Conduit

This week while we were studying as a family in the scriptures I decided to try and channel Elder Bednar.  I have been watching some "Teaching No Greater Call" video clips (they are on mormon channel -episodes 15 & 16) with him so I can learn from the master how to be a better teacher.  After this last general conference he was already on the top of my list for  favorite apostles, but when I watched these clips he somehow elevated even higher.  If only I could stand next to him for a moment and soak up some of his awesomeness.  

One thing that I have been working on is not playing "guess what's in my head" when trying to teach.  You know the game.  You ask a dumb question hoping for an specific response and you just keep asking it a different way until someone answers the way you want them to.  No learning happens with that going on.  

While we were reading 4 Nephi I decided to invite my children to learning by asking questions like "what stood out in this verse to you?"  "Why do you think this wording may have been used."  I had no set response I was looking for, I just wanted to see what my kids picked up on and thought.  Let me tell you we had a great discussion.  I also have always taken the approach of assuming nothing.  I find that often people don't understand words or phrases and just skip over them thinking they understand.  A perfect example from last night is the phrase "bond and free".  It seems basic enough, but I assume nothing when in teaching mode.  The 2 little ones had a pretty good idea but not a complete one.  

In verse 5 it says:
"and all manner of^cmiracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus" 
I asked my kids what they thought that meant and then what the significance of the clarification was and we had another great discussion.  We went over each verse that way and then we ended back on verse 5 to wrap it up.

The super cool thing was that I got to see the lights come on in my oldest son's eyes when he asked "why were the miracles done in Jesus' name and not God, I thought the power came from God."  Excellent question.  The only thing I could think of at that moment was conduit.  Jesus acts as the conduit.  While I was trying to think of a better way to explain, it gave my son time to figure out in his own mind what he thought about it.   He said "so wait, I think I've got it.  So like in an outlet, we are like the plug, Jesus is the outlet and God supplies the power?" Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.  Tell him what he's won, Pat.  

Would it have meant so much to him if I would have come up with the analogy for him?  No.  Like Elder Bednar says we can give knowledge unto a person but not into.  The Holy Ghost takes it from unto to into by the action of the learner receiving it.  That's where the testimony is.  

I'm having so much fun learning how to be a better teacher.  One that teaches by the spirit and invites learning.  I tried this method out again on our mutual night after I showed an inspirational video of a convert from Africa.  The key is allowing people time to ponder and being ok in the silence while they think.   We had a great discussion and the room was filled with the spirit.

I've still got so much to learn and I know I'm still going to have a lot of failed attempts, but that's ok.  I'm just going to keep trying to act as the outlet for the true teacher in every lesson I teach, the Holy Ghost.