Deviating from the Lesson Schedule

I did something at Church that was outright liberating today. I have taught all the lessons in the manual, except the ones that I feel dispassionate about. These I delegated to others during a two-week holiday I just took, which left me with nothing but repeats to teach this week. I’m not sure how it happened, but I was short topics.

So, I taught a lesson on how to develop personal spirituality — my own philosophy driven heavily by BoM scriptures. I started the lesson by openly stating “I am going to deviate from the manual today and teach a topic upon which I’ve been reflecting lately”. We analyzed the Psalm of Nephi (2 Ne 4) about a prophet’s thoughts on drawing close to God when one’s sould is “groaning” in misery over trials, adversity and personal weaknesses. I identified techniques used by Nephi such as anchoring and mental rehearsing. The Spirit RETURNED to my lesson!!!! It has been absent for some time, but this time, I was deeply touched in the middle of it when I explained how some of the thought-conditioners used by Nephi represented anchoring oneself in spiritual experiences of the past, to strengthen spirituality NOW.

At the end, two people came up and thanked me because this was exactly what they needed to hear. The class president indicated “I know you just made up this lesson, but it was good,and thanks!”…..However, a Bishopric member came into the meeting at the end and indicated he was sorry he missed the lesson but would be attending next week….I’m not sure if that was a gentle nudge to get back into the formal lessons, or if he was sincerely interested in being there…not sure. I plan to do the same thing next week, however. It will be an exercise in inviting overpowering spirituality right into our meeting …..I feel excited to actually do it….

I feel so much more energized when I can teach matters that are truly part of my character — as they say “Teach What You Are”.