Teach and Testify of Gospel Truths

Helping Others Acquire Spiritual Knowledge

Teach doctrine simply and clearly from the scriptures and as revealed through modern prophets.

Suggestions

  • Before questions arise, seek to understand appropriate responses to gospel questions in order to answer with confidence, clarity, and accuracy.

  • If you don’t know an answer, be comfortable saying, “I don’t know”; nevertheless, assure students of your testimony of truths you do know and your desire to assist them in seeking answers.

  • As you respond to students’ concerns, read the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets. Testify that the power of the word of God will guide and protect them as they seek to acquire spiritual knowledge.

Additional Resources

In 1938 President J. Reuben Clark Jr. (1871–1961), speaking for the First Presidency, gave teachers the following counsel:

“Your essential and all but sole duty, is to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. . . . You are to teach this gospel, using as your sources and authorities the standard works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days. You are not . . . to intrude into your work your own peculiar philosophy, no matter what its source or how pleasing or rational it seems to you. . . .

“You are not . . . to change the doctrines of the Church or to modify them as they are declared by and in the standard works of the Church and by those whose authority it is to declare the mind and will of the Lord to the Church” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., The Charted Course of the Church in Education, [1994], 10).

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that when others ask questions about the Church or its doctrine, members should be prepared to answer with “clear, simple statements that present those who are curious with the basics about the Church as it is today” (M. Russell Ballard, “Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 25).

Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy offered the following advice:

“No matter how difficult, we all need to learn to acknowledge we don’t know the answer to every question. It is not unhealthy for a student to see that the teacher doesn’t know the answer to everything but does know the answer to the core questions and has a strong testimony. When the angel asked Nephi if he knew the condescension of God, Nephi responded, ‘I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things’ (1 Nephi 11:17). Even if we don’t know the answer to a specific question, we can remind our students of the things we do know” (Paul V. Johnson, “A Pattern for Learning Spiritual Things” [Seminaries and Institutes of Religion satellite broadcast, Aug. 7, 2012]).

Elder Kim B. Clark of the Seventy taught that Doctrinal Mastery “teaches our students the Lord’s way to learn deeply in any kind of knowledge and at any time in their lives. Learning is deep when it increases our power to do three things: (1) to know and to understand; (2) to take effective, righteous action; and (3) to become more like our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Deep learning must be done in the Lord’s way, through the power of the Holy Ghost and through active, diligent study and teaching of one another, attended by the grace of Jesus Christ. This is true for any kind of knowledge and for any time of life” (Kim B. Clark, “Doctrinal Mastery and Deep Learning” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 17, 2017]).

Help students examine questions in the context of the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the proper historical context.

Suggestions

  • When discussing concerns, help students clearly identify the “worldly philosophy” related to their concern, and then help them examine their concern against what we know of God’s plan and the principles given in the scriptures and the teachings of His living prophets.

  • Review and teach principles and practices of acquiring spiritual knowledge in a way that invites the Holy Ghost into your conversation.

Additional Resources

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Because of our knowledge of this Plan and other truths that God has revealed, we start with different assumptions than those who do not share our knowledge. As a result, we reach different conclusions on many important subjects that others judge only in terms of their opinions about mortal life.

“I suggest that it may be preferable for our young people to refrain from arguing with their associates about…assertions or proposals [that are contrary to God’s plan of salvation]. They will often be better off to respond by identifying the worldly premises or assumptions in the assertions they face and then by identifying the different assumptions or premises that guide the thinking of Latter-day Saints. . . .

“When we begin by measuring modern practices and proposals against what we know of God’s plan and the premises given in the word of God and the teachings of His living prophets, we must anticipate that our conclusions will differ from persons who do not think in that way. But we are firm in this because we know that this puts us on safe ground eternally” (Dallin H. Oaks, “As He Thinketh in His Heart” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 8, 2013]).

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers from God” (Neil L. Andersen, “Joseph Smith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 28).

Bear testimony of the principles you have taught and express confidence in the Lord’s promise to provide personal revelation.

Suggestions

  • Share with students how the Lord has responded to your questions and concerns, and express confidence that He will bless them with personal revelation as they are obedient and prayerfully seek truth.

  • As you bear testimony of the principles you have taught, include your witness of Heavenly Father’s love and kindness and of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Pray in your heart that students will feel the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost.

Additional Resources

President Henry B. Eyring of the Frist Presidency testified, “I can promise you that by hearing your testimony and the testimonies of those believers who wrote the scriptures, and from fervent prayer, [students] will feel a stirring in their hearts to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Henry B. Eyring, “And Thus We See: Helping a Student in a Moment of Doubt” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 5, 1993], 9).