Teaching Restored

In this episode, Brickman Alan joins Kevin and Julie to talk about how teachers can better support students who have experienced trauma. The discussion centers on recognizing signs of trauma, cultivating empathy, and ensuring that classroom experiences lead back to the healing power of Jesus Christ. Practical tips and personal stories are shared to help educators foster safety, vulnerability, and unity in their classrooms.

1. Trauma can look different for every student.

There isn't a clear line between "difficult" and "traumatic"—it's all about each student's unique experience and how they're affected.

2. Empathy and being present are crucial.

Teachers need to be sensitive, pay attention to behavioral changes, and create a safe space for vulnerability without pushing students too far.

3. Classroom culture matters.

Creating an environment of empathy and shared vulnerability encourages students to open up and support each other, building unity and confidence.

4. Always point back to Christ.

Whether sharing personal experiences or helping students process trauma, connect lessons and healing to Jesus Christ as the central source of comfort and understanding.

5. Be flexible and spirit-led.

Be willing to adjust, pivot, or set aside planned lessons if the Spirit prompts you to address the immediate needs of students in the room.

In this episode of Teaching Restored, hosts Kevin and Julie sit down with musician and gospel teacher Kyle Jacobs to discover unique and impactful ways to teach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The discussion explores how music and the arts act as “meat tenderizers” for the heart, making scripture study and spiritual learning deeper, more memorable, and transformative for learners of all ages. Through stories, practical tips, and personal experiences, this episode inspires both gospel teachers and learners to integrate creativity and emotion into their study and teaching of the gospel.

5 Takeaway Points:

1. Music & Arts Are Spiritual Tools: Music and the arts help prepare hearts to feel the Spirit, making gospel learning more effective and personal.

2. Intentional Teaching Yields Results: Whether teaching in church or at home, being purposeful with artistic elements can create powerful, memorable experiences.

3. Human Connection Brings Scriptures Alive: Focusing on the people and emotions within scripture stories—through creativity—makes gospel lessons relatable and unforgettable.

4. Everyone Can Create: You don’t have to be an artist—anyone can use music, visual arts, or even short stories to connect spiritually and express testimony.

5. It’s About Impact, Not Perfection: Even simple or imperfect efforts with the arts can touch hearts and bring the Spirit, sometimes even more than polished performances.

Lecture isn’t teaching—it’s just talking at people. Real learning happens through guided discussion and participation.

We’ve all defaulted to lecturing, but don’t get stuck there. Focus on what your class will do to learn, not just what you’ll do to teach.

Shift from delivering information to facilitating growth. Ask, how can students interact, question, and learn for themselves? The best insights come from learners teaching each other.

Don’t be afraid when discussions go off script or when wrong answers pop up. Stay focused on keeping things safe and doctrinally sound. Guide with questions, let them find answers themselves.

These are some of the things you will learn about in this week's episode with Kevin and Julie

In this insightful episode of Teaching Restored, Megan Hanson, creator of Love Pray Teach, joins Kevin and Julie to discuss her journey from struggling Sunbeam teacher to a leader in gospel teaching resources. Megan shares the importance of preparation, practical teaching methods, and why empowering youth and adults to teach deeply matters. The conversation highlights her approach to lesson helps, the value of the learning pyramid, and the transformative power of teaching others. Packed with relatable stories, expert tips, and real-life applications, this episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to become a more effective teacher in the restored gospel.

5 Main Points:

1. Overcoming Challenges in Teaching: Megan opens up about her early struggles as a young, untrained Sunbeam teacher and how her failures fueled her passion for helping others teach with confidence.

2. Love Pray Teach’s Approach: The resources Megan provides are designed to align closely with “Come, Follow Me” curriculum, offering adaptable, engaging tools for all age groups while never replacing a teacher’s inspired preparation.

3. Empowering Youth to Teach: The episode unpacks strategies for training youth to teach, highlighting ways to make preparation approachable and meaningful, even for reluctant teenagers.

4. The Learning Pyramid: Megan introduces the learning pyramid, explaining why students retain the most when they teach others, and illustrates how this model can revolutionize gospel classrooms.

5. Practical Teaching Methods: Listeners get a treasure trove of actionable teaching techniques—like interactive activities, discussion prompts, and variety in lesson delivery—to keep learners engaged and reduce teaching anxiety.

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- Begin with the end in mind: Focus your lessons on helping learners draw closer to Christ.

- Create real opportunities for spiritual experiences—inside and outside the classroom.

- Shift from just delivering content to fostering authentic application and personal growth.

In this episode of Teaching Restored, Kevin and Julie dive into the practical results of teaching "in the Savior’s way," exploring how to truly move the needle in gospel instruction. They discuss the importance of starting with a clear end goal, specifically helping learners draw closer to Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Rather than just sharing content, they advocate for creating spaces where personal spiritual experiences and witness can happen, both during lessons and throughout everyday life. The hosts encourage inviting learners to take personal inventory and seek the Holy Ghost’s guidance, with an emphasis on authentic application over information overload. The episode wraps up with a call to make teaching transformational—not just a checklist—with actionable steps for leaders and teachers to help learners become more like the Savior.

1. "If we want to move the needle, then it's not just going to be about blah...it's going to be about actually figuring out what we’re going to do about it.”

2. "It’s a mindset, not necessarily the exact words…you don’t have to say certain words to have it point to Christ."

3. “Create space for talking about how we might apply whatever principle it is that we’re discussing—and let us teach each other how to do that more effectively.”

To celebrate their 100th episode, the Teaching Restored team invites a panel of youth to candidly share what makes gospel teaching connect—or fall flat. The discussion gets honest as these teens open up about their favorite ways to learn, what drives them crazy in gospel settings, and what teachers should be doing differently. The big takeaway: authentic connections, vulnerability, and peer-led discussion are key to powerful spiritual learning.

In this heartfelt episode of Teaching Restored, hosts Julie Hillyard and Kevin Jones explore what it means to teach like a parent—extending beyond simply delivering information to nurturing authentic relationships, supporting personal growth, and guiding self-discovery. Julie, reflecting on her son leaving for college, draws inspiration from a podcast idea about "fan father (or mother) figure" teaching, prompting a discussion about how parental love, patience, and intentional relationship-building can transform classroom teaching environments.

In this episode of Teaching Restored, hosts Julie and Kevin dive into the results that effective gospel teaching should strive to achieve, as outlined in the "Teaching in the Savior’s Way" manual. They discuss how truly impactful lessons go beyond information delivery, focusing on helping both students and teachers connect with Jesus Christ, feel His love, and be inspired to follow Him. Through lively interaction, personal reflections, and a bit of humor, they break down what it means for a teaching moment to really transform hearts and minds.

In this insightful episode of Teaching Restored, hosts Kevin Jones and Julie Hillyard dive deep into the power and importance of perspective taking when teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Julie introduces the concept of the "seven hungers of learning," focusing especially on the value of giving learners a new perspective they've never considered before. Together, Kevin and Julie break down why seeing things from different viewpoints not only fosters growth and deeper understanding, but also nurtures empathy, humility, and a richer application of gospel principles.

Through candid conversation and practical examples, the hosts discuss how perspective taking shifts classroom dynamics, encourages open dialogue, and helps teachers and learners avoid judgment and embrace curiosity. They share actionable tips, including the use of roleplay, personas, and direct invitations for students to share or imagine other viewpoints. Whether you're leading a discussion about grace, God's law, or family, this episode is packed with ideas to make your teaching more inclusive and impactful—ultimately helping everyone better live their baptismal covenants by seeing and valuing each other's experiences.

In this episode of Teaching Restored, Kevin Jones and Julie Hillyard dive into why the simplest gospel principles—what scripture calls the "plain and precious" truths—are repeated in teaching and worship, and how deeply engaging with them through experience (not just logic or argument) builds real faith, resilience, and Zion. They also discuss the challenges of differing religious perspectives, and why living and teaching the basics remains the most powerful approach.