Before coming to your training, please do the following:
Effective gospel-centered training requires both learning from the Spirit and training by the Spirit. In the article “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught four principles that you can use to enhance your training efforts with your associates. As you seek for the Spirit’s guidance in your training efforts, also look for opportunities to demonstrate the pure love of Christ and show true care and concern for each associate you work with on a daily basis. As you do so, your training efforts will become more gospel-centered.
When you focus on gospel-centered teaching, you should never force obedience, have a self-righteous approach, or call associates to repentance. These approaches are inappropriate and can negatively impact associates.
From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.
With the person next to you, share an experience when you felt the Spirit during a training experience with an associate.
In small groups, discuss how you know when the Spirit is directing you while you are teaching a principle.
Discuss how to train by the Spirit. Write ideas on the board and generate a list of techniques you can use during training that may invite the Spirit into your training sessions.
From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.
For each of these activities, you will need to reference “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” which you reviewed as part of the lesson preparation. The four principles taught in the article are:
Divide into small groups. Read Mosiah 27:34–37, 28:1–9, and Alma 17:2–4 with your group. As you read the scriptures, look for the principles Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught in his Ensign article, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit.” Discuss the following questions as a group:
Divide into two groups. Each group should write a quiz with five questions based on Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s article, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit.” In your quiz, include the four principles that Elder Oaks teaches in this article.
Once both groups have finished writing the quizzes, have each group take the other’s quiz.
Discuss Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s article, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” as a group. Ask for volunteers to share any thoughts and impressions they may have had while reading the article. As you discuss the article, ensure that the four principles Elder Oaks teaches are included.
Discuss how these principles can be applied at work.
From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.
As a group, share experiences that you or others you know have had with demonstrating the pure love of Christ.”
In small groups, review 1 Corinthians 13:1–8. Read the following case study and discuss ways to help Berta by exercising charity.
Berta is extremely difficult to work with. She argues with and talks back to her job coach trainer almost every day. When she is not displaying insubordination and anger, she is passive-aggressive. She will pleasantly agree to do something and then not do it. She loves to gossip about other associates and spread rumors about their behaviors. She openly criticizes her bishop and often calls him names.
Watch the video “Reach Out with Love” (Mormon Messages for Youth, LDS.org). Then, discuss how you can incorporate the principles you just learned from the video as you work with associates.
Seek to identify a personal or business gap or need.
Spend a few minutes silently pondering what you've discussed during this lesson. Listen as the Holy Ghost helps you identify areas where you can improve. Record your impressions in your learner's journal under the question “What Lack I Yet?”
Seek ways to close the gap or develop the required talent(s) to meet the need.
With the guidance of the Spirit, create your plan of how you will improve and close the gap(s) you have identified. You may use one or more of the exercises below, your own strategy, or a combination of both. Record this plan in your learner's journal under “What Must I Do?”
After a few minutes, those who are comfortable doing so can share their impressions with the group.
Seek understanding, and then share what you learned.
During the week, focus on implementing the plan you created. Record your impressions or lessons learned in your learner's journal under “Therefore, What?” You will be given time at the beginning of next week's lesson to share your experience with the group.
Use this material if you would like to learn more about teaching with the Spirit.