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The most important and fundamental part of a gospel teacher's preparation is to prepare himself or herself spiritually in order to set a proper example. Four important considerations in such preparation are to live the gospel, pray, participate in in-service training, and have faith.
Live the Gospel
The first part of the commission given to CES teachers and leaders is to live the gospel. Since this was discussed in the section on the commission more will not be said here except to note this simple chain of reasoning: Gospel learning requires the Spirit. The Spirit comes to those who seek for it and are worthy. To be worthy one must live the gospel.
Pray
Part of preparation is prayer (see D&C 42:14; 104:79, 82). A teacher should pray for the Spirit as lesson preparation begins, for help at the beginning of each class, for the gift of discernment to better understand each student, for the gift of charity for those students who may be more difficult to love, for the Spirit's help in understanding gospel principles, and for wisdom in deciding how to best teach those principles.
Participate in In-Service Training
CES provides extensive in-service training opportunities for all of its teachers and leaders. The primary purpose of in-service training is to improve teaching, but it also helps teachers learn how to minister and administer as a servant leader in CES. Training meetings are used to discuss the scriptures, to learn and practice inspiring methods of teaching, to distribute materials, to help teachers complete reports, to share ideas for increasing student attendance and participation, for helping students complete course requirements, and so on.
Have Faith
In the gospel, faith is a principle of power (see Lectures on Faith 1:15-17). It is a principle of power in religious education as well, and teachers will not succeed without it. Some areas where faith is particularly important are the following:
- Faith in the Lord and in the Spirit. The assignment to teach the principles of the gospel to the youth and young adults with the help of the Spirit can feel challenging and overwhelming. But it is the Lord's work, and he will help those who turn to him in faith to succeed. Mormon taught, "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me" (Moroni 7:33). And in the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord promised, "Treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man" (D&C 84:85).
- Faith in the power of the word. Satan would have teachers believe that students will not like studying the scriptures, or that one cannot teach the scriptures day after day and be successful. But the power of the Lord's word is sure. The scriptures contain "the words of life" (D&C 84:85). The prophet Alma said that the word has a more powerful effect upon the mind" than the sword, or anything else" (Alma 31:5). The word of God "healeth the wounded soul" (Jacob 2:8) and "will tell you all things what ye should do" (2 Nephi 32:3). The scriptures can give the youth the power to resist the "fiery darts of the adversary" (1 Nephi 15:24) and help them become "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17).
- Faith in the students. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., described some characteristics of the students in seminaries and institutes of religion. He said: "The youth of the Church are hungry for the things of the Spirit; they are eager to learn the gospel, and they want it straight, undiluted....You do not have to sneak up behind this spiritually experienced youth and whisper religion in his ears; you can come right out, face to face, and talk with him. You do not need to disguise religious truths with a cloak of worldly things; you can bring these truths to him openly" (Charted Course, pp. 3, 9).
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