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The Highest and Holiest Purpose
By C.S. Bezas
Oftentimes in the classroom we might
struggle to maintain our footing within our duties. The opposition
can be tremendous to what we are about. Whether it is the pull from
our own challenges outside of the classroom or whether it's the
unthinking, sudden tugs from our students, teaching can sometimes
nearly topple us. Especially when a teacher is an early morning
seminary teacher, things can appear particularly taut in the middle
of the night.
Some early morning seminary instructors
arise at 3:30 a.m. every morning of the week to get ready, drive
to the seminary classroom, and set up their materials before the
students arrive. This effort doesn't include the time spent away
from family for the lesson prep the night before!
Even so, each day when those students arrive, it is imperative that
we as teachers drop our own personal struggles so that we face our
students clear-headed. No matter that the spouse may have just lost
his job. No matter that the seminary teacher's own child may currently
have rejected the gospel in a myriad of ways. No matter that the
health of an aging parent appears directed towards death. A seminary
teacher's most important job while in front of his students is to
focus his thoughts on the needs of the students and to allow the
Lord to carry the teacher's burden during that classroom time. It
becomes a sacrifice most sacred to the One who cares.
What particularly can be difficult during all this is when the students
appear to reject the offerings the teacher extends to them. From
the variety of letters and email I periodically receive, it is quite
something to hear of the love you have for your students, in spite
of the periodic challenge of working with them. Some students struggle
so deeply to grasp the bigger picture.
For example, one teacher writes:
I have one young man who will do
anything to win, and I mean anything. He cheats incessantly! I
stopped [using] competition. The first thing I tried was getting
everyone to help everyone find their scripture mastery. He slammed
down his book and wouldn't participate, because we "all"
were going to be winners.
The next time we did a SM game, I
had divided my students into teams and there was just going to
be a small treat for all who finished (this was to be a practice
for a test later in the week for missionary week). About one minute
into the activity, one of the groups told me he and his team were
cheating (my class president was on the team). I took his books
and stuff away, did everything but a pat-down to him, and at the
end of class he proudly announced that he was hiding his cards
and that I hadn't found them.
I team-teach with another sister
and [when] he was losing on Thursday he slammed his stuff to the
desk and said the game was stupid. Unfortunately he is much of
a leader and very popular among the other youth. Can you see where
this is going?
My heart goes out to this teacher.
Scripture mastery games are commonly used tools within the seminary
classroom. Oftentimes they are timed games to help stimulate interest.
Most students seem to relish "chasing" against themselves
or even against other teams in an effort to better their speed in
finding important scriptures.
But within nearly every classroom there
seems to be a few students who struggle with competition in one
form or another. Typically, I myself avoid competitive games, just
like the seminary teacher above. But just as she might still need
to use team games for certain purposes, I will, too. So what does
one do when a student or two struggles within that paradigm?
Of course, the answers to that could be many. But it behooves us
to remember why we are in the classroom in the first place.
The Highest and Holiest Purpose
It is oft repeated within the Church that there is no greater call
than that of a teacher. In fact, isn't that even what parents are
— teachers of the most potent kind? We are to be mentors,
teachers in fact, for our own children. Teaching is as integral
to the kingdom on earth as a heart is to a functioning body. Remove
teaching and what do you have left?
Thus, to those working in the seminary classroom, remembering the
essential nature of teaching moments can be fuel enough to push
us past the periodic potholes and insistent speed impediments that
we face (either before we arrive at the actual classroom or once
we're there). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated:
To teach effectively and to feel
you are succeeding is demanding work indeed. But it is worth it.
We can receive “no greater call.” … For each
of us to “come unto Christ,” to keep His commandments
and follow His example back to the Father, is surely the highest
and holiest purpose of human existence. To help others do that
as well — to teach, persuade, and prayerfully lead them
to walk that path of redemption also — surely that must
be the second most significant task in our lives. Perhaps this
is why President David O. McKay once said, “No greater responsibility
can rest upon any man [or woman], than to be a teacher of God's
children” (Ensign, May 1998, 25).
When we remember our purpose, this
can fuel us toward another day that might be brighter and feel more
rewarding. And we are not alone. We do not do this alone (or at
least, we shouldn't). In 3 Nephi 8:24 we read: "Hold up your
light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which
ye shall hold up — that which ye have seen me do."
The more we focus on holding up Christ
as the Light, rather than ourselves, the more fitted we become for
this high and holy purpose. The more we read our scriptures, the
more strength we will have to face another day in the classroom,
because we will have been taught what Christ did and does.
Any gospel teacher will tell you that there are more than just bleak
days in the classroom. In fact, there are many sparkling days in
a year of seminary moments. These are the many delightful days indeed
wherein we teach God's children and they seem to grasp the importance
of the moment. That moment when the "light" goes on in
a student's eyes defines the true meaning of a miracle.
How could one distill that down to
normal words? I think it would be difficult to do so. The moment
when a student lingers behind after class with a simple "thank
you" speaks volumes to what he or she might want to say, but
is at a loss to express. These moments are irreplaceable. They help
elevate the otherwise more challenging ones to a more even terrain.
Our work as teachers and leaders of youth is to join hands with
the Lord himself as we strive to lead His children home. Much as
Lehi motioned for his family to join him at the Tree of Life, so
too do we extend a hand to our students so that they may partake
of gospel fruit. But we need to remind ourselves that as it was
anciently, so too is it today. Not all were willing to heed the
apostle Paul. A portion of Lehi's sons rejected his words. Even
some who knew Christ rejected Him whilst He was among them!
To Consistently Hold Forth
the Light of this World
Our job is not to henpeck or criticize the numbers of those who
seem not to listen or respond to us. We are to keep serving and
loving as the seminary teacher mentioned above did. Our job is to
consistently hold forth the Light of this World and invite all to
receive it. Being called as a teacher, missionary, or evangelist
in some fashion does not guarantee absolute success; but turning
it all over to the Lord will do more to ensure success than any
other thing.
As we remind ourselves that as teachers we function in the highest
and holiest of purposes, perhaps it will help us get through the
periodic student disappointments, the less-sleep-than-we'd-prefer
days, and the overall challenging moments we sometimes face inside
(or outside) the classroom. Truly, this calling of "teacher"
is a high and holy one with mighty purpose. May the Lord bless us
to serve well, in spite of the insistent speed bumps and periodic
potholes we stumble over and through.
C.S.
Bezas’ new book is now in LDS bookstores and has been called
perfect for parents of teens and those who work with them. Powerful
Tips for Powerful Teachers: Helping Youth Find Their Spiritual
Wings is also available by clicking here.
© 2007 Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved
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