Spencer W. Kimball Lessons

[DrumNFeather]

I've really enjoyed the PS & RS Spencer W. Kimball lessons this year.

A few weeks ago, the lesson (6) was on Testimonies, and I thought he made an excellent point about testimony meetings. He essentially said that if you don't like the direction a testimony meeting is going, then you should get up and change it by bearing your own testimony.

I found that to be a simple, yet essential point to make because so often we find ourselves complaining about this person or that person especially in testimony meetings.

Yesterday's lesson was on service, and it was presented with the same kind of tone. Serving others is a key to happiness, so why wouldn't we do it?

Anyways, Just thought I'd mention how much I've enjoyed the lessons thus far this year. I think these manuals that the church puts out are outstanding.

[Indy Coug]

The Bruce R McConkie manual is slated for 2013.

[DrumNFeather]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I don't care for the manuals much. They contain a lot of good information, but they are structured so rigidly that it is difficult to have a lesson where the answer to any question isn't "prayer," "Christ," or "faith."

I think it can be done, but it requires a very good teacher- something most wards are lacking.

I agree.

It is definitely all about the teacher. I've had some good teachers the last few years. Other years it has been lacking.

I think the structure of the material still gives it some flexibility for good discussions, but you have to have a teacher willing to facilitate with his teaching style.

I am not a fan of read arounds...

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I don't care for the manuals much. They contain a lot of good information, but they are structured so rigidly that it is difficult to have a lesson where the answer to any question isn't "prayer," "Christ," or "faith."

I think it can be done, but it requires a very good teacher- something most wards are lacking.

The manuals are hodgepodgey. They are very unfocused. You can find some wonderful quotes, but very little structure.

I'd prefer a more academic approach for something such as the priesthood, with a simplified and more complex lesson contained therein.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

The manuals are hodgepodgey. They are very unfocused. You can find some wonderful quotes, but very little structure.

I'd prefer a more academic approach for something such as the priesthood, with a simplified and more complex lesson contained therein.

I think the hope was that the instructor would provide the structure and use the quotes to supplement the lesson.

[DrumNFeather]

Originally Posted by Archaea

The manuals are hodgepodgey. They are very unfocused. You can find some wonderful quotes, but very little structure.

I'd prefer a more academic approach for something such as the priesthood, with a simplified and more complex lesson contained therein.

Such as?

If given the opportunity to teach preisthood, what would your approach be?

Would you use the manual?

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

Such as?

If given the opportunity to teach preisthood, what would your approach be?

Would you use the manual?

I like Pelagius's approach to the new testament lessons.

I have found these lessons almost unteachable, but fortunately we've had instructors who could make heads or tails out of the lessons. Most of the quotes are not directed toward a structured approach but Faulkner flow of consciousness. Although one might read that type of literature for enjoyment, in terms of a structured program for personal improvement it seems much less effective. It is neither scholarly, with references, nor thematically structured. If it were thematically structured, one could reference the then current status of a policy, map its development and changes.

However, I find most of the talks, basically, "the prophet was a very good man, he set an example, this is how you should love your wife, this is how you can pray."

Fortunately, we have instructors who much more than is in the manual, but a pure thematic discussion after decades within the Church seem very routine and often not motivating.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Archaea

The manuals are hodgepodgey. They are very unfocused. You can find some wonderful quotes, but very little structure.

I'd prefer a more academic approach for something such as the priesthood, with a simplified and more complex lesson contained therein.

That's interesting. Dallin Oaks, that well-known unintellectual apostle, called them "rich and relevant to the needs of our day, and they are superb for teaching and discussion" and warned that a "gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject of the lesson but to teach and discuss what has been specified" and should "be scrupulous to avoid hobby topics, personal speculations, and controversial subjects."

[pelagius]

Originally Posted by DrumNFeather

Such as?

If given the opportunity to teach preisthood, what would your approach be?

Would you use the manual?

I've never taught from the current set of manuals. I've taught gospel doctrine a lot, but never Elder's Q. However, I think what I would do (given the nature of the manuals) is try to look for tension or contradiction is some of the material, and then make the class about resolving or making sense of that tension.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Tex

That's interesting. Dallin Oaks, that well-known unintellectual apostle, called them "rich and relevant to the needs of our day, and they are superb for teaching and discussion" and warned that a "gospel teacher is not called to choose the subject of the lesson but to teach and discuss what has been specified" and should "be scrupulous to avoid hobby topics, personal speculations, and controversial subjects."

Isn't the purpose of a quorum teacher different than a Gospel Doctrine teacher?

Isn't he to instruct priesthood holders in the rigors of their duties? And where required to call the priesthood to repentance? Does that mean he should lull them to sleep so that they don't have anything to repent of?