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I’m wondering how people are feeling about the new two years being dedicated to study of the Gospel Essential Manual for Priesthood and RS meetings. Well, I am giving my thumbs up to this. The church membership worldwide is relatively young. I think the church needs to focus on the core doctrines and make sure that there is solid and deep understanding. I also think there is lots of folklore or limited understanding (misunderstanding) on core doctrines/practices and what they mean. Maybe it will help to properly teach the new ones and perhaps recorrect or reestablish the understanding of the rest. I actually don’t think it is going to be that different. It seems that the “Teachings of the Prophets” manuals have basically followed the same general pattern as each other and the Gospel Principles manual, a basic gospel principle is chosen and then quotes from the prophets that support the current interpretation of that principle are selected. The only difference is that quotes from various prophets are chosen this year. I don’t think the correlated “Teachings of the Prophets” manuals have deepened church membership understanding of church history or of views of each of the prophets, each manual is meant to further the current teachings of the church (notice the BY manual didn’t bring up any of the controversial teachings of BY, nor did the JS manual – that was not their purpose). I skimmed through the first 2 lessons of Gospel Essentials, and I think I’m going to bring a book to read during Sunday School and Priesthood. I’m still in primary so I’m not sure how I feel, but I’d really like to be able to TEACH from this manual rather than the previous manuals… I always thought it was MILK before MEAT. Perhaps it should actually read, RETURN to MILK after MEAT. Certainly the Savior advocated we become as little children. I will continue to hide out in Family History class as has been my path the last couple of years. I find knowledge (and the Internet) there. It is all good. My oldest son asked me this week to read Plato. He would like to discuss a few cave concepts. I love life… and learning new things… I’m optimistic, but that might be because my resolution for the new year is focused on charity in 1 Corinthians 13. Between “suffereth all things” and “hopeth all things” I figure I’ll be ok. 
Like almost everything in the Church when it comes to instruction, I think it will depend almost entirely on the teacher in each unit. I’m looking forward to both Sunday School and Priesthood in my new ward (and if I were attending my old ward), but I can understand some concern in other wards and branches.
The manual is pretty basic. I see that more optimistically. There’s no possible way a teacher can fill 45 minutes of class time by reading only the lesson text and scripture references. To me, it gives a lot of room to customize the content to the level of the class — more like an outline. In a class environment where the need truly is for milk (which is IMO more important than meat, even though I certainly love a good steak), then the lesson is milk. In a class environment where more substantial material is appropriate, class discussion and extra resources can be add to make a fancier dish.
I think it’s a better canvas for the teacher and students to paint on. The discussion is the lesson (at least in RS – maybe not in PH). Perhaps this is the first step toward a 2 hour meeting block! OK, maybe that’s too optimistic!!
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