Preparing and Teaching Life Preparation Lessons: Discussion with Teachers
S&I Annual Training Broadcast 2025
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Brother Jason Willard: Brother Dyreng, thank you for allowing me the chance to come visit with your teachers. So some time ago, Brother Webb introduced these Life Preparation lessons. What were your initial thoughts when you first heard of these Life Preparation lessons?
Sister Hunt.
Sister Hunt: My first thoughts were overwhelming. I’m trying to teach the scriptures, and I’m a newer teacher. And so adding Life Preparation lessons in, I thought, “Oh my goodness! What else are they going to have me do now?”
Brother Willard: Really good. Who else was overwhelmed? Anybody want to confess? Yeah. Thanks, Sister Hunt.
Brother Cavanaugh, what was your experience?
Brother Cavanaugh: I was kind of—it’s kind of a roller coaster. Like, I first heard about them and saw the topics and got really excited. And then when I watched the pacing guide grow and learned just how often we’d be teaching them, I kind of got disappointed. I love the scriptures. I wanted to teach just the scriptures and now I have all these Life Preparation lessons. Now, as we got more into it, I realized that there’s a lot of scripture in there, and it’s just a more applicable scripture—like teaching the scriptures in a more applicable way. But I was kind of disappointed at first.
Brother Willard: So since then, how have you felt? You’ve been teaching them for a while. How have you felt since that initial disappointment?
Brother Cavanaugh: It’s changed. I was talking to a student a few weeks ago about it, and she mentioned that this was her favorite lessons in seminary, were the life prep lessons, because she felt like the scriptures were actually more applicable to her and her life.
Brother Willard: Really good. And Elder Bednar teaches that sometimes we teach sequentially, sometimes we teach thematically or topically. And we can still do that in the scriptures. That’s really good, Brother Cavanaugh. Thank you.
Yeah, Sister Wheeler.
Sister Wheeler: I have a couple of emotions. One different emotion was just—it wasn’t emotion as much as it was just, “Oh, it’s another change.” There’s been a lot of change. So this is my fifth year teaching, and it’s just been change, change, change, change. Every year there’s some new changes. But at the same time, I was really excited to—like, the more I read about these lessons, I thought, “These are going to be really helpful for a lot of our students.”
Brother Willard: Really good. So you feel it was a good change?
Sister Wheeler: I do feel it was a good change, but it’s still something that I think we’re adjusting to.
Brother Willard: Good. I’m glad to hear that. Thank you. What have you experienced with these Life Preparation lessons as you’ve been teaching?
Yes, Sister Robbins.
Sister Robbins: I continue to find the theme of involving the Lord in your life and in your learning. It doesn’t matter which Life Preparation lesson it is. It just goes back to, “Here’s how you can involve the Lord in your life.” If it’s managing your finances, if it’s organizing or prioritizing, if we can teach them this skill of leaning into the Lord early in their life and involving Him on things that matter to them, they’re going to matter to Him.
Brother Willard: I love to hear that. So would you say they are Christ-centered in your experience?
Sister Robbins: Ingredients are still there. You’ve got the Christ-centered, you’ve got the learner-focused, and you’ve got the scripture-based. So all the ingredients are there. And that’s what is home base for you. You feel comfortable because you know that ingredient, and they’re all still there.
Brother Willard: Thank you for that. (to Sister Robbins)
Brother Cyril. (to Brother Cyril)
Brother Cyril: To me early on, you can bring the students relevance into their lives. You look at every Life Preparation lesson. It’s a wonderful way to be able to see how it’s relevant for you to go through and learn. I love that. It actually built my own confidence in teaching that, you know, that there is relevance in everything that we do, including Christ-centered, scripture-based.
Brother Willard: I love that. So the idea that these lessons are still what we’ve always done, but it maybe provides this added sense of relevance for our students. Really good, Brother Cyril, thank you for that. But let’s talk about your inservice then.
Recently you learned about three skills that will help you make life easier for you as teachers as you prepare these Life Preparation lessons. So you had the focus on the lesson purpose. You had that bolded truth as found in the word of God, and then an activity where the learners would demonstrate their learning. So with those three things in mind, and now you’ve practiced a little bit, what’s been your experience? What difference have you seen in your classes using those three skills?
Yeah, Sister Wheeler.
Sister Wheeler: I’m trying to—I find that I want to spend more time on the understanding it, and then I end up having less time for them to apply it, to practice it. But as I practice this, of trying to help them to see it more quickly, what the purpose of the lesson is, and then to find the bolded truth, then we can get into more time to practice. And so they’re having more time to be able to practice in class than I felt like I was giving them beforehand.
Brother Willard: So if I understand this correctly, you, like many of us, don’t leave a lot of time at the end of the lesson for that application, right?
Sister Wheeler: Yeah.
Brother Willard: And this allows you to be more intentional in the way that you’re carving out time for every student to have an experience demonstrating that they actually felt or learned or want to do something different. Right?
Sister Wheeler: Yes. And then you get more out of the students when they have more time to practice it.
Brother Willard: Thank you. I really like that.
Brother Cyril: I think for me, the bolded truth helps me to be able to be—easy to be on scripture-based. You know, we can easily take them and help them to identify and throughout the lesson. And also to be able to use the words of the prophets and weave into that truth of what is bolded a principle that they can learn for that day. It helps us to be able to be effective when we practice because we spend time with scriptures, words of the living prophets.
Brother Willard: So what Brother Cavanaugh said earlier about being afraid that we’ve moved away from the scriptures. That’s one of our concerns, is that a teacher may feel like, because they’re teaching about a temporal topic, that they don’t use the scriptures to teach about emotional resilience.
Brother Cyril: Yeah.
Brother Willard: But we can see that they can’t teach emotional resilience without scriptures and words of prophets. Right? So that bolded truth cements that together. But thank you for that, Brother Cyril. That’s really well said.
Please, Brother Alcala.
Brother Alcala: One of my favorite quotes by Elder Packer is that the study of the doctrine of Christ will change behavior quicker than the study of behavior will change behavior. And I find fascinating—I am a guy that loves to read self-improvement books, that loves to listen to motivational speakers. But although they teach some truth, they don’t have the complete truth.
And in these prep lessons, we are teaching lessons that can help them in their lives, with Jesus Christ involved. And because of that, they will increase their chances of succeeding. They will make changes in a quicker way. They will see more blessings. And I think—I am a college student. So these life prep lessons have blessed me a lot.
And I think that just by seeing how it has blessed me, I know for sure it can bless life of the students that we’re teaching.
Brother Willard: I love that, Brother Alcala. So you personally have been blessed as you’ve tried to help your students with these Life Preparation lessons, because it’s applicable to even a college student. Right?
Brother Alcala: Yes.
Brother Willard: So good. Thank you for that. How about the lesson purpose? How about that target? Has that been helpful for anybody as you try to center your lesson in and help students shoot on that target? And in what way?
Brother Cavanaugh.
Brother Cavanaugh: One of the things I have found is if I start my lesson out by putting that purpose on the board or just sharing, “Hey guys, this lesson is going to help you with whatever,” some of the students in the class who are a little less, who don’t understand the scriptures as easily as others, having that purpose on there kind of gives them something to look for in the scriptures. So they know how I’m reading this verse, and it’s supposed to help me with this. So it’s easier for them to comprehend what they’re reading and apply it to their lives. At least that’s what I’ve seen in my classroom. I don’t know if you guys have in yours.
Brother Willard: Anybody else see that? That same help. Just putting that up front, Brother Cavanaugh. That’s really well said that when I taught my Life Preparation lesson a few weeks ago, because I wanted to practice this, that was the thing that centered my whole lesson—to be able to say, there’s a target that we’re shooting at, and then during the lesson, it helped me to make sure I was still aiming at that target. So I’m glad you saw that. Thank you for that.
Yeah, Brother Dyreng.
Brother Dyreng: It provides a vision that we continually can come back to. And we know that when we have vision and we give students that vision, there is a lot more sense of purpose in our classroom, and it’s a lot easier to hit that target when you know what the target is in the first place.
Brother Willard: Yeah. So Brother Dyreng, let me ask you this question: What would it look like if you were just teaching about emotional resilience without that target? If you go into that class, and you’re just teaching about a certain topic?
Brother Dyreng: I could see a lot of wonderful discussion about a lot of different things. But we may miss the mark on focusing on what is most important—connecting, like Sister Robbins said, everything that we’re teaching back to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Connecting what we’re teaching to the scriptures and to the words of the prophets, and having that purpose anchors us in that and allows those things to happen instead of just having a nice discussion with students about a topic.
Brother Willard: Yeah. Have you felt that these life preparation lessons can provide for a nice discussion?
If that’s all we have is a nice discussion, we’re not helping them become more deeply converted to Jesus Christ. We’re not helping them qualify for the blessings of the temple. We’re not helping them prepare themselves and their families and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven. So we’ve got to be careful that we stay rooted in the word of God, that those bolded truths aren’t just nice things written on a page, but they’re powerful truths from Heavenly Father found in His word, and that we’re aiming clearly at that target so that all that we do in that lesson comes back to that.
And then, as Sister Wheeler says, we’re able to go to that learning activity at the end to be able to give every student that opportunity. That’s so well said. Any other thoughts on those three skills?
Sister Wheeler.
Sister Wheeler: Just a practical one. Sometimes life throws a curve ball, and you may not have as much time as you thought. You know you will prepare more than what we have time for. So that purpose for me helps me to know what I can eliminate from my lesson and still get what we need to be able to understand that purpose.
Brother Willard: That’s really good. It almost helps you pace your lesson during the lesson. Because earlier you said the application, sometimes we leave too little time for that. But now with the purpose, the bolded truth, and the activity, you’re able to then pace yourself during the actual lesson and make sure that the important things are going to be taught or caught by those students, rather than just a tangent or talking about the latest literature on emotional resilience or on financial management.
Sister Wheeler: And you can do it in a shorter period of time if needed and still testify of that truth.
Brother Willard: Oh, that’s really good. Yeah. So it shortens, even makes the lesson more condensed and more efficient. But it’s still powerful. That’s really good. Two more thoughts.
Sister Hunt.
Sister Hunt: I was going to say for me, preparing these lessons, it’s easier when I have the purpose, the bolded truth, and the demonstration. Because, a lot of times, like you said, we could go a million different ways if we didn’t have a purpose. And so I could go to all this different literature. But because I have that purpose and I have the scripture and the bolded truth—it’s easier for me to prepare. I can say, okay, we’re going here, here, and here. And I feel like the students fill in the rest and it’s been great.
Brother Willard: Thank you for that. (to Sister Hunt)
Brother Alcala. (to Brother Alcala)
Brother Alcala: It’s almost like a year and a half ago, President Nelson promised in general conference that, in the last day, we were going to see the greatest manifestations of the Lord’s power. And I think that these life prep lessons are helping us recognize the truths that are giving us the eyes to see His hand more clearly and seeing His power.
And that truth alone gives us that vision that, yes, Jesus Christ not only strengthened Nephi, He can strengthen me. Jesus Christ didn’t only teach Nephi how to build a boat, He can help me [know] how to build my life on Him. He didn’t just help the Jaredites or the Nephites to prosper, but He can also help me with my finances.
So I think the focus of these life prep lessons is helping us see the truth never changes. And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Brother Willard: Brother Alcala, do you believe that these Life Preparation lessons could be evidence of one of these greater manifestations of the Lord’s power in the last days?
Brother Alcala: Yes, because I have seen it in my life.
Brother Willard: I have too. Thank you for sharing that testimony with us. Our last question today, then, is, what advice would you give to teachers throughout the world who are just starting these Life Preparation lessons? You’ve had experience with these lessons now? What would you say to the teachers around the world?
Please, Brother Simmons.
Brother Simmons: I would say that a truth lived is a truth learned for both the teacher and the student. So the teacher needs to live it. You know, you want to—your teaching will be more powerful if you’re living what you’re teaching. And then if you can help your students live what they’re being taught, that’s powerful.
Brother Willard: Wow. So if I understand correctly, you actually living these lessons, living those principles, will give you greater power as you teach the students?
Brother Simmons: Yeah. I had an experience where I was getting ready to teach the spiritual self-reliance one, and I was like, “I’m not very spiritual self-reliant.” And I got to work on this, and there was one thing I changed in my life to help me to be more spiritually self-reliant. Still working on it. And I think that helped me teach with more power.
Brother Willard: That’s really cool. Thank you for that. Really.
Yes, Sister Robbins.
Sister Robbins: The curriculum is so good that one of my favorite things to do is look for the questions, look for the questions in the lesson. And sometimes I, word for word, can put those up in a slide or just ask that to students and it will generate conversation that takes us back to the purpose, back to the truth. And it’s really—the curriculum has done a lot of the heavy lifting with how do we ask a great question to students so that they can live the truth? And so I love those questions. That would be my advice, is, look at those questions and use them.
Brother Willard: So you’ve got these three anchor points in the lesson. But you’ve also got questions interspersed throughout. And you’ve found that those questions are really helpful?
Sister Robbins: They’re so helpful.
Brother Willard: Thank you for that.
Brother Cyril: I think for a new teacher, some of these Life Preparation lessons, you know, you don’t have to be competent or you don’t have to be, like, very good at those. You just need to, like Sister Robbins said, stick to the curriculum and be able to testify of the Savior, and you’ll be fine. You don’t have to be expert in emotion—mental health—or you don’t have to know everything that has to do with dealing with anxiety. Stick to the curriculum. The youth will know what they need to know to rely on the Savior to get through challenges that they’re going through.
Brother Willard: Brother Cyril, I’m glad you said that, because there’s a lot of teachers out there that feel overwhelmed—like Sister Hunt said—at the first, and they feel like they have to be an expert or they can’t teach it. But I love what Brother Simmons said: if you’ll just try to live these principles in your life, the Holy Ghost will come and bear testimony through you to your students and bless generations. Because of you trying to follow this beautiful curriculum and be able to try to bless their lives as an amateur, not as a professional.
Brother Cyril: Yeah. And I think it’s good for the youth to know that you’re not an expert. You point them to the Savior because He’s the expert.
Brother Willard: He’s the expert! Oh, Brother Cyril, I love that. Thank you for saying that. Anything else you’d share, then with our teachers throughout the world?
Sister Wheeler.
Sister Wheeler: I think if you’re ever—some of them feel like they’re not like, how is this going to be Christ-centered? You know, like the financial planning. And I think if we can always take it back to the plan of salvation and remember that the purpose is for us to become like our Heavenly Father, to have life like His, and just ask yourself, how is this helping fulfill the purpose?
Brother Willard: Oh, wow.
Sister Wheeler: It makes it extremely Christ-centered.
Brother Willard: Really good. So not just centered on Jesus Christ, but the plan of salvation of which He is the center. And then see how that will help our students progress to become like our Heavenly Father. That’s really good. Thanks, Sister Wheeler.
Brother Dyreng.
Brother Dyreng: My advice would be just jump in, have faith. Jump in and make the effort. And I’ve noticed as I’ve practiced these skills, it’s helped shift my mindset as I’m preparing from “What will I do?” to “What will I help my students do to become converted to the Savior?” And that change right there has made a huge difference. And it’s been a huge blessing as I’ve taught and interacted with students.
Brother Willard: So, Brother Dyreng, some time ago at your inservice, you promised your teachers something. Have you seen that come to pass in their classes and in your own class?
Brother Dyreng: Absolutely. As we have opportunities to watch each other teach, and to teach these lessons ourselves, I echo what Brother Alcala said, quoting President Nelson, that those miracles are being seen, that students’ testimonies are being strengthened in all sorts of areas of their lives, and it’s all coming back to the Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s been a huge, tremendous blessing.
Brother Willard: Thank you.
Brother Dyreng: You’re welcome.
Brother Willard: Thank you, each of you, for teaching. Thank you for loving God’s children enough to want to bless their lives. You are making a difference. In fact, I want to thank our teachers throughout the world, each of them, for all the good that they’re doing. You are working so diligent to bless the rising generation. We love you. This is not easy. We want you to know that no effort is wasted. Nothing that you do in any classroom to bless God’s children will ever be wasted. Thank you for that. When you consider the title “Life Preparation lesson,” picture this as a title for Life Preparation lesson: What if we added one word, and it was “Eternal Life Preparation lesson”? Do you remember years ago, President J. Reuben Clark taught us that not only time but eternity is your field.
These thematic lessons are important, but their eternal life matters a whole lot, and that can only happen through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He loves you and your students more than words could ever express. He will help us. He will help you. I know it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.