LDS Freedom Forum

SpeedRacer wrote:Now this looks really good for the Church. We are trying to force our teachers and students to hear the voice of the Lord through the spirit and rely on it.

However, I have one nagging issue. Did the years of strict adherance to the manual mould our view of what we are to teach, and when we "teach by the spirit" we are subject to the information we have, not being able to diverge from what has been taught for the past 20 years? Meaning we can still teach by the spirit, but the spirit waits for you to ask and seek. If you don't have all the truth, the spirit uses what is available as best it can. At least this has been my experience.
Daymon Smith has discussed this in the interviews and presentations I've listened to. It is absolutely true that we "self-correlate" to align with what we presume we "should" teach. It is a sad truth. In the end, it still comes down to whether the teacher has an open and fearless searching heart. For those teachers, the new programs will make things easier. For those who still self-correlate, there will be little improvement, other than they will have to start working things out for themselves. So in spite of self-correlation, I think it' sa net positive movement.
One more issue. This started with the Preach my Gospel book, then went to the Duty to God program, then to the "Come, Follow Me" program. I don't know if it has filtered down to the primary. The new teachings of presidents resmbles this model as there is more content that you are able to cover. Also the teachings for our times is left to the ward to decide which talks to use. Now to my question. When on earth is this going to make it to Gospel Doctrine? I mean the old guard of manuals is getting long in the tooth.
I keep hearing rumors that changes are coming. Look how long it takes for the committees to come up with these other programs. It's no surprise that gospel doctrine is slow to change.

SpeedRacer wrote:So sometimes people give me a line that "this generation" is ready for so much more. I don't know about you, but we were all told as you how special we were as well. So the line about this generation is so great is hard to swallow. It seems a cop out.

laronius wrote:I like to apply the idea found in the word of wisdom to such things as Church curriculum, in that it is tailored to the weakest of the saints. This means both the student and the teacher. Ideally, every teacher and every student is so full of the Spirit that no set lesson manual is needed. Unfortunately we aren't there yet.

One benefit of having a set curriculum is that it helps to ensure balance in teaching. No matter how good certain topics may be, if a teacher only teaches his gospel "hobby" the students will not get the benefit they could otherwise.

But as time goes on, tailoring the gospel to the weakest of the saints is becoming less do-able. Times are becoming such that there needs to be be rapid growth in members, especiall the youth and converts, just to keep ahead of the world.

But ultimately, learning boils down mainly to the student being in tune. I have many, many times over the years attended the gospel essentials class for investigators and recent converts. I love the fact that these classes are all about doctrine and I have found myself learning great, deep truths by the Spirit in this class regardless of how "basic" some may term the lessons to be. There is something to be said about being in a class of humble and sincere seekers of the truth. Although at times I may find myself disliking how a certain teacher teaches or what material they cover, at the end of the day I must acknowledge that only I stand in the way of my ability to learn what it is I need to learn.