During the Last Supper, Jesus taught many profound truths. One principle, found in John Chapter 15, can be applied to us, as gospel teachers.
“I am the vine,” Jesus taught, “ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
This message must have hit home with the Apostles, as evidenced in their post-ascension ministry. Let’s look at the case of Peter as an example of this principle in action.
On the day of Pentecost, just 53 days after the Last Supper, Peter powerfully taught and testified of the Divinity of Christ, His resurrection, and of the gospel of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. His preaching was spiritually ratified with the gift of tongues, as well as the crowd being “pricked in their hearts.” The fruits, which were promised by Jesus, included the baptism of about 3,000 people.
How can we, as latter-day teachers of the gospel, tap into the enabling power of the True Vine, Jesus Christ?
Focus Your Teaching On The Atonement
“The fundamental principles of our religion,” Joseph Smith taught, “are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
Everything that you teach should tie into the central doctrine of the Atonement of Christ. To put it bluntly- if it doesn’t, don’t teach it. Trying to teach the gospel without connecting it to the Atonement is like trying to grow fruit on a branch that is not connected to the vine.
Teach By The Power Of The Holy Ghost
It can not be overstated- the Holy Ghost is the true teacher. It is the Holy Ghost that will “carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men,” as Nephi taught. If you have the Spirit with you, and your class has the Spirit with them, the magic can happen. The Holy Ghost is what will tie you into the Vine, and it is the same thing that will tie, or bind, your students into the Vine. The Vine, or Jesus, has the power to save them; save them from sin, guilt, pain, suffering, temptation, and ignorance. Without the Spirit in the classroom, this connection to the Savior is lost. Unfortunately, it is possible for someone to have a spiritual experience in spite of your teaching efforts, rather than in concert with your teaching efforts. Truly, if you “receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.” This Spirit, as promised in scripture is given by “the prayer of faith.”
Teach From The Scriptures
The scriptures are appropriately called the Word of God. Do you know what else, or who else, is called the Word of God? In John Chapter 1, we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
There is power in the scriptures, and only a foolish gospel teacher would not regularly tap into that power. Elder Richard G. Scott taught us that, “scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”
As we use the scriptures as our source material, we provide a more pure connection to the True Vine. As we start to dilute it, through commentary and worldly opinion, even well-informed and well-intentioned, the word starts to lose it’s power.
Trust In Jesus
As we abide in Jesus, He promises we will bear fruit. As gospel teachers, this fruit shows up in many ways. It can be as simple as a “thanks for the great lesson!” Or, it can be a class where the spirit is so thick you can almost feel it.
Maybe you are facing the obstacle where it is hard to trust in this promise, that as you abide in Him, and He in you, that you will bear fruit. As emphatically as I can, I urge you to overcome this obstacle. You can do it! You can have the Spirit with you in your teaching. You can have this fruit that Jesus promised, and it is delicious. Once you experience it, you will learn to lean more and more on the Savior in your teaching, and the Spirit (and the fruit) will increase in the process.