Explain, Share & Testify

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving! This week I am working on explain, share and testify, section 2.6 of the Gospel Teaching and Learning Handbook (GTLH) for Seminary & Institute Teachers. I tried to focus on just "explain," but I did not feel like I did a very good job at that simply because it needs connected closely with it's sisters, share and testify.

As an overview, the GTLH states, "Explaining doctrines and principles, sharing insights and relevant experiences, and testifying of divine truth clarifies a person's understanding of gospel doctrines and principles and improves their ability to teach the gospel to others. As students explain, share, and testify, they are often led by the Holy Ghost to a deeper testimony of the very things they are expressing. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, their words and expressions can also have a significant impact on the hearts and minds of their peers or others who are listening" (GTLH, p. 31).

Here are some brief definitions and explanations we will use to help us better practice explain, share and testify:

1. Explain: "Understanding of the scriptures is increased when students and teachers explain the scriptures to each other" and "Preparing to clearly and simply tell what a passage of scripture means encourages teachers and students to ponder the verses, organize their thoughts, and invite the Holy Ghost to teach them" (GTLH, p. 32). 
2. Share: "Both teachers and students should have the opportunity to share their insights and understanding as well as personal experiences they have had with a doctrine or principle. They can also relate experiences they have witnessed in the lives of others" (GTLH, p. 32)
3. Testify: "When students have explained gospel principles and shared their experiences in applying them in their lives, they are better prepared to testify of what they have come to believe....Testifying gives opportunity for the Holy Ghost to bear witness of specific doctrines and principles of the restored gospel" (GTLH, p. 33). 

Here are two great video clips from the New Youth Curriculum which might help you better understand "share" and "testify." 

Share Stories and Examples*

Invite Us to Testify*

On Monday evening in my AFA institute class, we studied the Articles of Faith. After providing a brief history of the origins of the Articles of Faith, I told the students that I desired to invite them to practice explaining doctrines and principles, sharing insights, and testifying of doctrines and principles from the Articles of Faith. Here is how I accomplished that:

1. I started by selecting an Article of Faith, and with one student, explaining what I thought a particular Article of Faith meant to the student. 
2. Then I shared a personal experience from my life demonstrating a way I have applied the Article of Faith to my life.
3. Next, I simply testified of what the Article of Faith has come to mean to me. 
4. As we went along, I asked students if they could clearly see evidence of explaining, sharing and testifying, and listened to their thoughts.
5. Then I turned it over to the students; I asked them each to pick one Article of Faith, and do what I did, but better. I showed them the videos above to help further their understandings as we went along.

One thing I was most pleased about was it was probably the most active I have ever seen this particular class. Every student participated, every student was involved, and the Spirit of the Lord was present. At the end of our practicing, I extended an invitation.

As students participated, naturally the invitation to act followed. In this case, the invitation was to memorize an Article of Faith this week, and then to find a nonmember of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to explain the Article of Faith to, share why it is meaningful to them, and to testify of it's truthfulness and then to report back to me when they complete the task. I am excited to see how that part goes! 

May we never forget to extend invitations to act! This is where so much of the growth will occur in our students. Below is another video from the New Youth Curriculum on inviting our students to act. 

Invite Us to Act*

I invite you, each of you teaching institute to act, now. Help your students explain, share and testify of gospel doctrines and truths. I know that as we do so, the Holy Ghost will teach them and give them insights and understandings specifically catered to them, to their individual needs. And I promise you, the Lord will enhance your efforts! He does so for me all of the time, I am just not good enough on my own. He will not fail you as you put forth your very best efforts to enable your students. I so testify of this!

*If you have any trouble watching the videos, they can be found at: https://www.lds.org/youth/learn/train?lang=eng