In part 1, I explained my ideal 1 week lesson prep. Let me switch gears a little and put it into the real world a little more. I’ll present a hypothetical week of preparing a lesson as if it were in journal form. The kind of journal that I write in constantly throughout the day. Like a pioneer version of Snapchat.
Sunday 11:01 AM
I just finished a lesson in Sunday School. Lesson #13 in the New Testament manual. There was some good discussion regarding priesthood keys, and the “rock of revelation” that the Church is built upon. We finished with a discussion about the Kirtland Temple and the keys being restored then. Brother Jackson came up to me after the lesson and mentioned that the old “threefold mission of the Church” started at that point when priesthood keys were given to Joseph and Oliver to Proclaim the Gospel, Perfect the Saints, Redeem the Dead. I thought that was interesting and regret not having left enough time to flesh out that idea more in class.
Sunday 12:15 PM
Church is now over. I successfully tracked down the kids and waited patiently in the van while my wife Chatty Cathy’ed her way from the Relief Society room, down the hall, and finally out of the building. The drive home consisted of the kids explaining what they learned about in church… they couldn’t remember. I asked my wife how she felt the Sunday School lesson went. She liked how the class discussion brought out the importance of knowing that Jesus is the Christ by the Holy Ghost. She also mentioned that the part where I asked about all the times that the Father bore witness to the Son wasn’t a great question. “The Father testifies of the Son 4 times in scripture, can you name the other 3?” She’s right. It’s an either you know it or you don’t question that doesn’t edify, but just gives an opportunity to show that they know some facts. Point taken.
If I could go back in time to before the lesson, what would I do differently? I would have not asked the question about what other times the Father spoke from heaven to testify of His Son. I just would have mentioned the other three times. That also would have given enough time to allow Brother Jackson to share his insights into the threefold mission of the Church.
If I could go back in time a week ago, what would I do differently? I had toyed around with the idea of buying some Swedish Fish and looking up a magic trick to make it seem like I made many fish come from a few, and hand them out to the class. In hindsight, I wish I would have done it. Not only to mix things up, but to create the feeling of amazement that surely was present during the feeding of the 5,000.
Sunday 1:15 PM
I just finished up a plate of microwave nachos. My favorite after church snack. The dilemma that I face every Sunday is whether to change out of my clothes before making the nachos, or getting the nachos in the microwave and try to get changed before the 1 minute timer ends. I usually choose the latter, because time management.
I’m now at my desk, lesson manual up on the laptop in front of me, scriptures to my left, scratch paper and pen to my right. My trusty headphones are on blasting the Legends of the Fall soundtrack. My game face is on. I pull up lesson 14: “Who Is My Neighbor?” The stated purpose of the lesson is to help class members humble themselves, forgive others, and show charity for one another. I like that. That’s my kind of lesson. I immediately note that I believe that there is a connection between these objectives; part of being humble is recognizing our weaknesses. As we do that, we have more mercy towards others weaknesses. Our compassion for others leads to have and show charity for others.
As I survey the scriptures for the lesson: I see a lot of verses from Matthew 18, a chunk of Luke 10, Mark 9, and some King Benjamin found in Mosiah 2 and 3. Love King Benjamin. I plan to read Matthew 18 on Monday, Luke 10 on Tuesday, Mark 9 and Mosiah 2-3 on Wednesday, and scribble that plan down on the scratch paper.
Looking further down the lesson, I notice some things along the right side of the screen. There are a few pictures, 3 bible videos, and 2 clips from General Conference. I plan on looking at them throughout the week and see if I want to bring in the projector for some movie time.
There is a suggested attention activity. It involves bringing a child to class and having the parent describe some of the child’s admirable qualities. Not a bad idea when discussing becoming as a little child. I’ll keep this in my back pocket unless if I need it.
I scan the bullet points and see that the first major topic deals with children. The subtopics are that we need to become as little children, and to not offend little children. The admonition to become as a child is in response to the question “who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”? I’d like to explore that in more detail, the relationship between the question and the answer. The next topic is forgiveness. The scripture passage is the parable of the unmerciful servant. The final topic is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Is this the Superman of parables? The best among so many greats? I am reminded of a seminary lesson I had many years ago. The teacher retold the parable in modern terms. I think it had to do with a car out of gas and something about high school rivalries. Maybe I can come up with something like that. Like a Chicago Bears fan coming across a Green Bay Packers fan broken down on the side of the road on the way to the big game.
There are some additional teaching ideas at the bottom of the page. Pretty solid ones, too. I feel pretty confident that I will have more than enough material. The best lessons, in my opinion, are the ones where you have to trim down significantly, and it hurts to take some things out. The worst lessons are the ones where you are trying to find anything else to plug in to make it longer. Kind of like why the Lord of the Rings trilogy is far superior to the Hobbit trilogy, but I digress.
I notice that I have only been at the desk for 10 minutes, so I decide to jump into the scripture reading, starting with Matthew chapter 18. I only make it to verse 3 before I have to stop. I struggle with the concept of becoming as a little child to “enter into into the kingdom of heaven.” The majority of my day is spent telling my kids to start acting like adults. I do see a caveat that I hadn’t noticed before; except ye be converted, and become as little children…. So, is there a connection between conversion and becoming as a child? Maybe the answer lies in the next verse: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Different wording a little bit. For one, it says greatest in the kingdom of heaven as opposed to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Is there a difference?
This goes on for a for about 20 more minutes, and I scribble down my thoughts on the scratch paper. Then it’s back to Sunday life, which usually consists of some type of board game. Today it’s Apples to Apples. Of course we let the youngest win so as to prevent a complete meltdown. Which makes me ponder the idea of becoming like a little child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I can picture it now: “Come on St Peter, if you don’t let me in I will hate you forever!”
Monday 7:32 AM
I’m all dressed up and ready for work, but I don’t have to leave for about 30 minutes. I plan to take about 10 minutes to prepare some more for the lesson. I start with a prayer, asking for better understanding with the becoming as a little child dilemma. I notice the footnote in Matthew 18:3 cross references to Mosiah 3:19. Of course it does! Why didn’t I think of that yesterday? “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” Okay, that helps a little bit. I’m sure there is a conference talk or two that discuss this idea. I do a search for “becometh as a child” in the search bar on the conference page, and voila, there are a whole bunch of them. I’ll listen to one of them on the way to work today, courtesy of the handy dandy Gospel Library app.
Monday 5:32 PM
I just got out of work, and am on the drive home. I listened to a conference talk by Henry B. Eyring. One part stuck out to me: “We are safe on the rock which is the Savior when we have yielded in faith in Him, have responded to the Holy Spirit’s direction to keep the commandments long enough and faithfully enough that the power of the Atonement has changed our hearts. When we have, by that experience, become as a child in our capacity to love and obey, we are on the sure foundation.” I love the connection between humility and the Atonement. The change of heart that we experience, which comes through the Atonement, makes us fit for the kingdom of heaven. I’m pretty sure I’m using this quote on Sunday.
Tuesday 8:45 PM
It’s been a long day, and the kids have just been put to bed. Now, it’s time to put the dishes to bed. While loading the dishwasher, I have a minute to ponder some things. I read Luke 10 this morning, and a few things are ruminating. So, it’s the story of the good Samaritan. I hadn’t realized earlier that the parable came about as a series of questions by a “certain lawyer” trying to pick a fight. The first question is “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” I’m starting to see a theme here. Being humble, and being a good neighbor are relating to eternal life. Not only does it make good sense in being a decent person here and now, but these characteristics prepare us for heaven. Or, is it that heaven is any place where the inhabitants have these characteristics?
This parable is so dense! A whole lesson could easily be dedicated solely to this passage. Being kind to those different than you. Taking care of the needy. Church position is less important than being Christlike. As with most of the Savior’s parables, there are deeper layers of meaning as well. I went on an online search this morning, and found a plethora of theories regarding this parable. The recurring theme was that the wounded man represents mankind, and the Samaritan represents Christ. The innkeeper is the Church, with the divine request to take care of mankind until the Lord returns. I’ll jot some of these thoughts down before bed tonight.
Wednesday 12:37 PM
Sometimes at work, I have a longer lunch break. Today is one of those days. I use ten minutes or so to read. Matthew 18:6 states: “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” The footnote indicates that offend can be taken to mean “cause to stumble”. Here is something to consider. How can we cause children to stumble? As a parent, my guilt meter rises slightly with this one. I am often aware of the great responsibility that it is to be a parent. Judging by the harshness of this verse, I guess Jesus is also.
Friday 8:25 PM
As my wife and I dig our spoons into a molten lava cake, I decide to take a breather and tell her some of my ideas for the lesson. I mention the fact that the parable of the good Samaritan has some symbols that relate it to the fall and redemption of mankind. I test out a question on her: “Do you think Christlike characteristics qualify us for heaven, or do you think that heaven exists because a group of people have Christlike characteristics?” She thinks for a minute and counters with a scripture: “For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own.”
Touché.
Saturday 9:19 AM
It’s time to map out the lesson. After a week of search, ponder, pray, repeat, I have versus, quotes, and thoughts scrawled across 4 sheets of scratch paper. I take out a new blank sheet. In the center of this paper, I write humility, forgiveness, and charity, and a circle around them. From the word humility I draw a line towards the upper left of the page, and write the phrase become as a child. Under this I add some scripture references and also write Eyring quote. From forgiveness I draw a line to the upper right, and write Matt 18:15- go to the person, not behind their back, and under that Parable of the unmerciful servant. From charity I draw a line to the lower left, and write The Good Samaritan, and then What is the question asked? as well as Hunter Quote, Eternal Life, and Deeper Symbolism. There is now a blank space at the lower right quadrant of the paper. I plan to fill this with the extra ideas to supplement the 3 main concepts of humility, forgiveness and charity. I make a list with Offend little ones (cause to stumble), Mary and Martha- the good part, Lost Sheep- ninety and nine, Seventy- Luke 10:1, DC 107:25,34,38.
Along the bottom of the paper I write Atonement > Grace > Holy Ghost > Conversion/Repentance > Eternal Life. I feel good about ending the lesson with this concept of how the atonement relates to our sanctification and obtaining eternal life. I’ll plan to use up the last 5-7 minutes to hit this home.
Now, I need to start deciding upon teaching methods. I get out a red pen, and start writing different methods next to the principles that I have listed. I want to do a contrast between childish and childlike. I hope that this will force the class to focus on children, and extract those characteristics that we tend to lose as we grow up. I also can use this train of thought to dovetail into a conversation regarding how the Lord views little children. If we are doing well with time, I’ll explain how offend means to cause to stumble, and discuss how the Lord feels about those who offend children. I will finish up the children thought with the Eyring quote, testifying of the power of the Atonement as appropriate.
To teach the parable of the unmerciful servant, I’ve been thinking that I will give the class five minutes to read the parable individually, looking for symbols in the parable. I’ll do some chalkboard work to list out what the class comes up with. Hopefully, this will lead to a good 5-10 minute discussion. I feel it is important to read verse 15, which talks about going directly to those who have trespassed against you. I plan to do that after discussing the parable. I love how the parable ties into the mercy that we are seeking from the Lord. I’ll definitely emphasize that point.
By now, we will probably be past halfway into the lesson. If so, I’ll go directly into the Good Samaritan. If not, I’ll get into one of the supplemental ideas. I think the calling of the seventy has some benefit, by showing similarities between the New Testament Church and the Latter-Day Church.
As far as the teaching method, I’ll probably dig into the scriptures and ask some questions. What does the calling of the seventy teach us about the Church? Answers could include: that the Lord expects us to be involved in the work, that the Church is a missionary Church, that there is order in the Church.
This brings us to what I hope to be the meat of the lesson. I feel that it is important to leave plenty of time to cover the parable of the Good Samaritan. I’ll start with a Joseph Smith quote: “I have a key by which I understand the scripture. I inquire, what was the question which drew out the answers?” I’ll have someone read the 2 questions asked by the lawyer: What shall I do to inherit eternal life? and Who is my neighbor? I hope to do something cool with the parable. First, use the parable to answer the second question. I feel like this is the most superficial explanation of the symbolism in the parable. I’ll include discussion regarding priests, Levites, and Samaritans. I’ll have the class extract some application for us today. Then, I’ll switch gears and address the first question, the eternal life question. This is where the class may crash and burn. Hopefully the class will have walked down the path with me and see the symbolism regarding how the Savior is the Samaritan, and we mankind is the wounded man. That the rules of the law will not save us, nor our priesthood leaders; but only Christ.
I’ll finish up some board work. I’ll draw out a chain that looks like this: Atonement, Grace, Holy Ghost, Conversion/Repentance, Eternal Life. I am banking on the hope that by this point in the lesson, I’ll have taken the class through the experience that I went through this week, which is hard to put into words. However, through the Spirit, I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the doctrine of our hearts being changed through the Atonement, which prepared us for Eternal Life.
I feel pretty good about the closing, and the timing of the different topics seems right. I now need to decide upon a solid opening. A potentially crazy thought pops into my mind. How about inviting a Primary class to sing “I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus” at the start of the lesson. I figure the 7-8 year olds are ideal; old enough to know the words, but younger than the age of accountability. Maybe that has some symbolic significance as well. I feel good about it and decide to go with it.
I type up the lesson in outline form, with a running time estimation on the side to help me maintain the sequence of the lesson. Now it’s pretty much wrapped up. I’ll pray on it tonight and tomorrow, and welcome any inspiration to alter it as needed.