Meridian Magazine : : Print

"Until I Had Written It"
By C.S. Bezas

President Wilford Woodruff once wrote:

I have been inspired and moved upon to keep a journal and write the affairs of the Church as far as I can. I did not understand why my feelings were exercised so much in the early age of the Church, but I understand it now. I seldom heard Brother Joseph or the Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as a fish out of water until I had written it. Then I felt right (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 13: Journals: "Of Far More Worth than Gold," from the Life of Wilford Woodruff, 125, emphasis added).

Journals are potent tools. For those of us who keep them, we know their value. They can bring comfort in discouraging moments, joy during tender times, and inspiration during darkened hours. And as President Woodruff recorded, teachings and experiences become clearer as we take the time to process them and write them down.

Journals are especially powerful for gospel teachers. When we honestly record our thoughts each day after class, those thoughts then become priceless tools of instruction for us later on. Whether facing a new challenge or one that continues, oftentimes our own personal insights months later can be the fodder for new moments of success, when coupled with scripture study and prayer.

In light of the importance of journaling our "affairs of the Church" (following President Woodruff's pattern), it is particularly important to take account of what has gone on during the seminary year, both wonderful and/or challenging.

Questions to Ponder

The month of May or June often spells the close of the school year for many seminary teachers. Before too much time escapes, take out your journal or at least a notebook of some kind. Print out this page and take a week or so to ponder on your responses to the questions below. Then open up your notebook or journal and begin to write, musing on some of the following thoughts:

What was the best thing that happened this year in seminary? For you? For your students?
What was the most challenging event of this year? What did you learn from the experience? How will it improve your service in the future?
What contributed the most to your students' overall growth? To their spiritual growth?
What did you do to help all students feel welcomed as they walked through the doors of your classroom? How well did it succeed? What would you like to do differently in the future?
What kind of student camaraderie developed within your classroom? Or was there a problem with student unity? If so, what contributed to that? If this occurs in the future, what would be your approach?
How well did you stay on track with your lessons (on average)? What helped you with this? What would you like to do differently regarding this?
How often did you share your personal witness or testimony regarding the topic for the day?
How often did you use the actual scriptures for your teaching text? Do you feel you used them enough?
How often did you provide time for the students to explore the scriptures and learn for themselves of the principles contained therein? How much "hands-on" and sharing time did you give your students this year? Do you feel it was enough?

It would be important to retain this information — your honest, heartfelt responses — as you begin preparations for the next year's subject matter and class of students. With that in mind, you may also want to journal your responses to these final questions:

If you could do one thing differently for your students this coming year, what would it be?
How will you remind yourself of this desire throughout the year?
If your students could attain to one additional area of personal growth, what would it be? How do you hope to foster this?
What area of strength do you intend to continue within your teaching this coming year?
What area of weakness do you desire to change in your future teaching? How will you go about modifying this?
How much did you take advantage of your monthly in-service meetings? Do you feel you gave your all in this regard?
How open were you to learning from your students? From your CES coordinator?
When faced with struggles or trials this past year, what percentage of the time did you turn first to the Lord in prayer regarding the challenge?

Summary

If you don't have a teacher's journal, spend some time this summer finding one. Then as your teaching year goes by, turn to your journal at least weekly to record your thoughts, experiences, and "ah-ha!" moments from the classroom. You'll be richly rewarded if you do.

Again, President Woodruff's comments are most instructive. The teachings President Woodruff received became clear once he'd recorded them in his journal. Journaling has a way of doing that. So let us get our journals and make sure to record our personal "affairs of the Church," within the seminary classroom and without, for our future benefit and that of others.

Each gospel teacher has gifts. And because we are imperfect, each of us has liabilities within our teaching approaches. It is the teacher who is open to learning and to new ideas that is ready to serve well his or her students. As we journal after the pattern that President Woodruff set, we will be worthy recipients of new thoughts, insights, and inspiration from the Holy Ghost.

May the Lord bless us all as we spend time pondering and recording the service given in months past, all the while preparing for service to be rendered in the months to come.

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.