Principles of Christlike Teaching: Teach the Doctrine

Learn the doctrine of Jesus Christ for yourself.

Skill

Create open-ended search questions that help learners discover gospel doctrine and principles for themselves and do not lead students to a specific response.

Define

Open-ended search questions invite students to discover and understand truths in the scriptures for themselves rather than leading them to a predetermined or specific response. This approach can make a student’s study of the scriptures more relevant and can allow the Lord to teach and inspire them personally. These questions (1) include an invitation for students to consider what stands out to them personally, (2) eliminate the need for students to look for something specific that the teacher has in mind, and (3) can allow students to ponder how truths identified and understood can be applied in their personal lives. These questions could be used when inviting students to search verses to identify truths and in seeking to further understand truths they’ve identified.

The models and practices below are general examples. Training will be more effective if models and practice opportunities are connected to the next lessons that will be covered in the curriculum.

Model

Here are a few examples of how you might help students discover and understand truths for themselves with open-ended search questions:

• Rather than inviting, “Find the verse where the Lord teaches us the importance of obedience,” you could ask, “What principle stands out to you in these verses?”

• Rather than saying, “Jesus emphasizes our need to have faith in Him in these verses,” you could ask, “What principles can we learn from the teachings and example of Jesus in these verses?”

• Rather than asking, “Can you see how the Lord is reminding us to pray always in this verse?” you could ask, “What message about prayer is the Lord trying to help you understand from this verse?”

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

Use one or more of the following practices to improve your ability to help students discover and understand truths for themselves:

• Look at Moroni 10:32–33. Practice identifying more than one principle to see how students might identify a variety of principles from these verses. Write down one question that would allow students to discover multiple principles.

• Consider a scripture block you are planning to study with students in an upcoming lesson. Rather than planning to have students read these verses and look for a specific principle you have already identified, practice writing two to three open-ended search questions to help them discover a principle for themselves.

• Look at an upcoming lesson plan. Select a principle students might identify from the verses being studied. Practice writing two or three simple questions to help them further understand this principle in a way that doesn’t lead them to a predetermined or specific answer.

Discuss or Ponder

Ponder what you have learned from this experience. Perhaps you could record some of these thoughts in a study journal. Consider the following questions:

• What have I done previously to help students learn through open-ended search questions?

• What have I learned in this experience that could improve my ability to ask open-ended search questions?

• What will I do to continue improving?

Incorporate

• As you prepare your lessons this week, create two to three open-ended search questions that help learners discover gospel doctrine and principles for themselves and that do not lead students to a specific response. Write them down and try asking each one with a family member, with a colleague, or by yourself. Identify one to ask in the classroom, and use it in your lesson.

Want More?

• Chad H Webb, “We Have Not Come This Far to Only Come This Far,”(Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 9, 2020), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Sections 2.1–2.3, “Unit 2: Teach the One,” Inservice Leaders’ Resources (learner-focused teaching)

• “Help Learners Find Scriptural Truths,” in “Teach the Doctrine,” Teaching in the Savior’s Way (2016), 21

Skill

Search the scriptures and words of the prophets for deeper understanding.

man working at desk

Define

In Doctrine and Covenants 11:21, the Lord helps us see the importance of learning doctrine for ourselves: “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.” Seeking to learn true doctrine or principles more deeply can be done by looking carefully for and studying what the Lord has said about it in the scriptures and through prophets. After identifying a doctrine or principle you would like to better understand, you can:

1. Type the principle or key words in the search engine of Gospel Library.

2. Select Scriptures or General Conference in “Filter Results” (online) or “Collections” (app).

3. Choose from a variety of resources to increase learning and understanding of that doctrine or principle.

The models and practices below are general examples. Training will be more effective if models and practice opportunities are connected to the next lessons that will be covered in the curriculum.

Model

As Brother Latu is preparing a lesson on the creation, he identifies the following doctrine in the curriculum, “Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created worlds without number.” He would like to know more about Jesus Christ creating worlds without number so he:

• Enters the doctrine in the search engine of the Gospel Library.

• Selects “General Conference.”

• Studies one of the talks that stands out to him.

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

You are preparing a lesson in which personal revelation is the main focus. To better understand this principle:

1. Type “personal revelation” in the search engine of Gospel Library.

2. Select Scriptures or General Conference in “Filter Results” (online) or “Collections” (app).

3. Choose a resource to increase your learning and understanding of personal revelation.

Now do this again with a doctrine or principle in an upcoming lesson.

Discuss or Ponder

• After practicing this skill, what are you learning about this process of searching the scriptures and words of the prophets for deeper understanding?

• How do you see this process benefiting you as a teacher?

Incorporate

• During your lesson preparation for next week, select a principle or doctrine for which you can deepen your understanding by studying the scriptures and words of the prophets. Take time to write your impressions and things you are learning.

Want More?

• Doctrine and Covenants 11:21

• John C. Pingree Jr., “Eternal Truth,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 99–104