What is the Role of Agency in Learning the Gospel?

 

 

OK, so I really, REALLY love this lesson – in fact, I taught this principle every single year when I taught seminary.

This lesson helps students understand their role in exercising personal agency in learning the gospel.  Often, if you ask a youth if they like seminary or a church class – they will credit their teacher for whatever experience they are having.  While the teacher definitely has a great role, there are other equally important elements in play – and this lesson teaches them really effectively.

One good object lesson is to set a paper cup right side up, and then another one face down – and then have a pitcher set out filled with water.  Ask the youth, “if these cups represented my attitude of learning in class today, what could they represent”?  (Face up means that they are ready to be filled and face down represents they aren’t ready or willing to receive).  “What does the pitcher represent?”  (The lesson the teacher has prepared, or more importantly, the Spirit).

Discuss this and then ask some of these questions:

– When was a time that you went to church or other gospel learning place with your cup ready to be filled?  What was your experience?

– When was a time you went somewhere with your cup turned over?  What was your experience?

–  What can help you have your cup ready to be filled?

–  What can cause your cup to be turned over?

–  If a teacher has come prepared with a lesson, what is your responsibility?

–  How could these cups represent your scripture study?

I always found that to be a really effective lesson – and then later in the year I could say something like “your cup seems turned over – are you having a hard day?” and they would know what I meant.

 

And you can find the teaching package (pictured above) HERE.