Do Missionaries Really Die?

     I have heard it said before that people "Die" when they are called to go on their mission and that they are born again when they enter the MTC. I know that this is how I thought when I got into the MTC, that my life, as I knew it, was over. I was no longer Corey Brown but Elder Brown.
Well now that I am Corey Brown again I go to Missionary Prep classes to see what training future missionaries get before they come to the MTC. What I have observed is that they teach people not lessons very very well, until they reach the fundamental of TEACH PEOPLE NOT LESSONS. Now that it is labeled as a "fundamental" I feel like they want to do it right and to completely ignore everything they have ever done concerning missionary work in the past. They forget how to be people and instead of just acting normal and showing love naturally, they feel like they have to show love and follow the guidelines of the fundamental to a "T."
     I like reminding missionaries both in the MTC and in the Missionary Prep that they already know how to teach people not lessons. If they have ever taught a friend the gospel, chances are, they taught their friend and not a pre-planned lesson. I like to help them realize not to lose their old personalities and their way of explaining things because they feel that they have to teach a person a certain way, but to remember how they felt teaching their old friends and trying to emulate that in their current lessons.
 
     Another thing I like doing when I teach this fundamental is to help missionaries realize that once they find the need, they STILL have to teach a person and not a lesson. A lot of the time Missionaries think that teach people not lessons is all about finding the need to know which lesson you should choose. Once they find the need they start teaching a pre-planned lesson. One thing I help them do to get around this mind set is I have them teach a lesson to their investigator by ONLY asking questions and bearing brief testimony. This way, the focus of the lesson is focused on: The Investigator, The Need/Needs, and practicing asking questions to uncover the Ice Berg. ALL of the missionaries that I have had do this really like doing it and they learn a lot.
      I also make it a point to note that when teaching a real lesson that they don't need to only ask questions, but by only asking questions you get all of the information you need about their needs.

Revelation THROUGH...

First off, thanks to all the wonderful people that have helped me understand and begin to apply this concept, I couldn't do it without you.

During their stay at the MTC, missionaries go through several fundamentals they must understand in order to be effective missionaries. Among those are three which all start with the words "Revelation through..." As I have had an opportunity to teach one of these fundamentals and observe others I can't help but having the feeling that as a missionary I was going at it in the wrong way!!! Whenever I taught someone about the Book of Mormon, or Prayer or the importance of Church I never quite got deep enough to explain it as a form of receiving personal revelation. Sure we always talked about spiritual blessings, but I can't even imagine what people would have gained had I been able to help them understand how each of these things (we can call them avenues) facilitate revelation.

As we teach the "Revelation through..." fundamentals, we must help the missionaries understand the doctrine behind teaching/committing people about the Book of Mormon. It is to enable that investigator/LA/etc... to receive personal revelation and answers to the deepest questions of their hearts. As Sister Lyon says: We shouldn't try to be converted to the Book of Mormon itself, but what the Book of Mormon teaches and brings to us in the form of personal revelation.When missionaries understand this, their teaching will be more powerful and heartfelt, their invitations will have more soul in them and their investigators will see that God actually wants to speak to them in many ways!!!

I'm still very new here at the MTC, but each day I pick something up new that helps me fulfill my stewardship. I'm so grateful for that and grateful that my Heavenly Father is able to take my weaknesses and build them into strengths!!!

We need help helping.

I know this is pathetic, because I have now worked here for over two years, but I just recently realized that the objective for every single learning activity in the curriculum begins with the word "help." There's got to be something to this.

I used my study time from training two weeks ago to dedicate a concentrated study towards what it means to help. The dictionary uses words like such as "facilitate" and "assist" and "contribute" to describe what it means to help. I really liked these words in thinking about help, and they gave me perspective. Helping seems to mean that we take a unique role in an overall task or objective. It certainly doesn't imply that we attempt to complete the task/objective in it's entirety.

The objective we ultimately aim for at the MTC is conversion through coming to and receiving Christ. It is the work of the Godhead to actually execute the process of conversion, and this conversion takes place exclusively between the individual and the Godhead. However, we do play a crucial role in HELPING individuals engage in the process.

My study led to me to some meaningful self-realizations. I have so often tried to take on work that is not my own by attempting to transfer my understanding-my very conversion- to those I work with. This has come in the form of lectures, direct answers to questions that I really don't have the right to answer, and even doubting others at times, because their ideas or experiences seem contrary to mine. It's not easy to swallow that I am guilty of these things.

I feel humbled and empowered. Humbled, because I have done so many things incorrectly, and empowered, because I better understand my role in conjunction with the role of an all powerful Godhead. Our entire role is to facilitate situations in which our missionaries and us can have real converting experiences with the Godhead. Our preparation and class should be conducted in such a way that the Members of the Godhead will clearly be the instructors. We just need to position ourselves and help missionaries position themselves to receive Them.

 I love control. I think we all tend to. But faith and humility is to soften our hearts and let God do His work. Discipleship is to know our role, and perform it, and to refrain from taking upon ourselves work that is not ours to do. I know the Lord wants to convert and work personally with His missionaries. I am more determined than ever to not be in the way. I love this work.

CJ Bacon

Teach Missionaries... Lessons

As I have been studying the fundamental Teach People, Not Lessons, several ideas have been reinforced to me in a new way. Often I tend to view missionaries more as a group than as individuals. I refer to them as a district or a set, when in reality they are all different, and have individual needs. Just as missionaries need to teach people according to their needs, I have realized that missionaries need to be taught the same way. Just because one application works for some missionaries, that does not mean that it will be the most effective thing for others, nor should it be. Teaching individuals requires being in tune with the Spirit, and being open to new ideas, so that the needs of each missionary can be met. I have also noticed that missionaries often see teaching the doctrine and teaching to needs as two separate things. The doctrines are designed to meet needs, and the Spirit is what will connect the two. I have realized that my teaching needs to reflect the same thing. Before they can teach to needs, they need to have experiences with the doctrine themselves.

Teach People, not Lessons... or concerns

So recently I've had a bit of a struggle between Preach My Gospel and myself. As missionaries try to teach people not lessons, they seem to always have a problem meeting needs, at which point I would naturally like to direct them to the "Change your teaching to meet needs" section in chapter 10. However, after missionaries read the section, they always come away thinking that people's needs and learning styles are the same thing, and they often still don't know what constitutes a true, personal need.

Well recently I've wanted to touch up on my own ability to teach people and not just fundamentals and in so doing I studied this "change your teaching" section. In response to the section I decided to focus on teaching style and see what could be learned.

I did a few activities with my missionaries to gauge how they've learned in the past, both spiritually and intellectually. Though some of the responses were to be expected ("I learn when I care about the material being covered"), others were interesting to me and shed new light on the experience that missionaries could have in the MTC. I began to see how the culture of the class that was being righteously built by the missionaries, was much more conducive to their learning than culture that I wanted to force. I began to realize that for them, study could mean something other than reading for 15 minutes. I noticed how each missionary learned from each activity individually, and better understood what experiences they could have based on the set up. As we changed to teaching to meet their learning needs, we saw this seemingly unmotivated district become active gospel learners.

I still wish that spiritual needs were more clear in Preach My Gospel, however, I am really grateful for the principles given to help us teach to the learning needs of people. It's incredible to see how much of a difference it makes when missionaries are being taught to their understanding.

Teach People, Not Lessons - Activity - "The Master Teacher"

I recently had an idea as to how to help missionaries better teach to the needs of the idividual, and how to use the Doctrine of Christ to do so. The remainder of this post is a rough description of what was done and is open to any questions, comments or modifications that any of you see fit to apply.

At the beginning of the "Teach People, Not Lessons" fundamental, before anything is taught, invite all missionaries to gather only their scriptures and study journals. Go to 1M, and stop in the main hallway by the cafeteria. Help missionaries identify that this is the opportunity to learn from the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. Invite each missionary to select one of their favorite of the many paintings of the Savior in the hallway. For the next 10-15 minutes or so, invite them to study the story being depicted in the artwork they selected. How would they have told the story or written the scripture if they were witnesses to this account? Have them ponder and record their thoughts and impressions about things they are noticing such as:

-What are the needs of the person being taught in the picure?
-How personal did the Savior make His lesson? What was taught?
-How did the "investigator" in the artwork feel before, during and after his or her experience with the Savior? Are they increasing in faith, more likely to repent, etc.?
-What principles of the Doctrine of Christ were taught in this lesson?
-What scriptures were cited, if any, what questions were asked, what invitations were extended... (all application based questions--see Ch. 10 of PMG)?

 Ask them to share either with you or the class what things they learned or felt during this experience. This little activity sets the stage for you to help them see that their objective is to teach like the Savior. The reality is that each of them are capable of doing so, a privelage and blessing that comes with their setting-apart and commission to represent Jesus Christ (also helpful is to share Bruce R. McConkie's "My Missionary Commission" that further explains what it means to teach as the Savior would teach if He were in their position).

Each time I have done this activity, missionaries have commented on how much they enjoyed the chance to see a different pespective of teaching doctrine as the Savior would teach. Feel free to try it in your classes, or contact me with any questions regarding this activity.

How to Begin Teaching with Ammon

IF you are anything like me helping the objective of How to Begin Teaching transfer over as principles and not just skills to be learned is really hard. Tonight I taught the first part of HTBT which included the explain portion. I felt impressed to have them learn from Ammon's experience in Alma 18. I wrote on the board a few questions which are:

• What did Ammon do to begin teaching King Lamoni?
• By the end of these verses what does King Lamoni expect of Ammon?
• By the end of these verses what does Ammon expect of King Lamoni?

I then let them loose, stepped in on individual studies to see what they were learning, brought them together for a second watched a segment of preach my gospel videos in the outline and then had them practice.
This group was the first out of many to grasp the importance of HTBT because they learned it from God through the Book of Mormon. I really felt like all I was there to do was give them directions and then coach and facilitate. This lesson required very little teaching on my part.
I learned  a little bit more about  what it means to trust that these are God's servants and that He will teach them.
Let me know what you think as well if you get the chance to try this approach or variations of it.

What are the Fundamentals?

Thanks to a discussion with another teacher I've learned some wonderful things in the past week. On page 4 of our Teacher Manual there was a paragraph that really made an impact on me in my studies this week. Taking it apart and trying to understand its message has been pretty fun actually. One part that caught my eye was, "Eight fundamental principles found throughout Preach My Gospel have been selected as the principles that will help missionaries improve their teaching." Due to a slight increase of understanding in doctrines, principles, and applications this caught my attention. A principle is a guideline stemming from the doctrine. A question I'm studying and pondering because of this is what is the relating doctrines?

These guidelines are in place to help improve teaching SO that conversion can take place, not just so the missionaries can get a gold star from their teachers. They are what help to accomplish part of the MTC purpose to "understand and apply their purpose". Understanding only comes when we are allowing the spirit into our hearts to testify as we act in faith according to the knowledge we have. By learning these fundamentals they can understand their purpose. Helping them to understand where these fundamentals are meant to guide them may help them in their journey with them as well!

The last sentence of the paragraph also brought some added light to my study. "The following eight lessons create a framework to learn the other principles in Preach My Gospel." After spending quite a bit of time looking at what a framework is I've come to appreciate this a little more.

 ( "A curriculum framework is an organized plan or set of standards or learning outcomes that defines the content to be learned in terms of clear, definable standards of what the student should know and be able to do.
The framework is the first step, defining clear, high standards which will be achieved by all students. The curriculum is then aligned to the standards, and students are assessed against the standards. As compared with traditional education which is concerned only about delivering content, a standards based education reform system promises that all will succeed if all are held to high expectations." )

This framework if built and used properly will enable the missionaries to understand all the other principles in PMG. Principles from chapter 6 about being Christlike, Ch. 4 about Recognizing the spirit, Ch. 8 about using time effectively, etc. All of these can be understood when we are applying the fundamentals in our own life. These fundamentals are the guidelines to gaining knowledge, acting in faith, and then experiencing the power of the spirit. This is truly one of the essential things to gain in the MTC for our missionaries. They may not know everything we think they could, but if they can gain this understanding of the fundamentals they will have every tool necessary to understand and apply all the aspects of PMG as they continue to progress throughout their mission and their life!

Observing Doctrine is Beautiful!

I watched a great lesson the other day. I do not even recall the fundamental being taught, but I remember the feeling. I remember thinking to myself, "This is a swing of the pendulum, and a great one at that. I have watched this teach progress so much in such a short amount of time. True doctrine is being understood. It's the only explanation." I just remember a huge swing from application to doctrine and principles, or getting at the truth behind the fundamental. I feel that every application we perform is an application of truth (doctrine). So of course we should not neglect the applications because they give us access to the unalterable and timeless truths of the gospel! We just need to recognize that applications are a means to an end, and teach with the end in mind and heart. I feel that the end is an understanding of doctrine-of truth. To understand doctrine is to understand who we are and that our potential is established, concrete, and unshakable. We just have to live up to that already existent truth!

How to Begin Teaching and Follow Up

With my newest district, I decided to try an experiment of using follow up more powerfully in my How To Begin Teaching as I commence class. As I have prayerfully prepared invitations and questions to follow up with the missionaries, I have noticed some changes.

First, the missionaries teach differently. They focus on the investigator and don't just rush into a prayer at the beginning of a lesson. Secondly, they learn a lot more about the investigator in the first few minutes and really establish love. Thirdly, I learn FAR more of their needs and concerns as I follow up with them and then I am able to address the needs and concerns throughout the entire day.

At first, this tended to take all of my Flex time, but I decided to, before class, write the questions on the board, have them mentally answer each, and then pick one if they were called on, to share an answer to.

We have had powerful experiences as we have acknowledged our growth together, and it has also been so helpful for myself and my companion teacher to know more directly the needs and concerns of the missionaries.

A little thought on the curriculum...

Here is an interesting thought that I found as I was studying in the teacher manual. I was looking at the sentence, "Fundamentals from Preach My gospel--Teaching More Effectively: Eight areas of focus that have been identified as a foundation for helping missionaries become better teachers." (p. 3). I thought that it went really well with D&C 43:15-16 "Again I say, hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit; And ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and yes shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken." I thought to myself, "am I teaching in such a way that enables the missionaries to build a foundation of learning through their experiences with the curriculum?" Then I thought to myself, "what does that even mean?" Here's the encyclopedia edition:

foundation, Part of a structural system that supports and anchors the superstructure of a building and transmits its loads directly to the earth. To prevent damage from repeated freeze-thaw cycles, the bottom of the foundation must be below the frost line. The foundations of low-rise residential buildings are nearly all supported on spread footings, wide bases (usually of concrete) that support walls or piersand distribute the load over a greater area. A concrete grade beam supported by isolated footings, piers, or piles may be placed at ground level, especially in a building without a basement, to support the exterior wall. Spread footings are also used—in greatly enlarged form—for high-rise buildings. Other systems for supporting heavy loads include piles, concrete caisson columns, and building directly on exposed rock. In yielding soil, a floating foundation—consisting of rigid, boxlike structures set at such a depth that the weight of the soil removed to place it equals the weight of the construction supported—may be used. (Encyclopedia Britanica).

I realized how important it is for us as teachers to teach in such a way that the missionaries build a foundation of learning centered on interactions with the Godhead. I also realized that we need to help them go deep enough in their learning to that they are below the spiritual frost line. Who would have thought that construction could teach so much about the gospel?! (besides Krys Gardner that is).

Another sentence that stood out to me: "As you understand what the activities are and how they fit together you will be able to guide the missionaries in their efforts to become better teachers" (p. 4).There is significant importance in having a correct understanding of our roles as teachers and of the missionaries roles. Sometimes I feel like we have the mindset that we are responsible for making the missionaries better teachers. Instead, we should be focused on guiding them in their efforts to become better. Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation. Good ol' Drive teaching gospel truths. Thank you Mr. Pink!

Curriculum What?

Do you ever feel like the fundamentals just don't seem to work out like you envision? Maybe the term "training model" sounds more like something from a fashion show than a section in the curriculum. Here's where you can come and help each other solve your problems.