Teaching Restored

When we get feedback about our teaching, how do we take it? What if it's really straightforward, direct, and a little brutal? How do we view this?

The teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the opposite of the teachings of the precepts of men. They are the words of the Living God. Yet might we be teaching the words of God BY the precepts of men?

Have you ever asked a question and had a class go off in the wrong direction? Maybe they went off-track in overly lengthy discussions. Or maybe the class was just too chatty? In today's episode we learn one way to help focus the class so that all discussion brings us closer to Jesus Christ.

This week we interview Dr. Matthew Godfrey, the Senior Managing Historian for Outreach and Engagement in the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Previously, he served for over eight years as the managing historian of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. In this episode we discuss how to have difficult conversations about what might seem as difficult subjects of the Church.

Today we sit down with Kurt Francom. You probably know him as the host of the Leading Saints Podcast. After interviewing hundreds of people about leading in the church and teaching hundreds of times, he knows a few things about teaching. We ask him about what he has learned as he has taught the saints and what others he has interviewed have learned as well.

Recently, the Sunday School General Presidency sat down with a group of people and talked about gospel teaching. We weren't there, but we have the notes of those who were there. Thanks to LDS LIVING for sharing those notes.

Julie recently trained all the missionaries in the Vancouver, Washington mission about how to use questions in teaching as a missionary. She walks us through her teaching experiences and show us how to ask good questions so the person learning is actually teaching themselves.

In this episode we talk with Dan and Bekah Dayley where we learn how they teach with the spirit, embracing awkward pauses, and foster an atmosphere of authentic comments —all in an organic Thursday night discussion group you have to hear about!

This episode is a lesson in the art of asking questions, appropriately responding with empathy, and the profound impact these skills can have in teaching the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently, Kevin attended Julie's adult religion class and wrote down the questions she asked. Then in this episode, Kevin showed why her questions were brilliant - whether she knew it or not.