Teaching Restored

What does it actually look like to teach youth well? In this episode of Teaching Restored, Kevin Jones and Julie Hilliard sit down with Dan, a seminary and institute coordinator from southern Alberta, Canada, who has spent over two decades in the classroom and now trains teachers across the prairies. Dan shares the practical system he built for reaching teenagers — the "spiritual warm-up" of choral reading, hymns, and prayer that unites a class in the first 15 minutes, his commitment to confirming literacy before diving deep, and why he'd "rather teach four verses really well than forty misunderstood."

Along the way, Dan tackles the real struggles every teacher faces: getting quiet students to participate, handling resistance without taking it personally, balancing structure with variety, and why he sticks with "caveman scriptures" (paper, no phones) in a digital age. Whether you teach seminary, institute, Sunday school, primary, or you're newly called and wondering where to start, this conversation is packed with usable tools and a refreshing reminder to slow down, set real expectations, and trust the Lord to do His work. Share it with a teacher who needs it.

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Do you have good ways to handle tough or adversarial questions—without creating contention—in your classroom, online, or even at home? In this episode, Kevin & Julie discuss real-life scenarios many LDS teachers and missionaries face, from "grenade" comments online to heated family discussions about faith. Discover practical, gospel-centered strategies to maintain love, invite the Spirit, and build relationships—even when you feel attacked or misunderstood. Learn from the example of Jesus Christ, and get three simple questions you can use as an instant check before you respond. Perfect for Sunday School, youth, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, missionary work, and more!

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Are you look for way to make your class more engaging and impactful? In this episode, Kyle Smith, Kevin and Julie break down how to find and teach gospel principles from the scriptures, not just share stories or facts. Learn easy, step-by-step methods to identify both stated and implied principles, discover powerful teaching tools like "if-then" statements, flag words, and how to help your students connect ancient truths to their real-life challenges today.

You'll hear relatable examples, practical tips, and even a few laughs—plus, find out how you can get a free printable resource to use in your next lesson! Make your teaching deeper, more meaningful, and more memorable for your students.

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Have you ever caught yourself saying things like “exercise the atonement,” or “I know the Church is true” without really thinking about what those phrases mean? In this episode, Kevin Jones and Julie Hilliard dive into the world of “glib gospel phrases”—those shortcut sayings we use in Church that can lose their true meaning and power, especially with youth, new members, or visitors.

They’ll share real-life stories (including an awkward but hilarious Sunday School moment!) and offer practical tips for making our language in lessons, prayers, and testimonies more thoughtful, reverent, and focused on Jesus Christ.

Whether you teach Primary, Youth, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, or just want to strengthen discussions at home, you’ll find ideas to make your teaching more authentic—and help everyone feel the true spirit of the gospel.

Share YOUR most-used glib phrase in the comments and call us out—we want to grow too!

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Are your gospel classes feeling a little stale? Discover how Ryan Wilkins, a seasoned Seminary and Institute teacher, is turning traditional gospel teaching upside down with creative, real-world, and student-focused approaches!

In this episode, Ryan Wilkins discusses:

- How to connect students with Christ in every lesson

- Moving beyond traditional lectures to real discussion

- Asking real questions and addressing students’ needs

- Creating a sense of belonging and relevance

- What to do when you “fail”—and why that’s a good thing!

- Practical ways YOU can start fresh and make your lessons more engaging I

f you’re ready to try new things, re-ignite your love for teaching, and help your class truly come alive, this conversation is for you. Listen in and get actionable ideas you can use this week!

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Have you ever wondered if your teaching is really making a difference? In this episode, Julie and Kevin Jones reveal the hidden power that every gospel teacher has: the ability to NOTICE. Discover why noticing small things—like who’s missing from class, who’s sitting alone, or whose mood has changed—can help you minister like the Savior and reach hearts more than any perfectly planned lesson.

Learn how to spot the clues students are giving you, what to do when you notice someone struggling, and simple ways to make everyone in your class feel seen and loved. Whether you teach Primary, Youth, Relief Society, or Sunday School, this episode will help you unlock your true potential as a gospel teacher and minister.

Try the "What’s Changed, What’s Missing?" challenge this Sunday and see what happens when you teach with new eyes!

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Have you ever wondered if teaching the gospel sometimes gets tangled up in checklists instead of what matters most? In this conversation, we reflect on what it means to shed old mindsets and refocus on Jesus Christ at the heart of teaching, faith, and everyday church life.

We share stories about our own experiences growing up in the church, recognize where legalism creeps into teaching, and dig into the difference between testimony and true conversion. Special guest Speaker C (John Bushman) joins us to talk about insights from his book, "King Before Kingdom," and how making Christ central changes everything—whether it’s how we teach, parent, or worship. We talk through:

• The impact of growing up with a checklist mentality and how it shapes faith
• What it means to be converted to Christ, not just the church or gospel principles
• How our language and traditions might unintentionally shift focus away from Jesus
• Practical ideas for making lessons, prayers, and even sacrament meetings more intentional and Christ-centered
• Personal stories of wrestling with trials, teaching youth, and finding relevance and meaning in everyday moments with the Savior

Throughout, we keep coming back to one simple but powerful lesson: focusing on Jesus Christ brings clarity, energy, and real change—both in us and in those we teach.

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What do you do when a conversation about faith suddenly turns adversarial? How do you respond when someone throws a "grenade" comment—online or in person—that challenges what you believe, or misrepresents your intentions? In this episode, we talk about teaching and standing for truth without adding to contention, especially in challenging moments.

We share real stories from our lives, from social media battles to family discussions, and examine how our natural instinct to defend or prove a point might not always serve our highest purpose. We look at Jesus Christ’s example—how he responded to criticism and false accusations with humility, clarity, and love. Highlights include strategies for maintaining peace and building relationships, practical filters for responding to conflict, and ways to invite the Spirit into even the most heated conversations. Key ideas include:

• Recognizing teaching moments in both online and personal interactions
• Responding to adversarial comments without escalating conflict
• Reframing our goals from winning arguments to building relationships
• Timing our responses for the greatest impact and receptivity
• Balancing truth and peace, following Christ’s example

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Why do students glaze over in early-morning seminary? What really creates those points of friction in a classroom—and what can we actually do about it? In this episode, we sit down with Chase Rockwood, a religion professor at BYU-Idaho and longtime high school seminary teacher, to get honest about what today’s youth and young adults are really bringing with them into our gospel classes.

Together, we break down the real-life reasons students disengage—spoiler: it’s rarely about the Gospel—and share practical strategies for navigating attendance, energy, social friction, and spiritual questions. We talk about ways to make lessons truly relevant, why music and routine may need a fresh look, and how to balance accountability with genuine love. Highlights include:

• Specific methods to discover what students are struggling with—and how to let that shape lesson planning
• Creative alternatives to the “same old” class openers, including music choices and engaging first-five-minutes activities
• Navigating tough classroom behavior while keeping connection at the center
• The critical role of parents and self-advocacy in resolving challenges
• Embracing diverse perspectives, even when they challenge the status quo

Our conversation is full of real stories, self-reflection, and clear, actionable ideas—all focused on helping teachers create truly meaningful classroom experiences that invite every student, wherever they are, to connect with Christ.

Ever find yourself wondering how to teach a gospel lesson so it actually sparks real conversation and deeper connection? In this episode, we share a concrete, simple pattern for teaching—one that makes diving into doctrine more engaging for everyone in the room.

We break down the process of building lessons around questions, focusing on four types: binary, factual, explanatory, and introspective. Our conversation moves from the practical challenges teachers face (like getting stuck in repetition or forced efficiency) to hands-on examples drawn from Elder Gilbert’s general conference talk “Come Home.” We talk through how to foster genuine connection between class members, how to move past surface answers into vulnerable, heartfelt discussions, and why intentional, empathic listening changes everything when it comes to spiritual learning. Highlights include:

• How to structure effective questions that open, deepen, and personalize classroom discussion
• Building a culture of empathy, connection, and safe vulnerability
• Turning class responses back toward Christ in meaningful ways
• Extending natural, personalized invitations that feel authentic, not scripted
• Embracing “choose your own adventure” flexibility in adapting to where the Spirit (and the class) wants to go

Whether you teach Sunday School, Relief Society, Elders Quorum, or youth classes, we show how this question-based pattern can make lessons more relevant, impactful, and Christ-centered.

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