So about 5 months ago I was set apart as an EQ instructor to teach every second Sunday in the quorum. Big deal right? It's not too difficult, I just kind of follow the lesson manual word for word, ask the questions it suggests, etc.

Well the EQP pulled me aside after last week's lesson and said that I needed to "put more effort" into the lesson, because attendance is down and it is most likely due to my efforts as a teacher.

The NERVE of that guy! I'm a volunteer! Any suggestions of how to make my lessons more spiritually attentive to the classes' needs? I actually do care about them and want to draw them nearer to the gospel, but admit I struggle coming up with ideas on my own.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I feel fairly certain that a lot of posters here will tell you to quit. Problem solved.

However, I have been in a similar position so I can relate. When I was teaching my last few years in, I focused on the part of the lesson that I could get on board with. Even if I had to include a little of the manual lesson to provide an intro and some context, I would depart as quickly as possible from the planned lesson and then bring in anything and everything I could find to support the tiniest bit of truth.

For example. If the lesson was on a prophet, and it said, even in just one sentence that he was kind, I would introduce that and then focus the rest of the lesson on kindness and never touch back on the manual again.

As far as the EQP remarks... I am sure you can figure that out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2014 09:33PM by Queen of Denial.

Find a way to work the essays into the lessons. You can find them all on mormonessays.com

They are listed here
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1180178,1180178#msg-1180178

Be firm, stand up straight and tell him, I was doing what I thought was right. If you don't like how I am giving the lesson then YOU do it. Then turn around and walk away

Sampler Wrote:
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> Any input would be greatly appreciated.

.... invite him to take a long walk on a short pier!

and......Quit

I think my answer would be, "I'm a volunteer. I don't get paid to do this. If you want someone more interesting, then get someone else."

Hi Sample, this may not be the, er..., best forum for improving EQ lessons. But having said that, every time one teaches or speaks in public, venerability is involved. Criticism of any kind can hurt when you put your heart into something, only to be rebuked.

As far as the EQP goes, I'd go over to his house, catch him off guard, and say his words stung because you feel poor attendance has been blamed on you. Explain that you're following the manual the way intended. You may also want to remind him that lower attendance may be due to recent church publications that members may have difficulty processing.

Best wishes! The Boner.

byuboner Wrote:
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> Hi Sampler, this may not be the, er...
> best forum for improving EQ lessons.

You know, Boner, you've always been a stand-up guy, but I'd like to disagree with you on this one. This forum could really help Sampler improve his lessons, as long as we redefine "improvement" outside of the Mormon box. With the new essays and a few well-chosen quotes from McConkie, Sampler could get them thinking like never before. Attendance would most likely increase, and the EQP could be content until they left the church altogether.

This is just a shot in the dark, but you could try teaching something of real value, not the sh!t that comes in the manual.

LOL, very good idea.

OP,

This is Recovery FROM Mormonism. Not Recovery from EQ issues. While, many of us, feel for you, helping you improve your EQ Lesson, for me, would feel like helping you improve the quality of the Titanic, when I know it's going to sink.

Sorry, man. I suggest you improve the quality of your life and leave that fraudulent organization!

Cheers!

I still think Sampler could do some good as an instructor. I would compare it to conducting lifeboat drills on the Titanic.

No more straight from the manual. Give it some heart and soul.

+1000

Pray with the EQP.

During that prayer, ask the holy ghost to open up the EQP to the deep meaning and eternal truth of your lessons.

tell him that since he can do it better then he gets to do it.

That would be all it would take for me to tell him you are resigning from the position!! Here and NOW! They can find someone else that you think "puts more effort into it" as you are clearly not the one.
Then leave and do not do the class again.

"want to draw them nearer to the gospel"

You do realize we're a bunch of apostates, right? Why would you want to draw them closer to a fraudulent belief system? Why would we want them to be drawn closer to said fraudulent belief system?

I recommend you turn it back on the EQP. Remind him that he called you, and if he doesn't like the result, it's not your fault that his inspiration was worthless. Tell him that if he were living closer to the Lord, he would have made a better choice. Suggest to him that he has a pornography addiction problem and publicly "invite" him to repentance.

That ought to shut him up.


"Any suggestions of how to make my lessons more spiritually attentive to the classes' needs?"

Tie your lessons into the CES letter. That's what the class needs.

I do not appreciate being told how to LIVE MY LIFE!!!

Dude, what do you expect? You asking that question on this board is liking going to an LDS forum and saying you're struggling with the taste of beer and need suggestions on beers you might like better.

Ha! All these apostates telling you how to live your life, and you chose to respond to ME? Thank you!

Would you kindly inform us precisely what part of my answer, alone and apart from the others, particularly cheesed you off?

"Any input would be greatly appreciated."

"I do not appreciate being told how to LIVE MY LIFE!!!"

I'm always surprised when people ask for advice and then snap at the people who take time to type out a reply.

Book of Mordor Wrote:
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>
> I recommend you turn it back on the EQP. Remind
> him that he called you, and if he doesn't like the
> result, it's not your fault that his inspiration
> was worthless. Tell him that if he were living
> closer to the Lord, he would have made a better
> choice. Suggest to him that he has a pornography
> addiction problem and publicly "invite" him to
> repentance.
>
> That ought to shut him up.
>

Beautiful. That's just how they do it. Throw it back at them.

Maybe you could use MormonThink and the CESletter as resources for the lesson.

+1,000,000 Tell them the truth!

I would tell him to teach the class himself.
Problem solved.

They might as well have a monkey standing there mouthing the words, same thing.
The lessons are so boring because teachers are not allowed to bring anything into it other than what is printed out.

Blaming others for poor attendance is typically Mormon, church leaders do it all the time.
Stop attending, you don't need this aggravation when you should be enjoying your weekends off.

Leah Wrote:
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>
> They might as well have a monkey
> standing there mouthing the words,
> same thing.
>

Monkeys are hard to come by in these parts, but I do know a homeless cat that would make a pretty good EQ teacher.

A can of tuna every Sunday, and she's got it covered.

^..^

Sampler Wrote:
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>
> I actually do care about them and want to draw them
> nearer to the gospel, but admit I struggle coming
> up with ideas on my own.
>
> Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>

I think you need to redefine what kind of "gospel" you're willing to teach. Book of Mordor made an excellent point, that you don't want to draw them closer to a fraudulent belief system. Isn't that right?

I suggest that you construct your own gospel from the few innocuous Mormon beliefs, maybe eternal families without mentioning temple work. Bible verses that teach wisdom and self-control. But no miracle stories, unless you've performed any miracles lately. Good quotes from Socrates or the Buddha, find out about the Axial period. Good ideas from any religion, use the 1978 FP statement as cover for this. Start thinking about morals, ethics, reason, purpose, the consequences of various actions and beliefs. Look up famous quotations online, or get a copy of Bartlett's Famous Quotations. Enjoy the poetry in Shakespeare and the KJV Bible, and realize how inferior the BOM is in that regard. Reflect on any inspiring lyrics in any beautiful hymns you may have heard.

And never, ever claim that Joseph Smith was a moral example for anyone.

If you are a "believer," why are you posting here? If not, why do you want to teach the EQ?

An EQP with a personality like that and he thinks that you're the reason for low attendance? I'd pay him a visit, have a sit down and tell him that you're concerned that his attitude and approach is causing a lack of attendance. Oh, that and the fact that the church is in the process of being exposed on the Internet.

If you want to share the gospel, then plan a lesson around Jesus's words, "“At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” [Matthew 22:30] This was Jesus's response to a question about a woman who had been married multiple times -- to whom would she be married in heaven? [Matthew 22: 23-28]

Or was it some other gospel you were talking about?