A Teacher Come From God

SUPERIOR TEACHING

Jeffrey R. Holland, in his book, Broken Things to Mend, from the Chapter entitled, 'A Teacher Come from God,' has said, "Now, at a time when people everywhere need more faith through hearing the word of God, we must revitalize and reenthrone superior teaching in the Church—at home, from the pulpit, in our administrative meetings, and surely in the classroom. Inspired teaching must never become a lost art in the Church, and we must make certain our quest for it does not become a lost tradition.

President Spencer W. Kimball once pled: 'Stake presidents, bishops, and branch presidents, please take a particular interest in improving the quality of teaching in the Church. . . . I fear,' he said, 'that all too often many of our members come to Church, sit through a class or a meeting and . . . then return home having been largely [uninspired]. It is especially unfortunate when this happens at a time . . . of stress, temptation, or crisis [in their life].'

On this subject President Gordon B. Hinckley said: 'Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church.  May I repeat that? Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church.  Eternal life,' President Hinckley continued, 'will come only as men and women are taught with such effectiveness that they change and discipline their lives. They cannot be coerced into righteousness or into heaven. They must be led, and that means teaching."

Prepare lessons well.  Give scripturally based sermons.  Teach the revealed doctrine.  Bear heartfelt testimony.  Pray and practice and try to improve. 

May we exalt the teaching experience within the home and within the Church and improve our every effort to edify and instruct.  In all of our meetings and all of our messages may we nourish by the good word of God.  May our children and new converts, our neighbors and new friends, say of our honest efforts, 'Thou art a teacher come from God.'"