Finding Answers In The Scriptures

Andrew and Simon helped again this week.  They started out by asking this question- What is the first thing you want to do when you start your lesson with an investigator you have been teaching?  Makele said "pray"!  Thats right,  very important.  Then what?  You follow up on the homework you gave them.  See what they learned.  Find out their questions.  That is the best way to have a lesson.  You do 30% of the talking, and they do 70%.  We are used to us doing 90% and them 10%.  Hopefully we are learning to make this shift.

So what did you learn this week from your homework?

Caden Neider shared several great questions and scriptures he found.  Under the heading "God Is Our Loving Heavenly Father"  he asked 3 questions he picked up from a talk from John Bytheway.

1.  Why are there wars.  Scripture:  2 Nephi 2:27

2.  Who created Evil...or Did God create evil?

3.  Why do children die at such a young age?

These great questions fueled our class discussion about many teaching opportunites.  Like,

1.how to handle a question you don't know the answer to.

2.  Getting to the real question they are asking.

3.  The importance of pausing to let the spirit teach and for you to really ponder what they are asking.

4.  When you pretend to know the answer and say "I Think" and not use the scriptures, the spirit leaves and you cannot teach.  

5.Remember to always listen to your 3rd companion-  The Holy Ghost!

6.  Teach People Not lessons.  But don't forget to teach the lessons to the people.

7.  Its better for them to learn to find the answers to their questions using their scriptures.  You cannot be a crutch for them, because when you leave they need to know how to feel the spirit on their own.  

8.  If they have not read the chapter you asked them to, then read it with them before you move on.  Help them understand the difficult words, and have them summarize what they read in their own words.  As they do this, they are teaching themselves.

9. Use your study journal and record your questions and answers.

10.  Successful missionaries Plan!  Fill every hour of your day with something meaningful.  Its easy to just get up and get into a routine.  Planning with the spirit will help you be more effective.

What a great class today!  We learned so much.  Thank you for coming prepared and sharing.  We all felt the spirit and are more prepared to go and serve!!!

This is Caitlyn Sears last week with us : (  We will miss her wonderful comments and great wisdom and experience she has brought to our discussions.  But the wonderful saints in Cebu, Philippines will love her too!  She leaves on August 28th.  We will be praying for you and know this journey you are taking will be the best ever.

No class for two weeks : (

Next week is stake priesthood.

The following week is Fast Sunday.

So for Sept 8th the assignment is:

Using the Restoration Pamphlet, come up with one question and a scripture for each picture in the pamphlet.

Please come with those questions and scriptures written down so you can share what you found.

See you in two weeks!

Practice teaching through Role Play

Here are two experienced and willing returned missionaries.  Simon Taylor and Andrew Wadsworth.  They came to help us apply what we have studied in Chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel.  We are so fortunate to learn from their experience. 

Sorry some of these pictures are out of focus, but oh well :) This is Bro. Hooker raising his hands in the touch down gesture, which he did repeatedly during class.  Why?  because the class asked amazing questions to these returned missionaries about what they had read!  Touch Down!!  You are getting it.  Participation is the key to allowing the spirit to teach you.  Bro. Hooker was so excited to hear your great questions and discoveries about this great chapter.  

Some of these questions were:

How do you make first contact with someone?

How do you have the lesson stay on course and not get distracted?

How do you adjust your lesson to the needs of your investigator?

How do you decide what homework to give them?

How do you get members to come with you to help teach lessons?

Parents- please ask your students the answers they learned and observed for themselves.

One important one that Bro. Tayor and Wadsworth shared that I want to mention about involving members in teaching was this:  Give members at least a day or two notice that you would like their help with a lesson and give them a date and time.  Help them feel needed and involve them in teaching the lesson.  Explain that you asked them specifically because you wanted them to share something you know they have a testimony of. If you call them up an hour before and just ask for a ride, you are not utilizing them for the valuable resource they are to you.  Respect their time and let them now in advance when you need them so they can spiritually prepare also.  Member work is vital to missionary work!

Great suggestions!

Here they are going to role play how to introduce the book of mormon to someone.  Caitlyn Sears asked how you would do that...another Touch Down question!

Simon played the investigator sitting on a park bench, and Andrew the Missionary- he even brought his old name tag to get the full effect!  They also role played a door approach showing how to introduce the book of mormon, using the introduction.  

We learned so much from these fine young men and are so grateful they have been willing to teach us and answer questions.  Remember there are no dumb questions.  Questions are the key to getting to know your investigator, knowing what you should teach them, and also how they will come to learn themselves.

We are going to have them back next week also. We are starting again with lesson 1: The restoration

Here is the class assignment for next week:

Preach My Gospel page 31-39

There are 8 different headings in these pages: You can also refer to the Restoration Pamphlet

God is Our Loving Heavenly Father

The Gospel Blesses Families

Heavenly Father Reveals His Gospel in Every Dispensation

The Savior's Earthly Ministry and Atonement

The Great Apostasy

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Pray to Know the Truth through the Holy Ghost

Please come prepared with one question for an investigator and one scripture to answer it for each heading you will teach.

Then we will share and learn from each other. This will be a great experience.  You can involve your families with this too.