My favorite way of teaching is not so much to teach but to conduct. Ask questions and see where the class members take it. I learn so much more if we feed off of each other. So I was excited to learn yesterday that we are expected to teach that way. In just 20 minutes? We were told to keep our answers brief. My examples are NOT always brief.
This week I started with “Teaching
With Power” by Ben Wilcox. He gave three
suggestions on what one might teach if prompted to do so. His first lesson idea is called “Trust, Don’t
Lean”. He starts out with an analogy of
a guide for repelling. My thoughts
started flooding in – so much that I could easily fill the 20 minutes by myself.
First thought I had was the one and
only time I had gone repelling with my two brothers. I think Steven was only nine at the
time. Frank was the name of the guide
who was at one end of the rope as we made our way to the bottom. As he prepared each participant with gear and
instructions would ask, “Do you trust me?”
Steven would yell, “I trust Frank” .
With each participant Steven would
raise his voice in hopes that Frank would hear him. When it finally came Steven’s turn to be dropped
over the side (and I do mean drop) Frank asked, “Do you trust me?”
Instead of his enthusiastic yell,
Steven quietly said “Well, sort of.”
How many times do we seek the advice
of the Lord but are hesitant to follow his council? Where is our faith?
I thought about two talks given in
conference of April this year. One is this week’s assigned reading for Relief
Society is “Jesus Christ Is the Way” by Elder Brian J. Holmes of
the Seventy. The other one is “Choose Jesus Christ as Your Guide” by Edward B. Rowe. Both such powerful
talks.
I thought about the TV program called “Wagon Train” where experienced guides lead pioneers from Missouri to California.
During their three or four month travel sometimes there are those who don’t understand why they would lead the wagons one way as opposed to another or don’t have the patience to wait when the wagons come to a halt and they are asked to set up camp until the weather changes or the danger passes or what have you. Some choose to leave the wagon train while others allow their prejudices to take over and con others into following them rather than the experienced guides.
There are so many movies made about those making bad decisions based on their own understandings rather than putting their faith in the guide. I thought of two – One called "The Mountain Between Us" which I describe here
I don’t remember
the title of the other but I think it was based off of one of Jack London’s books,
A guide in Alaska take a spoiled couple to unfamiliar territory or attempts
to. They never make it to their destination
as the weather becomes unbearable and the guide turns the team around. They offer more money but there are certain
things that can’t be bought – such as wisdom.
So many examples! I don’t know how short I can keep my comments so I don’t know how much I may contribute to either lesson. It will be interesting.
