1. Ask questions that stimulate thinking and encourage student response.
     Questions can be asked that lead students to search for information, analyze what they are studying, or help them apply it in their own lives.  Teachers should avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no, or where the answer is so obvious the students are not motivated to think about it.

• Good questions require students to search the scriptures for the answer and to seek the Spirit's help.  Such questions often begin with words such as who, what, when, how, where, and why.
• When teaching the scriptures, questions that help students think about the meaning of a scripture verse are good.  These questions are usually asked after students have become familiar with the verses. They may have more than one possible answer and could help students start a discussion. They often begin with phrases like "Why do you think...." or "How is it that....."
• Ask students to apply what they have learned from the verses.  These questions may also have more than one possible answer.  For example, "Why should prayer be one of the first things we do each day?  What difference would it make if it was?" or "What did you learn from the example of Abraham that you could apply to your life?"
• Ask students to compare things, such as asking them to compare a person or an event in one part of the scriptures to another person or event somewhere else.
• Good questions are at the very heart of good discussions.  A good question should be stimulating and challenging, but usually not controversial or sensational.  Sometimes teachers will ask a controversial question just to stimulate a lively discussion.  This may frustrate the students and create contention in the class, which grieves the Spirit (see 3 Nephi 11:29).

2. Plan the discussion
   Like other methods of teaching, a discussion needs to be carefully prepared and then conducted under the influence of the Spirit, following principles of edification.  The teacher needs to have thought out the purpose of the discussion (how it will help students understand what they need to learn), what series of questions will lead to that purpose, how to ask those questions in the most effective manner, and how to respond if student answers lead off in an unwanted direction.  Throughout the discussion the teacher needs to encourage learner participation.  The whole purpose of discussion is to get students involved in the gospel learning experience so they begin to discover principles and concepts for themselves and then have the Spirit testify to them of their truthfulness.

3. Call on students by name.
   When a teacher does not specify the person who is expected to answer, often only the bolder students will reply.  It can be useful not to designate to whom the question is directed until after the question is asked.  When a name is specified first, other students may relax and feel they do not need to think about the question.  Also, there will always be some students who want to answer almost every question.  By calling on other students by name, the teacher can get responses from others less likely to participate.

4. Give students time to think
   Some times teachers ask a question, pause for a second or two, then when no one immediately responds, panic and give the answer themselves.  Be patient.  Students often need time to find the answer in the scriptures or to think about the question and what they want to say.  The silence should not trouble the teacher if it does not go on too long.  On the other hand, sometimes there is no response because the question is not clear.  If this is the case, the teacher may need to rephrase the question or ask the students if they understand what was asked.