Teachings for Our Time

The following instructions for fourth-Sunday Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society lessons replace those in Information for Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders on Curriculum, 2005 through 2008 and in the May 2004 Liahona and Ensign.

Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society meetings on the fourth Sunday of each month will continue to be devoted to “Teachings for Our Time.”

Effective November 2004, all “Teachings for Our Time” lessons will be taught from talks in the most recent general conference issue of the Liahona or Ensign. These issues are published each May and November. The talks are also available online (in many languages) at www.lds.org.

Each lesson can be prepared from one or more talks. Stake and district presidents may choose which talks should be used, or they may assign this responsibility to bishops and branch presidents. These priesthood leaders should stress the value of having the Melchizedek Priesthood brethren and the Relief Society sisters study the same talks on the same Sundays. Teachers should seek counsel from their leaders regarding any special emphasis.

Those attending fourth-Sunday lessons are encouraged to study and bring to class the latest general conference issue of the magazine. Ward and branch leaders should ensure that all members have access to the Church magazines.

Suggestions for Preparing a Lesson from Talks

Pray that the Holy Spirit will be with you as you study and teach the talk(s). You may at times be tempted to set aside the conference talks and prepare the lesson using other materials. But the conference talks are the approved curriculum. Your assignment is to help others learn and live the gospel as taught in the most recent general conference of the Church.
Review the talk(s), looking for principles and doctrines that meet the needs of class members. Also look for stories, scripture references, and statements from the talk(s) that will help you teach the principles and doctrines.
Make an outline of how you want to teach the principles and doctrines. Your outline should include questions that help class members:

–Look for principles and doctrines in the talk(s) you are teaching.
–Think about the meaning of the principles and doctrines.
–Share their understanding, ideas, experiences, and testimonies of the principles and doctrines.
–Apply these principles and doctrines in their lives.

Review chapters 31–32 of Teaching, No Greater Call.

“What matters most is that members feel the influence of the Spirit, increase their understanding of the gospel, learn to apply gospel principles in their lives, and strengthen their commitment to live the gospel” (Teaching Guidebook [2001], 12).

Please send comments about “Teachings for Our Time” to Curriculum Development, 50 East North Temple Street, Room 2420, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3220, USA; e-mail: cur-development@ldschurch.org.

Months	Fourth-Sunday Lesson Materials
November 2004–April 2005	Talks published in the November 2004 Liahona or Ensign*
May–October 2005	Talks published in the May 2005 Liahona or Ensign*