Simple
Words of Truth
By C.S. Bezas
One of my new teaching
experiences in the Church years ago was as a novice
Relief Society teacher. Oh, I nervous for that first
lesson! I’d spent more than enough time preparing,
yet still didn’t feel ready. The lesson was on
the Word of Wisdom and its history.
Doing what I thought was
proper, I brought about 90 displays from my home. Ahhh,
so I exaggerate. But needless to say, I’d brought
more that day than I should have. For example, I had
to have that lacy Relief Society tablecloth. Had to
have those many elevated stands to display my bowls
of fruit and “perfect food offerings.” Had
to have easels to prop up just-right pictures and scriptural
phrases.
Oh, and don’t forget
the pretty basket with sweets attached to little scripture
cards — perfect for the many sisters in my soon-to-be
class.
Imagine my mortification, after hauling all that to
church, to find out that three of us from the ward were
teaching the same Relief Society lesson that day. This
was in Utah, where many wards need to issue duplicate
callings so that all have a chance to serve —
in this ward’s case, three different women in
the ward would teach Relief Society every Sunday.
To top it off, there had been a miscommunication. The
teacher I had been called to replace thought she had
one more Sunday to instruct, and so she also showed
up with a lesson! Now there were four of us prepared
and not enough classrooms to go around. Needless to
say, being the newest kid on the block, I was asked
to teach in a tiny side alcove.
There went all my illustrative
display possibilities! Instead of a table (for my beautiful
table cloth), there was only the top of a piano to place
my overloaded amounts of pictures and paraphernalia.
Instead of a chalkboard, there was just air space for
me to stand in and nothing to write on. And instead
of a full class, there were only three women that filtered
in to my little space (probably out of sympathy, more
than anything else).
Then to my greatest embarrassment and horror, who also
chose to attend? The veritable Susan Easton Black: BYU
Religion Professor and our stake Relief Society president
(at the time). Those who knew her adored and respected
her; her very presence filled a room effortlessly. She
also had just been called to be my visiting teacher.
Surely she came to support me.
But Susan Easton Black
in my class? My very first day of teaching Relief Society?
And a church history lesson at that? I nearly fainted
and wanted to shrink smaller and thinner than the aged
carpet currently under my feet! I felt I knew practically
nothing about church history, let alone how to teach
my fellow sisters. Sister Black’s presence was
so kind, her smile so gentle, yet I felt so small.
Somehow I stumbled through that lesson. And I kept my
tears to myself until I arrived home. Being a newlywed,
I’m sure my husband was bemused at my over-the-top
horror at the perceived bungling of my first Relief
Society teaching experience (don’t get me wrong
— I’d taught in Primary without fear, but
for some reason, teaching my peers made my knees knock
and tears run).
It took me more than a month’s worth of teaching
Relief Society lessons before I stopped crying each
evening (in private) after the experience. To this day,
I’m not quite sure why those lessons were difficult.
Perhaps it was because the gospel meant so very much.
Perhaps it was because I wanted to make a difference.
But I think it also could have been because I still
needed to understand the gospel teacher’s purpose:
not to entertain and be “brilliant” with
beautiful displays and stimulating classroom activities,
but rather to teach correct gospel principles and to
humbly testify to their veracity. Then the gospel teacher
stands out of the way, essentially to allow the Holy
Ghost to testify of these important truths.
Years later, I must admit I chuckle as I think of those
early experiences. Perhaps they weren’t a failure
as I thought they were. But I’m grateful for them.
For all my confidence in certain things (which at that
time actually were very few), I’ve learned that
no one person is learned in all things. In fact, it
was a great experience to be brought to that level of
insecurity. As I learned in the MTC, “when you’re
green, you grow; when you’re ripe, you rot!”
Teaching Tools
& Techniques
So how does one learn to become skilled in a classroom
setting, to become a powerful gospel teacher? I’ve
noticed several potent tools; I’m sure you can
think of more and I’d love to hear about them.
First, teacher in-service meetings are a must. Attendance
at these is critical. Not only is it great to be able
to associate with others and share ideas, but the leaders
who present them have put great effort to bring forth
effective skills for all to learn and grow thereby.
It is part of the calling and the Lord blesses those
who attend.
Second, as I wrote in my last
article, prayer is an essential teaching tool —
especially as we struggle with classroom challenges
(of any kind). I very much have a testimony as to the
power of envisioning what we need and then asking the
Lord to grant us His assistance in fulfillment of that
need.
Finally, we can learn from great women and men whose
lives are illustrated in the scriptures. One of my favorites
is that of Ezra, an Old Testament scribe and priest
responsible for great good during his life.
One of his largest achievements
was to teach truth effectively to the people (isn’t
this our goal, also?). To do this, he brought the scriptures
to the people. According to the Bible Dictionary (tucked
conveniently at the back of our Bible), prior to Ezra’s
time, the people generally were not exposed to open
readings of the law — only the priests. Therefore,
one of Ezra’s greatest accomplishments was a teaching
emphasis from the law itself (see Bible Dictionary,
p. 669).
As I ponder Ezra’s accomplishments (of which there
were many), I can’t help but wonder how I compare.
How much of a scriptural emphasis do I include in my
lessons? Truly, how fortunate we are to have our own
“book of God’s law” in our day. A
majority of the Jews prior to Ezra’s time apparently
did not.
What am I doing to utilize
this amazing gift of God’s words in my own teachings?
How much do I rely on His words, rather than my own
words (or “pretty displays,” as in my first
disastrous teaching attempt)?
When we as teachers focus on the Lord’s words
in our lessons (as opposed to those “pretty displays”)
we find our students more effectively affected, even
those who could be considered hard-hearted. Ezra understood
this, and for this reason, felt it important that the
average individual in his society be exposed to the
“word,” not just the priests.
The Book of Mormon prophets understood this. For example,
we read of Alma’s endeavors to use the word of
the Lord with those he served:
