Principles of Christlike Teaching: Teach the Doctrine

Teach from the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets.

Skill

Prepare invitations that help students connect truths found in the scriptures to what living prophets are saying.

President Russell M. Nelson

Define

Living prophets help us understand and clarify doctrine so we can more effectively follow Jesus Christ. You can invite students to connect truths found in the scriptures to the words of living prophets to deepen their understanding of what is being taught. These invitations typically include:

• A statement of the truth being taught.

• An invitation to search prophetic teachings for related truths.

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

• Sister Sosi wants to invite students to connect receiving revelation as taught in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3 to the teachings of living prophets. She prepares the invitation: “After studying Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3, please find a statement from last general conference that relates to receiving revelation.”

• Sister Sosi wants to invite students to connect receiving revelation as taught in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3 to President Russell M. Nelson’s talk “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.” She prepares the invitation: “After studying Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3, please study President Nelson’s talk from the April 2018 general conference ‘Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives’ and identify something he teaches about receiving revelation.”

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

Consider a truth in the curriculum that will be part of an upcoming class.

• Prepare an invitation that helps students connect that truth to the words of living prophets that they find on their own.

• Prepare an invitation that helps students connect that truth to the words of living prophets in a talk you’ve chosen.

Incorporate

• At least once a week, prepare invitations to help students connect the truths found in the scriptures to living prophets.

Click here to see a video of this model.

Discuss and Ponder

• What are you learning about the power of connecting the truths from the scriptures to the words of living prophets?

• How can doing this in your teaching help your students become more converted to Jesus Christ?

Want More?

• Clark G. Gilbert, “A Prophet in the Land: Current Prophetic Emphases to Young Adults” (S&I annual broadcast, Jan. 27, 2023), ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Neil L. Andersen, “The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 24–27

Skill

Express your love for and testimony of prophets as their words are shared in class.

man teaching in classroom

Define

The desire of students to follow God’s prophets can deepen as they see, hear, and feel a teacher’s love for and testimony of prophets. Before or after a prophet’s words are shared in class, teachers can express their love for or testimony of that prophet. This provides an opportunity for the Holy Ghost to confirm the teacher’s words and feelings to the hearts and minds of students and allows students to consider their own testimony and feelings about prophets.

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 Sister Arquero prepares to share a quote in class from President Russell M. Nelson, she tells her students, “I just want to let you know how much I love President Nelson and I sustain him as the Lord’s prophet today.” She then asks a student to read the quote out loud.

• The class has just read 1 Nephi 3:7, and the teacher says, “Nephi inspires me to ‘go and do’ what the Lord has commanded, and I love his powerful example of obedience.”

Click here to see a video of this model.

Practice

Write or share with someone how you would express your love for prophets or your testimony of them for the following:

• You are discussing Mosiah 3:17, and you are about to share this statement from Elder Neil L. Andersen: “Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the incalculable gift of His Atonement, not only saves us from death and offers us, through repentance, forgiveness for our sins, but He also stands ready to save us from the sorrows and pains of our wounded souls” (“Wounded,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 85).

• A student shares that one of her favorite scriptures is when Mormon says, “Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ …” (3 Nephi 5:13).

• During the next lesson you will teach.

Discuss or Ponder

• What are you learning as you practice this skill?

• How have you been influenced by someone’s love for or testimony of God’s prophets?

Incorporate

• Plan to share your love for prophets, your testimony of them, or both every time their words are shared in an upcoming lesson. Compare this experience to other moments when prophetic statements have been shared without expressions of love or testimony.

Want More?

• Topics and Questions, “Testimony,” Gospel Library

• Ulisses Soares, “Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 98–99