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Although recent behavior of our Bishop and the leaders in our Ward has me in a bit of a foul state of mind toward the church right now. I do want to share a positive. The Bishop’s son and his new bride teach Gospel Essentials. I went in there today, and the room was overflowing. It’s been getting more and more attendance every week. And it’s not due to investigators or growth in the Ward mission — it’s people who just go there and attend for its own sake.
These two attend the Teacher’s Council every month, and seem to really enjoy it. They team teach the class, and are always asking questions about how to teach. This time, they broke with tradition and did the life-changing, radical method of GROUP WORK and subsequent discussion. They also had a really neat visual on the black board that stayed up the whole lesson. The class talked more than they did, in constructive, interesting comments about the signs of the times.
It was very good. I cornered them afterwards and said their class seems to be showing all the signs of excellence. Overflowing class attendance, full engagement. The husband in the group loves techology and Apple products, and I said his visual on the blackboard — a simple chart with symbols for each of the signs of the times, a description and a check box, structured the entire lesson. I said it had the elegance of a product designed by Steve Jobs — uncluttered,clear, easy to follow and function. He loved it, I could tell.
I asked them to present what they did — the group work, the visual, and the rest of it at our next teacher’s council, and come up with something else creative that breaks with the typical lecture and discussion we always hear about. They agreed wholeheartedly.
So, there is a bright spot. A little tiny bright spot on this big black stain I experienced these last couple weeks.
It sounds like a strong, wonderful move in the right direction. :clap: I hope the rest of the Church catches on.My wife is in the RS Presidency in our ward, and they just rearranged the chairs for lessons and are moving explicitly into a “circle of councils” model for their classes. The focus is on smaller group discussions and then full group input. Old Timer wrote:
My wife is in the RS Presidency in our ward, and they just rearranged the chairs for lessons and are moving explicitly into a “circle of councils” model for their classes. The focus is on smaller group discussions and then full group input.
That method at least gives everyone an opportunity to talk. It’s also hard to disengage in that environment.
I believe these smaller light moments are bigger than we know. You won’t get to follow this couple the rest of their lives, but I am willing to bet they will take this gift with them as they move along. That light will grow. It will touch other lives. Things will change for the good. You have been a part of that.
Where I live the sun is blocked from the sky for months. Way over half a year. Yet when even a glimmer of it peeks out we come alive. Like a new battery was loaded into us. Ironically the suns never been gone. We just have to work hard to keep it (even though covered) alive in our mind.
That is great SD. I find that it is the people that I serve in the calling that are the biggest reward. DW and I served as the primary teacher for the 4 year olds about 5 years ago. This year we are attending their baptisms. I still love those kids.
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