How to Teach by the Spirit

Today's conceptualization comes from a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the May 1999 Ensign entitled "Teaching and Learning by the Spirit." I know that there is no greater call than to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others, and as such I regret not discussing this topic earlier. Elder Oaks starts out quoting the Lord's command, "If ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach" (D&C 42:14).

Elder Oaks further justifies this scripture, noting that "we cannot compete with the world on its terms. If we are to fulfill our calling, we must teach the Lord's way." If we do not teach by the Spirit, we do so by "some other way" (D&C 50:17); although we may have varying degrees of the Spirit to guide us as we teach, it is clear that the "other way" is by our own intellect, which "is nit of God" (D&C 50:20). In quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Elder Oaks relayed:

"...God did not present the message through me because I used the power of intellect instead of the power of the Spirit. Intellectual things—reason and logic—can do some good, and they can prepare the way, and they can get the mind ready to receive the Spirit under certain circumstances. But conversion comes and the truth sinks into the hearts of people only when it is taught by the power of the Spirit."

So how do we accomplish teaching by the Spirit and not our own intellect? First, we must keep the commandments of God, ever following King Benjamin's admonition:

But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not. (Mosiah 4:30)

We must always remember the Son of God. If we do this, as explained in the sacrament prayer which renews the covenant we made at baptism to obey God's commands, we "may always have his Spirit to be with [us]" (D&C 20:77).

We must prepare to teach by the Spirit. As Elder Oaks observed, Hyrum Smith wished to teach the Gospel to others before having received what to teach. We read,

Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.
(D&C 11:21)

If we do not prepare, we do not have the reservoir from which the Spirit may draw. God does not pull out of us that which is not there. That is simply not how it works. If we want to teach by the Spirit, let us study out that which we want to teach, and prepare our hearts, that the hearts of those we teach may be touched as well.

Lastly, Elder Oaks talks about be willing to receive the Spirit, and to follow its dictates. This is huge. We can keep the commandments and we can prepare what we are going to teach, but we still must be open to being led by the Spirit as we tailor the lesson to those being taught. Elder Oaks noted that the Spirit comes to us in the Lord's way and on His timetable. We are only entitled to invoke the Spirit as far as the Lord sees fit. Let us remember that as we strive to humble ourselves before God, proving to him that we are willing to be instruments in his hands, and not to use the role of teaching to vaunt our own abilities.

In sum, there are three ways that by which we obtain the Spirit to teach:

1. Keep the Commandments of God
2. Prepare to receive the Spirit
3. Be willing to follow that which the Spirit dictates

Ii is my hope that we can remember Elder Oaks' words as we look to fulfill any call to teach. I believe that these principles apply when teaching even the simplest Gospel principles, but also apply when teaching entire lessons, or giving discourses on Gospel-related topics. Have a great week!