Well, that is what Elder Boyd K. Packer says, and I believe he is correct! It has seemed to be my lot; being put into that classification. Not by any desire on my part, only by a natural course of events I have passed through since I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints back in 1952.
My first call came from the Missionaries that Baptized me. (I know that is not the formal way of doing things in the Church, but the Ward was in the process of preparing to build a new Meeting House, and the Bishop was a very busy man at the time. I guess he felt the need for a new member on the Primary Board and gave the Elders the responsibility of asking me to take the Sunbeam Class.) I had no idea what that was, but when I learned they were very small children, I ventured the 'leap of faith' and accepted.
They told me where and when to be there to teach these 'sweet things' and I obeyed. I was welcomed by the Sisters at Prayer Meeting. Having received my teaching manual from the Missionaries, I was prepared as best I could, under the circimstances.
Each week was a nerve racking experience. I didn't know very much more than these 'little ones' and I had a certain amount of fear weighing me down. What if I taught them a 'false doctrine'? I wouldn't, of course do so with any fore thought, but I could certainly fall into that trap out of the lack of knowledge I started out with.
As it turned out, they didn't leave me in that calling long. However it was during this time I learned there were meeting that would help me prepare for each week. The reason I hadn't gone, simple, I had no idea there were such meetings. Being 'green' I missed out on an awful lot. Once I got my footing, and felt a bit more secure in what I was doing, I felt the need for more study. Soon, I found myself called to teach the Blazer Boys. This was soon followed by moving me up to the Trekker Class of boys. Mostly these kids were great, but they did have the deeply routed desire to see just how far they could go with any new teacher. It was a real test for both sides. I guess that was the beginning of me laying down rules - you act like 'gentlemen' I act like a 'lady'. They soon learned I would give tit for tat. Things went pretty smoothly from then on. (It wasn't until later in life I learned from one of those boys, after he had been on his Mission; that they learned early on just how far they could 'push my buttons'. I always had long finger nails, usually painted a red color. I would stand behind a chair while teaching and hold onto the back of the chair. When I had reached my 'max' with their ornary actions, he informed me, I would begin to tap my finger nails on the back of the chair. That was when they knew to 'knock it off'.) It appeared then I lacked a great deal more control than I gave myself credit for. Oh well, we live and learn.
You know, as I look back on it, I never taught a single class of girls in Primary or MIA. I guess the girls were too much of a challenge for me! It was, however, in those years of going to Stake Meetings and having the great experience of attending Relief Society and enjoying the expertise of some pretty great teachers that I began to grow and develope as a teacher. There was a hunger to know more, to be informed about more than just the basics. I would attend anything that I felt would help me broaden my base. This included day long sessions in "Know Your Religion". They don't have that here anymore, I feel it is a sore loss to those who come into the Church and have no place to expand their knowledge of the Gospel through setting at the feet of so many talented and knowledgeable teachers. Many of those who inspired me have now gone on to 'higher areas' to share their great teaching abilities.
I could go on, and on about many of the things I have done, but it was one such 'teaching interlude' that got me thinking about my past. I am not sure it will interest any of you that much, but it was one of the 'moments' that I shall ever remember and hold very close to my heart.
I had been called to teach Relief Society. The basis of Study that year was the Life of Christ in the New Testiment. The other Sisters in the Anaheim Stake who were teaching this material developed quite a bond, and worked together in gathering material to share. Six Sisters working on separate phases of the topic brought a broader outlook to every Ward in the Stake. In fact I remember spending hours in the Univesity of California Fresno in their Library studying out of books that were no where else available to us. I wish I had the copies of the pages we made. I learned a very great deal about the life and times of Christ. It would be great to look over those pages again and again to refresh my memory.
The last class of the year was one I had worked especially hard on. My classes were the best attended in our Ward, and I wanted to leave the topic with a very special experience for every Sister who would be there. Jay and I looked for just the right picture of Jesus. When we found it, Jay took it and put, I forget, how many coats of clear lacquer over it. Letting each one dry before he would put the next coat on. We bought a very special frame for it and then went to the Pharmacy and got a bottle of glisterine (sp). What they use in the movies to make tears for the actors.
With the picture prepared as it had been, I hoped I could produce an effect that would make the figure cry. It was a very important conclusion to my lesson that day. We experimented with the picture many times, and each time it was effective, but only for a short time. The drop would run off very quickly. So I decided to have the drop put on when the picture was laying flat, leave it flat until the very last moment then lean the picture ever so slightly for the tear to run down 'slowly'. When the day came, I had all my visual aids put out on the table. I had asked a number of the Sister to participate, which they did. One particularly gave me a detail following the class I will share with you later.
Needless to say, this was one of the most spiritual presentation I have ever made. I had worked over it with very special care, and hoped it would not be too theatrical, but would bring home the one point I felt everyone of the Sister needed to take away that day. I followed my outline to perfection. The other Sisters added their portion with great success. When I came to the end of the lesson, I had but one point to make. Of all the things Christ did, the one that brought home His love for us all was, that He wept. So my last words were: "and Jesus Wept!". I brought the picture up and the tear I had placed in the corner of His eye slowly began to fall. To my amazement, as I sat down, the tear remained on the cheek of the Lords face. We had the closing song and prayer, and the tear remained on the cheek. It wasn't until the class was leaving and I was putting my things away that the drop ran off onto the frame of the picture.
Now to the other Sister. She came to me after the class and in tears said she had practiced for over a week how to say those words: "and Jesus Wept". It was to be part of her presentation. She was amazed as she went through her material, she could not say those words. As she would come to that part, she would have another thought that would take her away from saying them. It happened three times. When she saw the close of the class, she understood why she had been unable to speak the words she had so carefully prepared for her part of the lesson.
I have used that picture with a tear in Seminary Classes and in other Relief Society classes. It never was as impressive by holding like it did that first time. That picture now hangs in my bedroom. It brings back many memories of a time when I was in tune with the Savior and able to bring the moment when He showed His greatest love for His children. In fact I think I still have that bottle of glisterine somewhere around as well.
Teaching is not a matter of just reading over the material, but having an ingrained knowledge and testimony that what is on the printed page is improtant, and that every person in that class is spending their time with the teacher to be uplifted and edified. Not a moment should be wasted with unimportant chatter. If the teacher believes what they are teaching, it will become so important that nothing less that the very most valuable information should be shared. A quick read through will not do that. A teacher needs to have gone the 'extra mile' in preparation to give every person in that class something of worth to take away.
Someone asked me after teaching those Relief Society Lessons how much time I put in, in preparing. We had 40 minutes a month on those lessons. When I sat down and looked over what we had done, I found I had put in at least 40 hours of work. The other Sisters had done a great deal as well. I could never have given everything I had learned, but it made a great resource for all the other lessons I taught since then. I believe I understand the statement made by Lynne Lund when her husband Gerald complained one time about not having enough time to prepare for a particular lecture. She said to him: "Gerald, you have been preparing for 20 years". I think, in some ways, I have done a similar thing. I have forgotten more than I can remember, but have retained enough when an opportunity arises, and I put myself into the material, my mind unfolds things I have studied and the message is given with the testimony I have of the truthfulness of what I am sharing.
You cannot teach what you have not studied, and you cannot bear a testimony of something you do not believe. I have been blessed to set at the feet of many wonderful teachers who have inspired and impressed me with their ability to gain, retain and then share their knowledge. It is the time spent that makes the difference. For every hour of teaching I have ever done, I have spent at least 4 hours in gathering and preparing. It has not been a labor, rather it has been time enjoyed in recalling things I have loved learning and love even more sharing.
Over the years I have taught hundreds of Seminary Students. I never knew how much of an impression I made - well, not until recently when Facebook came into my life. I have received a number of requests to be added as a friend. In a number of those request I had no idea who it was that was asking. When I accepted them, I learned they were past students who were telling me how much their Seminary Classes had ment to them, and how I was remembered as their teacher. I guess it is true, a teacher will likely never know how far reaching their efforts went until they are in the eternities. If the effort was well spent, there will be blessings. If the job was poorly done, there will be those questions: "why didn't you tell me?" There are never second chances when it comes to teaching. It is either well done, or not at all. A five minute run through just won't do, even if you have spent 20 years elsewhere gaining knowledge. Oh, I have given a five minute talk on the spur of the moments notice, but that is a whole other subject.
If you are called to teach, remember one thing, Robert J. Matthews taught me years ago. When you are called to teach, you represent the Lord in that class room. You owe it to yourself and to those in the room with you to be prepared and teach by the spirit. He told us as Seminary Teachers: "we have given you an over abundance of material, you may teach any of it, you may teach all of it, or none of it; but you must never leave out the Scriptures and you must always listen to the Spirit. Very good advice from a very great source.
I feel blessed indeed to have been called over and over again as a teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have enjoyed every opportunity and feel sad that age now limits me in such calls. It seems even speaking is no longer something I am asked to do. Which means I look forward to other opportunities beyond the vail to again assist others in finding the truth and accepting the knowledge the Gospel holds for everyone.
I have never held a leadership possition in the Church. Well I guess that is not important, I have done that which was most enjoyable to me, and hopefully beneficial to others.
Written this 21st day of December 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg
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