort to talk with the parents oftenand to mention her affection for theirchild. She even picked up the childfrom school when the parents were at work so that he would not miss aclass activity.

As a teacher, you can also do much to fellowship members and help them remain converted to the gospel.This is especially important with newmembers. Always help them feel welcome. Look for opportunities forthem to participate in class. Prepareyourself to teach gospel truths by theSpirit and with love.

Teach Gospel TruthsThe Savior taught the truths of thegospel. He emphasized the first prin-ciples and ordinances—faith, repen-tance, baptism, and receiving theHoly Ghost. He taught us to love and serve one another. He taught of priesthood, covenants, and ordi-nances, and of all we must know, do,and be to come unto Him. We tooshould teach the gospel as revealed in the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets. Secular subjects,personal opinions, and speculative or controversial teachings are not appropriate.

The Savior taught gospel truths simply. He used clear and understand-able language, stories, and examplesfrom everyday life. His lessons in-cluded many common experiences that people could understand. Hespoke of finding a lost sheep, searchingfor a coin, and rejoicing over the returnof a wayward son (see Luke 15).

The Savior often drew upon the scriptures as He taught. Lead thoseyou teach in using the scriptures oftenduring the lesson. Help them under-stand that the people in the scriptureswere real people who experienced trials and joys in their efforts to servethe Lord. Ask questions that requirethose you teach to find answers in thescriptures. Encourage individuals tostudy at home, and show those youteach how to make that study effec-tive. Teach them how to use the studyhelps in the scriptures. Give assign-ments that require class members tosearch the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets.

Teach by the SpiritTeachers should seek to have theSpirit of the Lord when they teach. A person may teach profound truths,and class members may engage instimulating discussions, but unless theSpirit is present, these things will notbe powerfully impressed upon thesoul. When the Spirit is present, all are strengthened in their love for

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Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, in their love for each other, and intheir commitment to live the gospel.Following are some things you can doto invite the Spirit in your teaching:

• Begin with prayer.

• Teach from the scriptures andwords of latter-day prophets.

• Bear your testimony.

• Share experiences and invite othersto do so.

• Use music (see page 10).

• Show your love for the Lord andothers.

If you have properly prepared your-self, the Holy Ghost will enlightenand guide you as you teach. You mayreceive impressions about those youare teaching and what you shouldemphasize in teaching them. You mayreceive ideas and feelings about howyou can teach them most effectively.Your diligent efforts will be magni-fied as you humbly obey the whisper-ings of the Spirit. You will also beable to help those you teach recognizethe influence of the Spirit.

Invite Diligent LearningThe Lord said, “Seek ye out of thebest books words of wisdom; seeklearning, even by study and also byfaith” (D&C 88:118). Each member isresponsible to gain a knowledge of

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the truth through his or her own ef-forts. A teacher’s responsibility is toawaken in others the desire to study,understand, and live the gospel. Tofulfill this responsibility, you canfocus on three things:

1. Awaken and hold the interest ofthose you teach. A key to doingthis is your own enthusiasm forstudying the gospel. Another isyour use of teaching methods thatmake your lessons clear, interest-ing, and easy to remember (seepages 9–12). Awakening interest is especially important at the beginning of a lesson. As you planyour teaching, look for ways to in-vite the Spirit, get everyone’s atten-tion with an interesting beginning,and focus on the doctrine or prin-ciple to be taught in the lesson.

2. Encourage participation. Plan waysto have everyone participate inyour lessons. You might ask some-one to read a quotation or scriptureor to tell a story. You might invite

them to respond to questions andfreely discuss the lesson material.You might ask one or more individ-uals to sing a song or play an in-strument. You might prayerfullyselect someone to bear testimony orshare a personal experience that re-lates to the lesson topic. Sometimesit will be important to request thisparticipation in advance so thatthose you ask can practice and feelcomfortable participating.

The main idea of one teacher’s les-son was the importance of readingthe Book of Mormon. He invitedthe youth in his class to think of apassage of scripture that hadchanged their lives. He then in-vited three or four volunteers tostand and share their scripturalpassages with the class and to de-scribe how the passages hadchanged their lives. As each personshared sweet feelings about thepower of the Book of Mormon,class members gained an earnestdesire to read and ponder thescriptures daily.

Some people are reluctant to par-ticipate. Do not ask individuals toread aloud or pray until you aresure they feel comfortable doing so. If you have any doubt about aperson’s willingness to participate,ask for volunteers rather than calling on someone who might be reluctant. Most learners willgradually learn to feel comfortable

participating if they see that thosewho participate are treated with respect and courtesy.

3. Help them apply what they learn.You also should help learnersapply what is taught to the circum-stances of their lives. This may in-clude giving assignments andchallenges that help class membershave learning experiences with thetruths that are taught. Rememberthat gospel learning is of no valueunless it becomes gospel living.

Create a LearningAtmosphereThe best environment for gospellearning is one in which each personpresent is concerned about the learn-ing of the other members of thegroup. The desire to learn increaseswhen teachers and learners love oneanother and help one another under-stand and live the gospel. When youand those you teach work together

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to create a positive learning environ-ment, disruptions will be less likely to occur. You should do all you can to create such an environment and to help those you teach know how to contribute to it.

Following are some things you could do to help create a learning atmosphere:

• Arrive promptly with all necessaryteaching materials and equipment.

• Make sure that the classroom is asclean, orderly, comfortable, andfree from distractions as possible.

• Begin and end on time.

• Greet and welcome class membersindividually, if possible.

• Do things that invite the Spirit andthat encourage reverence and cour-tesy.

• Love class members and help themfeel comfortable in participating.

• Ask questions that help the classmembers focus on the subject.

• Encourage class members to listento one another with respect and understanding.

• Guard against conversations thatmight damage or weaken testi-monies or otherwise cause theSpirit to withdraw.

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Even after you have done all you canto create an atmosphere of learning,you may still encounter some chal-lenges. The following suggestionsmay help you resolve some commonchallenges and problems:

• If a disruption occurs, stop talkinguntil you have everyone’s atten-tion. Then continue the lesson.

• If certain individuals talk with eachother during the lesson, visit pri-vately with them after class andask them what you and they coulddo to make the class successful.

• If someone dominates class discus-sion, direct questions to other classmembers or politely suggest thatyou would like to hear from thosewho have not yet participated.

• If class members make commentsthat lead the discussion away fromthe lesson topic, acknowledge thembut lead the discussion back to thelesson topic.

Disruptive behavior will decrease asyou find ways for every person in thegroup to feel loved and accepted andto participate successfully.

Use a Variety of Teaching Methods

There are many things you can do tomake your lesson presentations inter-esting and to help class memberslearn gospel truths. Some suggestionsfollow:

Use Stories and ExamplesStories and examples awaken andhold people’s interest and show howgospel principles apply in daily life.

You will find excellent stories in thescriptures and in your teacher’s man-ual. Before your lesson, study eachstory you plan to use. Practice tellingit using your own words. Your classwill listen more closely if you tell thestory in your words, rather than readit. Also, younger children enjoy actingout stories.

One Primary teacher always startedher lesson with a story from the scrip-tures. For example, when her lessonwas on kindness, she told about thegood Samaritan. The children couldpicture in their minds the man whohad been robbed and the men wholooked away and hurried past. Theywere impressed with the kindnessand dignity of the Samaritan whocared for the wounded man. The chil-dren looked forward to these stories.The teacher learned to use her voiceand expressions to keep the attentionof her class. The class members be-came more familiar with and inter-ested in the scriptures.

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Use Pictures and ObjectsThe Savior often used simple objectsas He taught. He used wheat, sand,rocks, and other familiar things tohelp the people understand what He was teaching. For example, Helikened the kingdom of God to a treasure so great that a man wouldsell all he had to obtain it (seeMatthew 13:44).

Look around you. What ordinary objects can you use to help class mem-bers better understand gospel prin-ciples?

You may want to use simple drawingsand pictures to illustrate gospel prin-ciples. Show a picture from theGospel Art Picture Kit as you tell ascripture story. Draw simple pictureson the chalkboard or a piece of paperto make a story more interesting.

One teacher was giving a lesson based on Jesus’ parable of the wheatand the tares. The class memberslived in a farming area, so the teacher

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knew they would understand that the young wheat plants could be destroyed by removing the weeds toosoon. He prepared a small bundle ofwheat stalks mingled with weeds. Hedisplayed this bundle throughout thelesson.

Another teacher encouraged classmembers to think of something theycould compare to repentance. Oneclass member suggested that repen-tance is like soap, in that it can cleanseus from our sins.

Use MusicMusic is an excellent way to invitethe Spirit of the Lord into yourlessons. Music helps us express feel-ings that may be hard to expressthrough the spoken word.

Church hymns teach many gospelprinciples and can be used in almostany lesson. You can invite an individ-ual, a group, or the entire family orclass to sing a hymn that is related tothe lesson. You also could read the

words of a hymn aloud while some-one plays the accompaniment. Or youcould play a recording of a hymn.

One teacher prepared a lesson on ser-vice. She selected a hymn that sup-ported the main idea. During thelesson, she invited one sister to readthe words of this hymn as anothersoftly hummed the tune. She askedthe class to quietly ponder the wordsas they were read. This music helpedthe class members feel more stronglyabout the importance of service.

Ask Questions That InviteCareful Thought and CreateDiscussion

Asking the right questions will en-courage thoughtful learning and dis-cussion in your lesson. Questions anddiscussions are helpful in many ways.They help class members remain at-tentive during a lesson. You can findout if the class members understandthe lesson. Class members can teacheach other as they answer and dis-

cuss questions. They can learn how to apply gospel principles in theirown lives.

As you prepare lessons, decide whatquestions you will ask. The followingsuggestions may help you.

• Ask questions that help the classmembers think about the gospelprinciple and how it applies intheir lives. Thought-provokingquestions often begin with “why?”or “how?” You should generallyavoid questions that can be an-swered with only “yes” or “no” or any other one-word answers.

For example, in teaching a lessonabout centering our lives on theSavior, you might ask questionslike the following:

“What does it mean to build on the rock of Christ?”

“What foundations other than therock of Christ do people sometimesbuild their lives on?”

“How have you been blessed asyou have built your life on the rockof Christ?”

• Ask questions that encourage classmembers to share personal ideasand experiences. For example:

“Why does the Lord command usto pray always?”

“How has He answered yourprayers?”

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• Ask questions that help class mem-bers apply gospel principles intheir lives. For example:

“How can we better prepare our-selves to receive answers to ourprayers?”

“How can you come to know thatJesus Christ is the Savior of theworld?”

“How can you strengthen your testimony that Joseph Smith is aprophet of God?”

If someone asks you a question thatyou cannot answer, ask the classmembers to help you answer it, or tell the person that you will find theanswer for next time.

Do not be concerned if class membersare silent for a few seconds after youask a question. They usually needtime to think of responses. However,if they don’t seem to understand thequestion, you may need to rephraseit. When asking someone a question,it is helpful to call him or her byname first and then ask the question.

Finally, be careful not to end a gooddiscussion prematurely in an attemptto cover all the material you haveprepared. What matters most is thatmembers feel the influence of theSpirit, increase their understanding ofthe gospel, learn to apply gospel prin-ciples in their lives, and strengthentheir commitment to live the gospel.

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Invite Special GuestsYou may occasionally want to invite a special guest to come to your class.You can ask a worthy Church mem-ber to give a report, share a story, orbear testimony. Let this person knowin advance how much time he or sheshould take. Get approval from yourbishop or branch president beforeinviting a guest who lives outside of your ward or branch.

One elders quorum president invitedanother member to come and tell theelders about ways to make their hometeaching messages interesting to thechildren they visited. The elders notonly gained a new understanding ofwhy children need to participate dur-ing home teaching visits, but they alsoreceived many suggestions on how tohelp children participate.

Use ActivitiesSimple activities that relate to the lesson can help class members, espe-cially children and youth, learn gospelprinciples. Such activities should beappropriate for gospel learning. ManyChurch-produced lesson manuals in-clude suggestions for activities.

Prepare Your Lesson

It is important to carefully preparethe lessons you teach so that you canpresent the gospel principles most effectively. The following suggestionswill help you prepare.

Identify ResourcesThe Church has carefully preparedapproved curriculum materials basedon the scriptures and teachings of thelatter-day prophets. Ask your priest-hood or auxiliary leader whether thefollowing resources are available foryou to use:

• A teacher’s manual published bythe Church for your class

• Copies of the scriptures for classmembers

• Church magazines containingteachings of the latter-day prophets

• Scripture study aids available inyour language

• A set of pictures called the GospelArt Picture Kit, which should be inyour meetinghouse library

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backgrounds of those you teach.

Look over the available items so youcan plan how to use them in yourlessons. You do not need elaboratematerials to be an effective teacher.Christ taught many lessons in humblesurroundings. The most important in-fluence in your teaching is the Spirit.Appropriate use of teaching resourcesalong with the guidance of the Spiritoffers the greatest potential for gospellearning.

Begin Preparing EarlyPrepare your lessons early. It is oftenhelpful to begin studying lessons afew weeks before teaching them. Thisallows time for you to think and prayabout the lesson topics and to prepareadequately.

Focus on the Lesson’sPurposeEach lesson you teach should have apurpose. For example, the purpose ofa lesson on fasting might be to helpclass members understand the bless-ings of fasting or the importance offasting for a specific purpose on fastSunday. The presentations and dis-cussion in the lesson should focus on the purpose.

To decide on the purpose of a lesson,study the lesson material and the ac-companying scriptures. Ask the Lordto help you understand the most im-portant messages from this lesson forthose individuals you teach. Askyourself, “What should happen in the

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lives of those I teach as a result of thislesson?” Many lessons in Church-produced lesson manuals includepurpose statements. These statementscan help you decide how each lessonshould influence those you teach.

Decide What to TeachAfter you have determined the pur-pose of a lesson, decide what prin-ciples should be taught to accomplishthat purpose. Most manuals includescriptures, stories, and other informa-tion to help you teach the lesson. But often a lesson will contain more material than you are able to teach inthe time you are given. In such cases,you should select the material thatwill be most helpful to those youteach. Ask yourself, “Which doctrinesand principles in the lesson will helpclass members meet the challengesthey currently face?”

If you need material that is not in themanual or the scriptures, considerusing stories and talks from the FirstPresidency Messages, Visiting TeachingMessages, and the Church magazines,especially the general conferencemessages.

As you decide what to teach:

• Prayerfully study the content of thelesson.

• Make a list of key doctrines andprinciples covered in the lesson.

• Always keep in mind the needs and

• Follow the guidance of the Spirit.

It is usually best to focus on one ortwo main principles.

Decide How to TeachAfter you have decided what toteach, you must decide how to teachit. Study the material and prayerfullyponder the best ways to present it tothose you teach. The methods youuse should help learners understandand apply what you teach.

Carefully study the scriptures, stories,and other information discussed inthe lessons and any other scripturesthat will help you teach the doctrineor principle. Prepare to help the classmembers understand how the scrip-tures apply in their lives (see 1 Nephi19:23).

Also consider using stories and examples from your own life and the lives of your class members. Forexample, one teenager quit smokingafter a priesthood class on the Wordof Wisdom in which the teacher de-scribed his own brother’s experiencein overcoming this habit. This example showed that a smoker couldchange his habits. Hearing this storyhelped the class member determinethat he could change his own life.

For information about teaching methods that will help you presentthe lesson, see pages 9–12 of thisguide.

Plan a Conclusion The Savior often summarized whatHe taught and encouraged people to apply it in their lives (see the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10:30–37). At the close of a les-son, you should review and summa-rize what has been taught. Suggestways for class members to apply thegospel doctrines or principles, and invite them to suggest other ways.Encourage them to try one of theseideas during the coming week. Inlater lessons, you may want to askthem what they have learned fromtheir efforts.

The students in one teacher’s classwere invited to perform an anony-mous act of service each day for aweek. At the beginning of the nextclass period, the teacher asked for abrief report. Several class membersenthusiastically shared their experi-ences and the joy they felt fromputting this lesson into practice. The positive response of these classmembers motivated others to givegreater service themselves.

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Understand Those You Teach

It is important to understand thoseyou teach. Consider the maturity andexperience of your class members.People of different ages have differentneeds and learn in different ways.

ChildrenChildren are growing physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.As you prepare your lesson, remem-ber each child’s talents, abilities, andneeds.

Children enjoy variety. Use short stories, simple games, pictures, objectlessons, and songs to keep their interest.

Children are just learning about shar-ing, kindness, and patience. Help

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them overcome shortcomings in these areas by reminding them ofJesus’ example and encouraging them to follow Him.

Children are trusting and believing.They will believe what you teachthem. They will also watch and follow your example.

YouthThe period between childhood andadulthood is sometimes difficult andchallenging. Class members mayhave many responsibilities in theirfamilies, at school, and at work. Thefollowing suggestions may help youinfluence young people for good.

Prepare each lesson to be directly rele-vant to their lives. Help them see howthe gospel can answer their questionsand help them make good choices.

Young people may feel lonely or unappreciated. Help each person become an important part of yourclass. Belonging to a group withgospel standards gives young peoplespiritual strength and helps themkeep their lives pure.

Show that you respect their opinions.Encourage them to participate in thelesson and to discuss their ideas withyou and with each other.

AdultsAdult class members are of differentages and have varying backgroundsand experiences. Use these differ-ences to enrich your class. Encourageclass members to share the wisdomthey have learned from their experi-ences. Make use of their many talents.

Teach the truths of the gospel simply.The Holy Ghost will help the classmembers understand and apply thetruths in their individual lives.

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Rewards of Teaching

As a teacher, you can experience thejoy that comes from helping othersgrow in their knowledge of the gospel.Your diligent and faithful efforts toteach the gospel will help others de-velop stronger testimonies of theSavior and live the commandments.

A Sunday School teacher worried that there were many others in theclass more qualified to teach than he was. He wondered if his teachingwas making a difference. Then oneSunday a class member took theteacher aside. She said that because of her husband’s experiences with theSpirit in the class, he now had com-mitted to gather their family togetherdaily for family prayer. He had alsocommitted to prepare to go to the

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temple to be sealed as a family. Theclass member expressed her love anddeep appreciation for all the effort theteacher had made to invite the Spiritinto their class. Then the teacher’sheart was filled with humility, and he understood the true purpose andrewards of teaching.

As you teach, you will be blessedalong with your students. Your ownknowledge of the gospel and testi-mony of the Savior will be strength-ened as you study, prepare, and teachgospel lessons. You will feel greaterlove for others. You will feel a greateroutpouring of the Spirit in your life asyou humbly and diligently strive tolive what you teach. Your life will beenriched by your service as a teacher.

Administering Teacher Improvement in the Branch

The branch presidency is responsiblefor the quality of teaching in thebranch.

Responsibilities of theTeacher ImprovementCoordinatorAs the branch membership increases,a member of the branch presidencycalls and sets apart a teacher improve-ment coordinator to oversee teacherimprovement. The coordinator maybe either a brother or sister. He or sheis a member of the branch council andserves as a resource to priesthood andauxiliary leaders and teachers in theirefforts to improve gospel teaching.The coordinator helps leaders plan

and conduct teacher improvementmeetings and, when assigned, teachesthe Teaching the Gospel course.

Leader Support of TeachersPriesthood and auxiliary leaders areresponsible for the quality of gospelteaching in their organizations. Theymodel superior teaching and helpteachers understand the importanceof their callings. They extend appreci-

ation, assistance, and encouragementto the teachers with whom they serve.The excellence of teaching in theChurch will improve as leaders givecaring support and encouragement to the teachers in their organizations.

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Teacher ImprovementMeetingsEach priesthood and auxiliary leaderand teacher is to attend a teacher im-provement meeting once every threemonths to learn principles, methods,and skills to improve gospel teachingand learning. The teacher improve-ment coordinator takes the lead inscheduling and planning teacher im-provement meetings in consultationwith priesthood and auxiliary leaders.The meetings should be held at timesthat are convenient for teachers andleaders but do not conflict with theregular Sunday meeting schedule.Generally, the meetings should notlast more than one hour.

A teacher improvement meeting mayinclude:

• A brief message from a member ofthe branch presidency or a priest-hood or auxiliary leader about aprinciple of teaching or learning.

• A presentation of a teachingmethod or skill by a priesthood or auxiliary leader or a teacher.

• Time for teachers and leaders to share ideas and discuss ways to help specific class members.

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As the number of teachers and leadersincreases in the branch, one teacherimprovement meeting may be heldeach quarter for:

• Teachers and leaders of members 18 and older.

• Teachers and leaders of members 12 through 17.

• Teachers and leaders in Primary.

These meetings may be scheduled so one is held each month.

The Teaching the GospelCourseThe Teaching the Gospel course pro-vides a foundation to help membersbecome better gospel teachers in their homes and in Church meetings.An outline of the course is on pages21–22 of this guidebook. The teacherimprovement coordinator teaches the course unless the branch presi-dency calls another branch memberto teach it.

The branch presidency invites mem-bers to take the course. Generally, no more than 10 members are in thecourse at one time, allowing each one to participate fully.

Outline for the Teaching the Gospel Course

The Teaching the Gospel course pro-vides an opportunity for all Churchmembers to learn how to become bet-ter teachers. The course instructor isthe teacher improvement coordinatoror another experienced teacher calledby the branch president. This coursecould be taught during Sunday Schoolor at another convenient time. If thecourse is being held for leaders andteachers from a particular organiza-tion, it might be taught as part of theirregular leadership meeting. Wheredistance or available facilities makethe normal Sunday School format dif-ficult to follow, a combination ofhome study and a few class meetings(each covering several lessons) maybe considered.

Ideas for each lesson are provided inthis guidebook. As the instructor pre-pares a lesson, he or she should usethe suggestions in the section titled“Use a Variety of Teaching Methods.”At the end of each lesson, the instruc-tor should encourage class membersto put into practice what they havelearned that day, either in a Churchclass or in family home evening. Thiswill greatly enhance their develop-ment as teachers. Except as noted, the course should be taught over aneight-week period according to thefollowing schedule. The suggestionsbelow are addressed to the course instructor.

Week 1Give each class member a copy of thisguidebook, and review its contents.Focus the lesson on the introductionand the section titled “PrepareYourself Spiritually.” Emphasize theimportance of being set apart and living the gospel to qualify to havethe Spirit.

Week 2Focus on “Love Those You Teach,” located in the section titled “Teach As Jesus Taught.” Refer also to theage-group characteristics on pages16–17 of this guidebook. Ask classmembers to share experiences inwhich understanding or reaching outto family members or class membersin love has had a positive effect. Youmay also wish to discuss how teach-ers can reach out to and nourish each member according to his or herneeds, especially new converts andmembers with disabilities.

Week 3Focus on “Teach Gospel Truths,” located in the section titled “Teach AsJesus Taught.” Emphasize the impor-tance of teaching the doctrine faith-fully, clearly, and simply, using thescriptures in teaching, and establishinga plan for personal gospel study.

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Week 4Focus on “Teach by the Spirit,” located in the section titled “Teach As Jesus Taught.” Help class mem-bers feel encouraged that they canqualify to have the Spirit in theirteaching. Help them learn to recog-nize and follow the Spirit.

Week 5Focus on “Invite Diligent Learning,”located in the section titled “Teach AsJesus Taught.” Emphasize specificways that teachers can help those theyteach accept their responsibility tolearn the gospel and live it more fully.

Week 6Focus on “Create a LearningAtmosphere,” located in the sectiontitled “Teach As Jesus Taught.” Helpclass members understand how tohelp create an atmosphere in whicheveryone participates and wants tolearn.

Week 7Focus on the section titled “Use a Variety of Teaching Methods.”Developing an effective lesson requires thought and creativity, and the material in this section can be very helpful. Ask class members to demonstrate or share experiencesthey have had with the teachingmethods discussed in the section.

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Week 8Focus on the section titled “PrepareYour Lesson.” Help class membersunderstand the importance of begin-ning lesson preparation early, anddiscuss how to plan and present effective lessons.

At appropriate points during thecourse, you might emphasize ele-ments in the section titled “Rewardsof Teaching.” Ask class members toshare ways teachers have blessedtheir lives and ways they as teachershave been able to help others.

After the course ends, encourage par-ticipants to continue to improve asteachers. If they are newly called class-room teachers, their priesthood or auxiliary leader should meet withthem and give a brief orientation of the class and its members. After that,they should periodically report theirprogress and discuss specific needsand challenges with their priesthood or auxiliary leaders. They can invite aleader to visit their class and help themin any way. The teacher improvementcoordinator is a continuing source of help for all teachers—those who are called as classroom teachers andthose who teach in their families andleadership responsibilities.

Obtaining Church Materials and LocatingInformation on Family History

Local leaders and other members mayobtain Church materials, includingscriptures, courses of study, Churchmagazines, garments, and templeclothing, from their Church distribu-tion center or service center, from the Salt Lake Distribution Center, orthrough the Church’s official Internetsite, which is located at www.lds.org.

Information on family history work isavailable on the Church’s family his-tory Internet site, which is located atwww.familysearch.org.

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