Micro-Training # 17

Illustrate

Students should understand that they are attending class to come to know Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and to progress toward eternal life through a study of the scriptures and the words of the prophets.

Students should believe that through approaching the Lord in an attitude of inquiry and prayer, they can be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost. As teachers and students approach the study of the scriptures with the expectation to learn through the Spirit and from one another, they cultivate an environment that invites revelation.

The Holy Ghost can impress upon the minds and hearts of the students the significance of a doctrine or principle and can give the students a desire to implement the principle and the strength to do so. You should make every effort to facilitate this experience for each student in your class.

Helping others learn individually by the Spirit requires sensitivity to and trust in the Holy Ghost. He will guide discovery, understanding, and application of truth for both students and teachers as they invite His help. One of the most important things you can do as a teacher is to help those you teach recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. Help them associate their spiritual feelings with the influence of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost reveals “things as they really are and as they really will be” (Jacob 4:13). As students are invited to look inward and evaluate their own understanding and conviction, they can become aware of what they already know and invite the Holy Ghost to help them identify what they need to know, feel, and do to draw closer to Jesus Christ and become more like Him. This awareness can increase students’ desire and confidence to recognize how the Lord teaches them individually and to act in faith.

Here are two teachings from the president of the Church, Russell M. Nelson:

Here are some suggestions for giving your students time to meditate during your lesson and feel the voice of the Holy Ghost:

• Give students a moment to silently read a short scripture block or quote, and invite them to share their thoughts.

• Let the students take time to meditate on some verses

• Do not resume speaking too quickly after asking a question in the event that no student answers.

• Invite students to write down thoughts and impressions that come to them.

Invitation to act

In your next lesson, try to help your students realize that they also have a responsibility to foster the presence of the Spirit in the classroom (D&C 50:19) and in their hearts (2 Nephi 33:1) in order to to receive personal revelations.

To practice your skills on this subject, you can do the following exercises:

• Skill: Before responding to a student’s question or comment, pause and think, “What can I ask them?” or “What can I invite them to do?”

• Skill: Share statements that help students recognize when the Holy Ghost is performing His role or function.