"True Doctrine, Understood..."

I have learned so much during scripture study these last couple of days. Alma was an amazing teacher! Related to a talk by Elder Bednar I posted on facebook a couple of weeks ago, Alma really focuses on teaching doctrine to his son, Corianton. Here's a great formula for anyone who wants to teach better:

Alma 39 - Alma ensures that Corianton recognizes what he needs to improve and the effects his actions had on other people.
Alma 40-41 - He teaches the doctrines of the spirit world and the resurrection and intermingles the principle of Repentance.
Alma 41 - He teaches the doctrines of justice and mercy. He also ties Corianton's actions to the doctrines he is teaching (see v. 9)
Alma 42 - He teaches the doctrines of the Fall and the Atonement and again includes justice and mercy with the principle of repentance.
Alma 42:29-31 - He ties everything together to show what Corianton should do, issues a challenge, and gives Corianton a responsibility. Not only does he remove the nagging feeling one might get from a lecture about what one has done wrong, but he spreads the focus. He didn't just teach Corianton these things for his own sake, but he essentially says, "By the way, these doctrines are essential for everyone, so go out and teach what you now understand."

Of the 91 verses directed to Corianton more than 2/3 are focused on teaching doctrine, not reprimanding or hassling him because of what he has done wrong. He certainly makes it clear that what he did was very wrong, but he then teaches the doctrines, or why it is so important to live the way God has commanded.

It reminds me that most of the time we spend teaching should be spent on the doctrines of the gospel. Here's the pattern for powerful teaching: 1-Specify a need that requires some sort of action in order to meet that need. 2-Teach a doctrine that gives a reason why there is actually a need. 3-Teach a doctrine that can lead to action. 4-Go ahead and teach some more doctrine. 5-Issue a short, specific challenge based on the doctrines taught. Obviously your teaching methods will be different if you are having a one-on-one conversation with a child than they would be teaching a Sunday School lesson or giving a Sacrament Meeting talk, but the pattern should be the same.

By the way, it's not just Alma who teaches this way. We're reading the Epistle of James for Sunday School this week, and, even though we haven't read the whole thing, I can see this pattern emerging. Look for it as you read the scriptures and conference talks. It's everywhere in the teachings of Prophets.

I've heard this quote several times lately, and even though he quotes himself several times over the years I think this talk is the first time President Packer used these exact words:  "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. Preoccupation with unworthy behavior can lead to unworthy behavior. That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel."

Hopefully you aren't disappointed having to read a long post better suited to a scripture study journal. I felt the power of these doctrines and principles so much that I had to share it. I've read so many great things lately, and I feel like they are so important. Maybe it's just my life situation right now, but this one hit home particularly well.

Just in case you came to see a picture of our boys (let's face it, they're way more interesting than I am), here you go.