Elder Holland on teaching

A couple of months ago I attended the World Wide Leadership Training. All members were invited and the topic was Teaching. Clearly, the brethren wanted everyone there, and they are re-broadcasting it in a couple of weeks to give more people an opportunity to attend. If you didn't go the first time around, make sure you go this time.

I want to highlight my favorite part of the training: During one segment, Elder Holland was teaching a class. In this segment, the viewer is learning on many levels. We learn by watching Elder Holland's example as a teacher; we also learn from the content of the lesson (which happened to be "Teaching"). At one point in the lesson, the conversation surrounded "problem behaviors". One sister asked how to effectively deal with children who didn't seem to appreciate the lesson, or otherwise misbehaved. I'll never forget the feeling I had as Elder Holland said (paraphrasing): Maybe you can't teach all the kids today. But you can love them. And if you love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow.

I feel the spirit again as I type this. It was such a powerful experience for me as he said that. This statement has helped me in my profession as a teacher, in my calling, and (most importantly) as a parent. Too many times I focus on the content of the lesson instead of the context. When all is said and done, all children need to be loved. They need to feel love and feel important. I often get frustrated when the young men, or my children, or my students act out. If I remember Elder Holland's counsel, I can manage my frustrations, remember my priorities, and act in a way that will foster a loving relationship with those I am teaching.

And some kids may never seem to care about the content. I can still love them. I think of the Savior when he visited the Nephites. Did he gather the children around to preach a sermon? No. He blessed them, he prayed for them, and angels came and administered unto them. He loved them. The effective teachers of today do the same.