Why We Need Two Lines of Heavenly Communication

 From “Two Lines of Communication“ by Dallin H. Oaks:\

We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life. If personal religious practice relies too much on the personal line, individualism erases the importance of divine authority. If personal religious practice relies too much on the priesthood line, individual growth suffers. The children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny. The restored gospel teaches both, and the restored Church provides both.

An Example of Both Lines of communication in Harmony

[An] example applies these principles to the subject of priesthood authority in the family and the Church. All priesthood authority in the Church functions under the direction of one who holds the appropriate priesthood keys. This is the priesthood line. But the authority that presides in the family—whether father or single-parent mother—functions in family matters without the need to get authorization from anyone holding priesthood keys. That is like the personal line. Both lines must be functioning in our family life and in our personal lives if we are to have the growth and achieve the destiny identified in our Heavenly Father’s plan for His children.

4 Things I Have Taken Away From “Gospel learning and Teaching.”

From “Gospel Learning and Teaching“ by David M. McConkie:

1. Attitude is everything in teaching/learning.

A successful teacher and author said: “What matters most in learning is attitude. The attitude of the teacher.”

2. One cannot teach successfully what one does not like; you need to love what you teach.

Successful gospel teachers love the gospel. They are excited about it. And because they love their students, they want them to feel as they feel and to experience what they have experienced. To teach the gospel is to share your love of the gospel.

3. Should encourage/challenge the students to apply in their lives what you have taught them.

The role of the teacher is “to help individuals take responsibility for learning the gospel—to awaken in them the desire to study, understand, and live the gospel.” 12  This means that as teachers we should not focus so much on our performance as on how we help others learn and live the gospel.

4. Scriptures will train us with the basics of communicating with heavens; after that, all is possible!

When was the last time you knelt in prayer and asked the Lord to help you not just with your lesson but also to help you to know and to meet the needs of each student in your class?  No class is so large that we cannot pray for inspiration regarding how to reach each student.

Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord’s voice.