Principle: Seek to Continually Improve as a Teacher
Thank you for all you are doing to improve as a teacher of the gospel! We are making progress as a stake. President Wangsgard has asked that we continue to seek improvement and growth as teachers and has given four reasons why this is so important for us:
“First, every single one of us are teachers. That includes a high priest teaching a high priest group, or it includes little children, where an older child may be teaching a younger child how to pick up toys.
“Second is because we are living in the last days, and Satan is working overtime to do everything he can to stop us from returning to the presence of our Father in heaven.
“Third, living prophets have asked the entire Church to improve the quality of teaching in the Church.
“Fourth, improving the quality of teaching in the Church is not just what happens in the chapel. It includes home and visiting teaching, and it includes family home evening.”
Application ideas for teachers:
1. Prayerfully evaluate how you might improve as a teacher. Ask the Lord to show you your weakness, and seek His help to improve (see D&C 112:10; Ether 12:27).
2. Write down your goals to improve.
3. Humbly seek feedback after you teach a lesson. You could ask your spouse, those you serve as a home or visiting teacher, or a friend or leader in your ward for suggestions.
4. Express gratitude to the Lord when you experience success as a teacher (see Alma 19:14).
Application ideas for parents:
1. Share your goal to improve your teaching with a family member and report your progress.
2. Gather your family and ask: “Can you suggest some ways we could improve the quality of our family home evenings, family scripture study, family prayer, etc?”
3. Set a family goal to improve gospel teaching and learning in your home.
