The purpose of the new Fundamentals of Teaching Preach My Gospel is to help the missionaries become better teachers. It does not replace Preach My Gospel in any way. It uses Preach My Gospel concepts in a slightly reorganized manner to help the missionaries teach the lessons found in Preach My Gospel. The primary emphasis is learning to rely more on the Spirit in our teaching.
The pattern that we worked on could be summarized as 4 steps:
1. Ask Inspired Questions
2. Listen -- to the investigator and the Spirit
3. Discern -- pause and ponder
4. Teach the doctrine according to the individual needs of the investigator
Most of us parents remember long memorized discussions. Preach My Gospel was created to get away from that pattern, but too many missionaries were simply writing their own lessons and using them over and over. This new emphasis is to help missionaries customize lessons. It is very challenging to learn a new approach like this one and will take a lot of practice -- especially the pausing. We have all been taught that we should know the answers right away but we are already finding that if we wait to let the Spirit "give [us] in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man" (D&C 84:85) we are able to get investigators to open up and are better able to address their real concerns.
There are 8 lessons and each one was taught for a half day. At least half of that time was spent in role play. We have found that it makes a real difference if the missionary in the role of the investigator portrays a real person that they know. It helps them better understand what that investigator might be thinking and feeling.
We are absolutely converted to the use of these principles and know that they will not only make us better missionaries but better parents, leaders and communicators for the rest of our lives. This is truly a program presented by inspired leaders.
The summary of the eight lessons which has been provided by the missionary department follows:
1. The Doctrine of Christ -- the Missionary Purpose
-Teach the doctrine of Christ from the scriptures.
-Teach the principle of love
-Practice the vitation to be baptized
2. The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion
-Teach the qualifications for having the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
-Teach the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion.
-Teach how to rely on and recognize the promptings from the Holy Ghost.
-Practice following the prompting of the Holy Ghost to help investigators accept the invitation to be
baptized.
The Process of Revelation
Teach the process of revelation, with emphasis on personal prayer, the Book of Mormon, and attending
church. Explain that the purpose of revelation for investigators is to help them gain a testimony.
3. Revelation through Prayer
- Teach the role of prayer in conversion.
- Teach how to pray to gain a testimony
- Practice the invitation to pray.
4. Revelation through the Book of Mormon
- Teach the role of the Book of Mormon in conversion.
- Teach how to read the Book of Mormon to gain a testimony
- Practice the invitation to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know it is true
5. Revelation through Church Attendance
- Teach the role of church attendance in gaining a testimony and receiving revealed truth from leaders
and gospel instruction
- Teach the role of members and the ward council in helping investigators attend church
- Practice preparing and inviting others to attend church
Invite missionaries to apply this process of revelation regularly to strengthen and renew their own
testimonies.
6. Teach People Not Lessons
- Teach that the needs of the investigaator and the prompting of the Spirit should guide the lesson.
- Teach the role of asking inspired questions and listening in discerning the spiritual needs of others.
- Practice asking inspired questions, listening, discerning, and teaching doctrine according to the
investigators' needs.
7. We Invite, They Commit, We Follow Up
- Teach why and how missionaries invite people to make commitments.
- Teach the principle of agency as it relates to investigators' commitments.
- Practice the invitation to live the law of chastity, the Word of Wisdom, and the law of tithing
8. How to Begin Teaching (see Preach My Gospel, 176-177)
- Teach the principles of "How to Begin Teaching" and their importance.
- Practice "How to Begin Teaching."
