Learning and teaching are not optional activities in the kingdom of God, said Russell T. Osguthorpe, sustained last April as the General Sunday School president.
"They are the very means by which the gospel has been restored to the earth and by which we will gain eternal life."
Speaking Saturday morning, Brother Osguthorpe compared how his son, a physician, saved lives by sharing his knowledge of medicine, "so missionaries and teachers in the Church help save lives by sharing their knowledge of the gospel."
Three elements of effective teaching, he said, require teaching appropriate doctrine, an invitation to live that principle, and a witness of the promised blessings.
"The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about and then do something about living gospel principles," he said, quoting President Thomas S. Monson.
Like Moroni who taught the Prophet Joseph Smith, continued Brother Osguthorpe, "all parents and gospel teachers are messengers from God. Not all of us teach future prophets … but we are all teaching future leaders of the Church. So we teach key doctrines, we invite learners to do the work God has for them, and then promise that blessings will surely come."
Brother Osguthorpe recounted three personal experiences where key teachers played pivotal roles in his life: a returned missionary taught him in Sunday School to "aim high," a Primary teacher gave him confidence to give a talk and a local sister helped him learn the language when he was a missionary in Tahiti. In each case, he noted how the teacher was a messenger from God who saved his life and helped his faith grow.
Brother Osguthorpe concluded by listing eight questions that guide his teaching: Do I view myself as a messenger from God? Do I prepare and teach in ways that help save lives? Do I focus on a key doctrine of the Restoration? Can those I teach feel the love I have for them, and for my Heavenly Father and the Savior? When inspiration comes, do I close the manual and open their eyes and their ears and their hearts to the glory of God? Do I invite them to do the work that God has for them to do? Do I express so much confidence in them that they find the invitation hard to refuse? Do I help them recognize promised blessings that come from living the doctrine I am teaching?
Watch video of this talk and other conference talks at ksl.com