Sitting Through Sunday School

Last Sunday, in a uncharacteristic burst of enthusiasm for scripture study, I decided I would actually do the reading for the day's Gospel Doctrine class. It was on the Allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob 5. I reviewed the student and teacher's lesson plans which are posted online and did the readings.

I remember when I first read the allegory so long ago that I was surprised that they knew about grafting tree branches in BOM times. So I looked it up and Wikipedia said that grafting was an ancient practice, going back to 2000 BC. So I learned something new. I checked the Bible and grafting was mentioned in Romans 11. In the apostle Paul's allegory of the wild and tame olive tree. To my surprise, Jacob 5 is based on Romans 11. Funny I hadn't heard that before despite all the times we'd studied Jacob 5.

The other part of the lesson covers the first Anti-Christ, Sherem. The anti-Christs in the BOM get increasingly corrupt so being the first, Sherem is sort of a softie and recants before his ignomious death. Still his technique and sophistry is remarkable and so well suited to the times. Every great story needs great villains.

To my disappointment the link to Romans 11 was not discussed in the class and the section on Sherem was skipped entirely. Pouty face emoticon. The lesson was fine but the thought did occur to me that if I had taught the class, it would have been way different. Not necessarily better but definitely different. And it made me really wonder what's the right way of doing it and how to decide. Or if there's no right way, only different ways.

I remember what a disappointment the LDS Teacher Development class was. I know it is a generalized teaching course but it was definitely focused on evoking a positive emotional response from the class. There were no exhortations to know your material. No exhortations to invoke wonder, curiosity, love of the subject or any of the other things you would generally associate with teaching. And I know this is just me but I believe that teaching requires some entertaining. Anytime you make a presentation to a group, you should make it entertaining.

But the truth is I love Gospel Doctrine. It's still my favorite part of the Sunday meeting schedule. I got my testimony by only reading and praying. The scriptures are that literal pearl of great price. I believe in them and their power. That all we need to do is teach them and that will instill a love of them. They open up that area of the mind that makes it easy for the Holy Ghost to find space.

As Mormons, we get in a lot of study time. I'm pretty sure we sit in classes way more than any other Christian denomination: besides the three hours of Sunday meetings, there's seminary, institute and the two year mission. So we ought to know the scriptures better than anybody. And I think that as a group we do. But that we're not benefiting from that group knowledge like we ought to. Lessons often end up as lots of beating of the dead horse, punctuated with stories of human interest, testimonies, poems, modern parables and allegories. And the needs of orthodoxy prevent too much personalization of the formulated lessons.

So it seems to all come down to the teacher

I'm not sure what makes a great teacher. Handling a group discussion without wandering off into crazyland helps. If there are a few people in the class who know way more than you do, you need to be able to use them effectively in a discussion. You need to know your class as well as the material. I've always liked the teachers that provoke you to thought or wonder. Teachers that present something that you never knew before. That's an art and also a lot of work.