Summary: Recently I was reminded of Elder Holland's April 1998 General Conference talk titled <a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/04/a-teacher-come-from-god?lang=eng" target="_blank">"A Teacher Come From God"</a>. It is a talk that was given soon after President Hinckley expressed that each member of the Church needs a friend, a responsibility, and nourishment by the good word of God. I took the time to listen to the talk, which led to me reading the talk, which led to me reading the talk again. It's an Elder Holland classic, but what talk of his isn't an Elder Holland classic?<br> <br> As I read this talk I was captivated by his phrasing, including, "Are we really nurturing our [members] in a way that will sustain them when the stresses of life appear? Or are we giving them a kind of theological Twinkie—spiritually empty calaries?"<br> <br> The quote that was the biggest frying pan to the face for me was when he quoted President Kimball by saying,<br> "Stake presidents, bishops, and branch presidents, please take a particular interest in improving the quality of teaching in the Church. I fear that all too often many of our members come to church, sit through a class or a meeting, and... then return home having been largely [uninspired]. It is especially unfortunate when this happens at a time ... of stress, temptation, or crisis [in their life]. We all need to be touched and nurtured by the Spirit and effective teaching is one of the most important ways this can happen. We often do vigorous work to get members to come to Church but then do not adequately watch over what they receive when they do come."<br> Elder Holland then quotes President Hinckley when he said,<br> "Effective teaching is the very essence of leadership in the Church. Eternal life will come only as men and women are taught with such effectiveness that they change and discipline their lives. They cannot be coerced into righteousness or into heaven. They must be led, and that means teaching."<br> As I studied this talk I saw it as an opportunity to share on Leading Saints and start a dialogue about some of the pitfalls many church units face when it comes to teaching. I can only speak from my own experience, but I have rarely been a student in a church classroom where it moved me spiritually on a consistent basis. I generally go to church for the ordinances, and I wish I could say, I stay for the incredible teaching.<br> <br> So why does the teaching become mediocre in a ward? What new approaches have been tried that have changed the dynamic of the church classroom? I am sure a higher level of church teaching has been done consistently, and I hope others will share success stories so we can all benefit. Here are a few thoughts that came to the surface as I discussed Sunday teaching with other members and leaders.<br> Problem #1: Lack of Experienced Teachers<br> In basketball, many teams pride themselves on having a "deep bench". What this means is that most players on their team, even the ones sitting at the end of the bench, can come into the game and make a difference. I've heard of wards with a "deep bench" where in one classroom you can have a half dozen former bishops, a few past stake presidents, and even a mission president or two. This is fantastic, but for most wards, it isn't reality.<br> <br> When a ward doesn't have a "deep bench", by the time teachers are needing to be called there isn't much experience left. The bishopric, Relief Society presidency, ward and stake auxiliaries have sucked up all the teaching talent and what is left is good-hearted members that will really be stretched in a teaching calling, which leads to rookie teaching. No fault to the inexperienced teacher for doing their best. It's simply the reality of the ward.<br> <br> Many times it's hard enough to find experienced teachers to place in the Sunday School presidency, let alone finding solid teachers to actually do th...
