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TEACHING by the Spirit Understanding the roles and functions of the various participants in learning and teaching

OVERVIEW To better understand the various roles and functions of each participant in the learning process, we must first identify who the participants are. Then we will take an individual look at the specific roles each participant plays. Finally, we will use the specific roles to identify a general function of each participant. This will allow us to discuss the implications of what we have discovered.

THE PARTICIPANTS D&C 50:17-18 D&C 50:19-20 = = ?

SPECIFIC ROLES D&C 79:1 D&C 29:4 D&C 20:59 D&C 68:1 Alma 4:19 Proclaim Declare Invite Expound Testify

SPECIFIC ROLES D&C 11:21 1 John 5:6 D&C 50:22 Alma 18:35 Mor. 7:32-33 Convince Witness Understand Knowledge Power

SPECIFIC ROLES D&C 132:3 Alma 32:28 1 Nephi 2:16 Alma 32:37 John 7:17 Prepare Give Place Desire (Cry) Nourish Do / Apply

Overview of Roles Proclaim Declare Invite Expound Testify Convince Witness Understand Knowledge Power Prepare Give Place Desire (Cry) Nourish Do / Apply

GENERAL FUNCTIONS Proclaim Declare Invite Expound Testify D&C 50:17 D&C 42:6 Alma 31:5 Preach

GENERAL FUNCTIONS D&C 36:2 John 14:26 Teach Convince Witness Understand Knowledge Power

GENERAL FUNCTIONS D&C 50:19-21 Receive Prepare Give Place Desire (Cry) Nourish Do / Apply

IMPLICATIONS The traditional “teacher” is not really the teacher! The spirit is the real teacher! Therefore the preacher acts more as a guide, leading students to a watering hole of new thoughts and insights, and cannot be held responsible for the Students’ willingness or unwillingness to “drink”.

Elder David A. Bednar I suspect we emphasize and know much more about a teacher teaching by the Spirit than we do about a learner learning by faith. Clearly, the principles and processes of both teaching and learning are spiritually essential. However, as we look to the future and anticipate the ever more confused and turbulent world in which we will live, I believe it will be essential for all of us to increase our capacity to seek learning by faith. In our personal lives, in our families, and in the Church, we can and will receive the blessings of spiritual strength, direction, and protection as we seek by faith to obtain and apply spiritual knowledge. Nephi teaches us, “When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth [the message] unto the hearts of the children of men” (2 Nephi 33:1). Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. A teacher can explain,

demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so with great spiritual power and effectiveness. Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter. Brothers and sisters, learning by faith opens the pathway into the heart. (Address to CES Religious Educators, February 3, 2006, Jordan Institute of Religion)

AGAIN... The student must, therefore, take responsibility for his or her own learning. Once a student has been guided to the watering hole of new thoughts and insights, only that student can choose whether or not he/she will drink. (i.e. choose whether or not to seek learning by faith.)

Spencer W. Kimball Because the speaker is local, or dry, is a poor excuse for not attending meetings, though it is often given. How very weak! If you sing and pray... you could sit through the next hour in worshipful contem- plation with profit even if the speaker is poor. It is your responsibility to make the meeting worthwhile by your individual contribution.... One good but mistaken man I know claimed he could get more out of a good book on Sunday than he could get in attending church services, saying that the sermons were hardly up to his standards. But we do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. It is an

individual responsibility, and regardless of what is said from the pulpit, if one wishes to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, he may do so by attending his meetings, partaking of the sacrament, and contemplating the beauties of the gospel. If the service is a failure to you, you have failed. No one can worship for you; you must do your own waiting upon the Lord.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp , emphasis added)

CONCLUSION The Holy Ghost = = Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. - D&C 50:22 -

Prepare Give Place Desire (Cry) Nourish Do / Apply