Personal and Family Study of the Course

If the Teaching the Gospel course is not currently offered in your ward or if you are unable to attend, you can study the lessons on your own or with family members. However, personal or family study is not intended to be a replacement for participating in the course when you are invited. You will gain much more as you meet with others to share ideas and learn together about how you can improve as teachers.

Keys to Studying on Your Own or with Your Family

Read “Helps for the Course Instructor,” on pages 186–87. Adapt the suggestions to your own situation.

Make a personal commitment. Your study will be more productive if you begin with a personal commitment to improve and a willingness to diligently complete the course.

Study the lessons in sequence, and do not try to cover more than one lesson per week. You will need time between lessons to apply what you have learned.

Keep a notebook. Making a record of your progress is an important part of the Teaching the Gospel course. In the lessons there are opportunities to record notes, impressions, plans, experiences, and progress related to the course.

Complete the assignments. Your efforts to improve will be successful only when you implement what you have learned. Each lesson has assignments to help you apply the principles in actual teaching opportunities. Complete these assignments faithfully. Record in your notebook your evaluation of your efforts and progress.

If you are studying with family members, organize your study as if you were in a class. You might take turns conducting discussions. Read the scriptures suggested in the lessons, discuss the questions, and do the assignments.

If you are studying alone, imagine that you are in a class. What would you add to a discussion of the lesson topics? How would you respond to the questions asked? Record your insights in your notebook. See “Developing a Personal Plan for Studying the Gospel,” pages 16–17, for suggestions on carrying out your study effectively.

If you are studying alone, find someone to whom you can report. Your personal study will improve if there is someone with whom you can share your insights and ideas. Perhaps you can ask a family member, a friend, or a priesthood or auxiliary leader. Share with this person your goals and plans and the results of your efforts.