Sometimes when we teach, we forget that we have a goal beyond just teaching a lesson. We prepare a lesson. We deliver the lesson. If it goes off without a hitch, we call it a success. But what is actual success in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ?
It’s helping those we teach understand, apply, and gain a testimony of the principles being taught. It is helping our students have experiences with Jesus Christ that will be memorable and have a lasting impact on their conversion to their Savior.
So, how do we get out of the rut of just teaching to teach? Let me try to illustrate it with an example from this summer.
This summer at my wife’s family reunion, we held a kids’ carnival. Each family brought their own game—bottle flipping, bean bag tossing, a cake walk, and more. I chose bowling and bought a small plastic set online.
As the carnival drew near, I wondered how to make the experience more fun and memorable. I didn’t just want to satisfy the request of brining a game. I wanted it to be engaging. I wanted to leave an impression. That’s when I got the idea: I’d add a little bit of chaos by introducing dice to change the rules. Every player rolled two dice. One decided what they would bowl with—anything from the normal ball to a giant exercise ball, a ping pong ball, a borrowed shoe, or even a foam cube. The other dice decided how they had to bowl—normally, between their legs, kicking it, blindfolded, or even rolling themselves into the pins.
The goals stayed the same—knock down pins and have fun—but the variety, uniqueness, and chaos kept everyone coming back for more.
Now, bowling by itself would have been fun, and it would have satisfied the assignment of coming up with a carnival game for kids. But if we wanted to make memories, we knew we needed to do a little more than go through the motions. Who would want to come back and play again if it was just the same old thing every single time? By inviting the kids to interact with our game differently, they got to do exciting things. Our invitations seemed a little strange to them at first, but once they acted they realized just how much fun they could have.
When the gospel is taught, we can simply fulfill the assignment and have our students go through the motions, but what will be the outcome? Are we setting them (and ourselves) up for success or failure? We can be unique and creative in our approach to teaching in ways that will excite our students about the gospel and create a desire to keep coming back to Christ over and over. Let’s focus on how we can do this through invitations.
Jesus taught through unique parables and even performed miracles on occasion to express eternal principles, but the thing the He did that had the most lasting impact was likely this: He extended invitations to act.
In Teaching the Savior’s Way, we are shown how this worked:
““Come.” “Come and see.” “Come, follow me.” “Go, and do thou likewise” (Matthew 14:29; John 1:39; Luke 18:22; 10:37). From the beginning of His ministry, the Savior invited His followers to experience for themselves the truths, power, and love that He offered. He did this because this is what learning really is. It’s not just listening or reading; it’s also changing, repenting, and progressing. In the Savior’s words, learning comes “by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118; emphasis added). And faith includes acting for ourselves, not simply being acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). …
“Let your light so shine before men.” “Love your enemies.” “Ask, and it shall be given.” “Enter ye in at the strait gate.” (Matthew 5:16, 44; 7:7, 13.) Some of the most vivid, memorable invitations in the Savior’s entire earthly ministry were spoken as He taught His disciples on a mountainside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The Savior’s purpose was to change lives, as made clear by His concluding invitation: “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24; emphasis added)….
As the Savior said, living the Father’s doctrine is the way for all of us to really know the doctrine is true (see John 7:17).”
Giving our students invitations to act will provide a unique experience every time we teach. How they apply what is being taught will be up to them, but because their lives are ever-changing they will always have something new to do. But if you don’t invite them to act, then they’ll likely just go through the motions because that’s what we are hardwired to do. As they apply Christ’s gospel, they will have life-changing experiences. That will excite them and motivate them to keep turning to Him. This cycle is exactly what we want, but it will require some diligent thought and effort from you. Creating meaningful and actionable invitations will keep the students focused on what truly matters, and give them experiences that will deepen their conversion.
You aren’t here to just show up to class and deliver a lesson. You’re here to extend invitations to accept, turn to, and become like Jesus Christ. As you do that, your class will be memorable. Your teaching will be engaging. And your students will be grateful.