Studying and Learning by Faith

Michael taught his lesson on Ezekiel 37 last Monday, emphasizing the dual meaning of two passages in that chapter (i.e. dry bones coming back to life=resurrection and, also the return of spiritual life & blessings to the House of Israel AND Sticks of Joseph and Judah coming together=the reuniting or gathering of Israel and Judah in addition to the Book of Mormon and Bible coming together to testify of Christ).

Because of our recent emphasis on student teaching, we have also explored our dual roles as teachers and learners in our gospel study. Read a few responses to part of my "Student Teaching Survey":

1. What is something significant you learned while another student was acting as a teacher?
Chad: [Deanna’s] lesson about striving to not be ripe in iniquity really inspired me to never tempt the Lord.
Annie: The Spirit allows us to understand what the lesson is about.
Deanna: Some of the strongest points made were through the testimonies of the teachers.
Sam: I learned that I can still feel the Spirit when a student is teaching.
Annalisa: That being a good teacher takes time
2.What important lesson did you learn in the process of teaching?
Stephanie: I learned that a lot of work goes into preparing a Seminary lesson.
Erik: That it takes time
Ryan P: I learned that preparation is important.
Deanna: Preparation
Sara: That I should have prepared more
Tyler K: It is hard to teach. I give props for that.
Bethany: The kids in our class don’t want us to fail.
Michael: Scriptures have multiple meanings.
Annalisa: Being respectful to your teacher really helps the lesson go well.
3. How would your lesson be different if the Savior had been in the room? Pres. Monson? Your Bishop? Your parents? A non-LDS friend?
Stephanie: I probably would have been more organized and elaborate on things more than I did.
Erik: I would have prepared more and taught by the Spirit more.
Chad: Probably more sincere and I wouldn’t do anything to disrupt the Spirit.
Deanna: I probably would have tried to prepare better and made a better effort to try to involve Annie in that preparation.
Ryan R.: I would let the Savior/Pres. Monson/Bishop teach.
Sam: I would have prepared better.
Tyler K.: I would have tried to… teach with the Spirit.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated: "Ultimately, the responsibility to learn by faith and apply spiritual truth rests upon each of us individually. This is an increasingly serious and important responsibility in the world in which we do now and will yet live. What, how, and when we learn is supported by - but is not dependent upon - an instructor; a method of presentation or a specific topic or lesson format."
Address to CES Religious Educators, Feb. 3, 2006

In response to Elder Bednar's statement the students offered the following insights:
Annalisa - I am learning by study and by faith when I try to have the Spirit teach me something rather than my teacher.
Erik - I am learning by study and by faith when I pay attention to the teacher's words and apply the lesson to myself. When I take the time to understand the specific principles we've talked about, I grow in faith.
Sara - I am learning by study and by faith when I come across ideas that interest me and that I know I will benefit from. It is easier to learn and study by faith when you know you will use that knowledge you've gained.
Tyler - I am learning by study and by faith when I apply what I learn in Seminary to my life's problems. I can learn more about myself and about the Savior when I listen to the messages that the scriptures give us.
Bethany - I am learning by study and by faith when I take initiative and motivate myself to delve into the questions I have to find my answers.
Chad - I am learning by study and by faith when I ignore distractions in Sunday School so I can better feel the Spirit from the teacher's lesson, and by attending optional meetings such as missionary prep class.
Ryan P. - I am learning by study and by faith when I don't let myself off the hook. I hold onto whatever I am learning because I know that it is true. The Spirit manifests itself unto those with a welcome heart and a willing soul.

I am grateful to spend my early morning hours with the willing souls and welcoming hearts that make up our class. We are continually learning from and teaching each other, aided by the Spirit. The Holy Ghost influences our prayers, our ponderings, our questions, and the answers we receive. He confirms our faith in the Savior and increases our gratitude for the Lord's patience, loving kindness, mercy and grace. How blessed we are to study and learn by faith!

Watchmen and Shepherds

This week all the lessons were taught by students. Friday's lesson, given by Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Palmer, focused on "watchmen" and "shepherds." (See Ezekiel 33&34) Prophets are the most prominent "watchmen," and the Lord is truly our Shepherd. But this week I witnessed these wonderful students as they watched out for eachother, warning and shepherding - modeling teaching patterns established by God and His prophets. Here are some highlights:

Erik and Tyler Kroff taught about the Restoration from "Preach My Gospel." Erik showed great dedication by responding to the invitation to attend the teachers' devotional at 6:20 a.m. The highlight of Monday's lesson? Erik and Tyler's simple, strong, sincere testimonies!

On Tuesday we had two short lessons. First Sara and Analisa taught us lesson 2 from "Preach My Gospel": the Plan of Salvation. They came in early with notes in hand. Clearly, they had given serious thought to their presentation. They involved the class through questions, reading scriptures, and even invited Erik to draw the Plan of Salvation on the chalkboard. They capped off their effort with the ever popular Seminary treat: donuts! (Feeding the sheep...)

Next, we heard from Bethany and Stephanie. This duo was also seriously prepared. Their lesson on "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" was filled with thoughtful analysis and application questions, as well as the sharing of personal experiences and feelings. Students were also involved in reading scriptures and quotes. It was wonderful to see the way Bethany and Stephanie worked together with mutual respect and sincerity as they spoke of the basic principles of Christ's gospel.

Tyler Robinson carried the torch for the threesome that taught on Wednesday. He came early and launched into his presentation on "The Commandments" cheerfully, even though his teaching partners were late. The good news is that they DID show up! Sam and Brandon participated in reminding us about the blessing of commandments. Tyler's inspired class activity had students drawing the Ten Commandments on the board.

The chalk board was a focal point during Chad and Connor's lesson on Thursday, introducing us to the prophet, Ezekiel. Chad (flying solo until Connor arrived)drew a fortress wall on the board and asked "What is the function of the wall?" He then drew a tower, with a watchman on lookout. He asked us what qualities we thought were important in a good watchman. The students answered, "Good eyes and a loud voice!" Both Chad and Connor bore fervent and sincere testimonies of our present-day watchman, President Thomas S. Monson and encouraged us to listen to and follow his counsel.

Annie had a case of "stage fright" so Deanna handled her assignment alone. She handled it beautifully! Two pieces of fruit (one, perfect and another, over-ripe) helped her lead a discussion on what it meant to be "ripe in iniquity." Deanna involved students with readings from the scriptures, quotes by general authorities and several thought provoking questions. Her personal witness and testimony of the gospel was humble yet powerful!

Ryan Reynolds arrived early on Friday for the teachers' devotional - another extra-dedicated watchman/shepherd! He and Ryan Palmer were well prepared, and involved the students with lots of discussion questions. Palmer's shepherd illustration on the board was both humorous and instructive, as well as his use of the nursery cut outs. The sheep were surrounded by predators such as a snake, leopards or jaguars, pandas, alligators, and a poisonous (?!?) butterfly. Students identified these predators, respectively, as Satan, media, communism, "spiritual crocodiles," and pornography (it looks appealing but it will kill you).

The Ryans opened their lesson by asking students to write in their journals the answer to this question: "Why is adultery more serious than stealing, and murder more serious than adultery?" Chad's answer took us on an interesting tangent: "Stealing involves temporal, less important things. Adultery is involving spritual children of our Heavenly Father. It is a more sacred rule to break. Murder is an unforgivable sin that cuts short someones earthly progression." This comment about murder sparked a debate about whether one can be forgiven of murder. Most students felt murder could be forgiven, but that it would have a definite negative affect on our opportunity for exaltation. ("No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." 1 John 3:15) From Elder Bruce R. McConkie we get the following: "Murderers are forgiven eventually but only in the sense that all sins are forgiven except the sin against the Holy Ghost; they are not forgiven in the sense that celestial salvation is made available to them." (Matt. 12:31-32) See "Mormon Doctrine," p. 520.

One more student teaching team remains for next week: Michael and Brendon. I look forward to their watchful words of warning and to their efforts to keep me, and their fellow students, safely in the Lord's fold.

Tears and Cheers

The book of Lamentations, generally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, is filled with vivid images of sorrow and destruction. These five short chapters contain "a world of hurt." But they also contain hope! (See Lamentations 3:22-26) After our discussion today, the students completed the following sentences: "I am sad when..." and "I delight in..." Some responses are deeper than others, but each is an affirmation that "opposition in all things" is a part of our mortal experience, and that familiarity with sadness makes it easier to delight in what is good. The same Savior who lamented Jerusalem's reluctance to gather to Him (Matthew 23:37)wept tears of joy over the faithfulness of the Nephites (3 Nephi 17:20-22). You may recognize, as I did, that a number of these students are saddened by some of the same things that sadden the Lord, or delighted by those things that please Him.

I’m sad when bad things happen to me or people I care about.
I delight in doing what I love: singing – music in general.
TYLER ROBINSON


I am sad when there is contention in my family. I’m sad when I see others suffering because of decisions they’ve made.
I delight in good jokes. I delight in art and music. I delight in people helping others.
DEANNA NEWELL












I am sad when I get in fights with people.
I delight in laughing.
SARA EGGERS












I’m sad when:
-people are mean.
-I make bad decisions.
I delight in:
-Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost.
-my family.
ANNALISA HEYLEN












I’m sad when…
· there’s no more ice cream in the freezer.
· when I have to do school work instead of obtaining much needed sleep.
I’m happy when …
· I get to check off another day to when school gets out.
· I chill with my El Dorado friends, particularly from “Ione.”
CHAD SELLERS


I am sad when sad things happen.
I delight in delightful things in which are delightful.
SAM HOLDEN













I’m sad when people die.
I delight in happiness.
MICHAEL GETZ












I’m sad when…
…I have to go to school.
…people I love turn away from the Lord.
…I fail to remember to look to the Lord.
I delight in…
…laughter and friendship.
…the salvation of mankind.
RYAN PALMER


I’m sad when…
- friends don’t go to church.
- tithing is not paid.
- I forget to do church stuff.
I delight in …
- taking the Sacrament to old people.
- good things.
BRENDON CARPENTER









Silent on today's subject were:
ANNIE JACKSON


TYLER KROFF













STEPHANIE ALLRED












RYAN REYNOLDS


BETHANY MATHIS













ERIK LARSON












BRANDON MECHAM


CONNOR CARPENTER

The Prophet Jeremiah

The life and teachings of the prophet, Jeremiah, have given us a lot to think about this past week. During Thursday’s discussion of what we had learned so far, the following items popped out:

· Jeremiah’s calling: He was foreordained to be a prophet (see Jeremiah 1:5) and responded with humility to this calling (see Jeremiah 1:6-7).
· His prophetic warnings: Basically – continue in sin and await destruction OR repent and live! (References too numerous to list)
· True or false: There is a difference between true prophets and false prophets. Bethany remarked that false prophets are “more fun.” This prompted a lively debate!
· Fish stories (see Jeremiah 16:16): On Wednesday Alec Nethercott and Chris Barbour, recently returned missionaries from Norway and Spain, respectively, came to tell us their experiences as hunters and fishers of men. When students were asked to review their presentation, the overwhelming response was “AWESOME!” These two were/are humble hunters and faithful fishers!

After our discussion we all wrote a question relating to one of these topics. What follows is a sampling of those questions and some responses.

What is the difference between foreordination and pre-destination?Predestination means no matter what you do, the fate you suffer will be the same. Example: striving for perfection without the Atonement.
God knowing our personal nature does not keep us to a fixed outcome. We can change our human nature, as we live on earth, which changes our outcome but still means God knew that’s what we would have done.
God can read us like a book but the "denoument" (French for "conclusion") is controlled by the choices we make.
Chad Sellers

For what kind of callings could I be foreordained?
It depends on the type of person you are. You could be foreordained to be a prophet, or you could be foreordained to be a great father or mother.
Tyler Robinson

In a way, we all have a distinct purpose that may vary through different stages of our life. It is up to us whether we can prove to be a fine instrument in the hands of the Lord, and no instrument is less important than any other.
Ryan Palmer

That question is a little intimidating to me. As a woman I won’t be called to be a prophet, but even something that seems comparatively small, like a Young Women’s leader or president is a little worrisome. I know I’m barely adequate to fit the shoes I wear now. It’ll be hard to fill an even larger footprint later on.
Bethany Mathis

Why are true prophets better than false ones? (I think this question was prompted by Bethany’s tongue in cheek remark about false prophets being more fun…)
They help us to return to our Father in Heaven and they have a bigger perspective than we do, so they know what is best for us. They also communicate with God and speak for Him, whereas false prophets speak for themselves and do whatever is in their own best interests.
Ryan Reynolds

Why did Bethany think false prophets are more fun? (Bethany’s remark prompted yet another question…)
Because she was trying to be funny.
Brandon Mecham

How can I best be a fisher of men in the ocean of the Lord?
I can be a fisher of men in the Lord’s ocean by being a missionary at all times and by sharing the gospel with my non-member friends.
Stephanie Allred

-Be a good example. Just know that someone is always watching you.
-Speak kind words.
-Be friendly. Be there for people.
-Never go backward when you can carry on and go forward.
Erik Larson

I can be a fisher of men by not being afraid to talk to anyone about the gospel of Jesus Christ, by being open for every and all questions people have for me, and by being as educated as I can be about this gospel. By doing this I will be able to teach more people the words of the Lord and thus bring them into His fold.
Sara Eggers


I conclude with Brandon’s question. (It goes to show that sometimes, our questions are more important than our answers.)
Why was Jeremiah’s calling so important?
Jeremiah lived in a time of great wickedness, not unlike our own. His calling was vital in his day because he provided a warning voice – a call inviting people to forsake idolatry and return to the only true and living God (Jeremiah 3:12). He told the people not what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear!

True prophets call us to Christ! Having just returned from General Conference where we sustained our newly ordained prophet, Thomas S. Monson,(pictured at left) I can testify that he is truly God’s mouthpiece on the earth today. How thankful I am for the warning voices of both ancient and modern prophets. From their lips spring messages of mercy and calls of compassion.
Kathy Wood