Comments on: Don’t Make me Teach That!

By: JC

JC — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:02:45 +0000

@ The only … Nathan:

The high council spoke yesterday on fasting. Both giving very specific instruction on the why, how, and results of fasting. One used a personal and recent example of fasting that the ward was aware of. The other used a personal example of where fasting did not give the desired result. It was informative. I really liked the point that fasting is a physical sacrifice given to show our pure intent in our prayers. If we fast without an honest purpose, we are just going hungry.

There isn’t a lesson that I won’t teach. However, my teaching may not always coincide with the mainstream view on the topic. For example, I have taught my DD (a teenager still dealing daily with the traumas of an extremely abusive childhood) that there are many good things that she can do with her life without having to be married. She is not excused from obeying the commandments, but until she is healthy in her head (which she is working towards) she cannot be an equal partner in a marriage. She understands that and is grateful that there are examples of women who lead good productive lives without marriage (either by choice or circumstance.)

By: living in zion

living in zion — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:17:17 +0000

#19

Annegb,

Thanks for the reminder of the basic truths. The very best lessons to sit through do include at least one of your topics.

By: annegb

annegb — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:59:46 +0000

In theory, I will teach anything. In practice, I pretty much give the same lesson every time. Jesus died for us, Mormons are too task oriented, forgive yourself, lighten up. You can do it, seriously, any topic covers my topic.

By: Rivkah

Rivkah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:23:21 +0000

Ray, I don’t think the manuals change that much, other than the RS and priesthood manuals. The Gospel Doctrine manual for this year, for example, was published in 1999 (and “updated” in 2003).

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:33:57 +0000

I’m willing to teach most any topic, but I swear the manuals are getting worse and worse each year.

By: jks

jks — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:34 +0000

I’d love to teach any “topic”. The only stuff that would make it difficult is boring stuff that really isn’t a topic.

By: Deaco

Deaco — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:04:20 +0000

I too, would teach anything but I am sick to death of some subjects!

By: THe Right Trousers

THe Right Trousers — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:39:04 +0000

There’s nothing I can think of that I wouldn’t want to teach, but there are plenty of lessons that I’m afraid of teaching in a way that would be deemed Just a Bit Too Different.

Take women and priesthood, for example. I’d probably say they get it in the temple, and that it gives them the right to the blessings of Abraham, which includes the right to rule over worlds without end – but for now, they practice on their families using authority contingent on their faithfulness.

On the other hand, if it’s Just Different Enough, it might go over well. I don’t want to try, though.

By: anony

anony — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:34:51 +0000

If they ask me to teach a lesson on polygamy, I don’t think they’d appreciate my slant on it. Would be an interesting class, though, to be sure!

By: sam

sam — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:51:19 +0000

Tagore,

I see your priesthood keys and raise you one “we’ve been spiritually fed” analogy.

I refuse to let the phrase cross my lips without me saying it in a mocking tone.

Maybe I just take my food too seriously…