On the first Sunday of the new year, Bonnie D. Parkin would like all Relief Society sisters to come with their new study guides in hand — having already read the introduction — and gain together a vision of "honest sharing."

Photo by Lynn Howlett

Ashley Nylander from the Salem 3rd Branch, Salem Oregon Stake, teaches Relief Society using the yearly study guide.

"What I would love to happen in a Relief Society Sunday lesson is that the women would decide this is our gospel time together, this is our learning. We learn together as sisters and we learn from each other. We learn as other women share their experiences, as they testify," Sister Parkin, Relief Society general president, told the Church News recently.

And this can happen, she added, if "the sisters know how to use the study guide."

With that in mind, Sister Parkin and her counselors in the general presidency, Kathleen H. Hughes and Anne C. Pingree, are urging ward and branch Relief Societies throughout the Church to use the first Sunday in 2005 to focus on the introduction in the study guide — with the new study guide for 2005 being the Teachings of Presidents of the Church — David O. McKay.

"As Relief Society leaders, what is your vision for Sunday lessons?" Sister Parkin asks in a statement that will soon appear on the Church's Web site at www.lds.org under "Serving in the Church."

"I believe if a Relief Society presidency is concerned about teaching, they'll do everything it takes to improve it, including giving a first Sunday lesson that shares a vision and expectation for all Relief Society sisters — both teachers and learners. I invite you to consider using the first Sunday in January to teach the introduction section of the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: — David O. McKay book."

In an interview, Sister Parkin and her counselors spoke of comments by teachers of their struggle to create a lesson from chapters in the study guide or from conference addresses now that fourth Sunday lessons are taken from the most recent general conference. (Please see Oct. 23, 2004, Church News.) Sister Hughes assured sisters "it's a pretty simple process if you know some specific strategies."

Sister Parkin first emphasized the helps found in the introduction in the new study guide. Each chapter, the introduction explains, "includes four sections: (1) an opening quotation that briefly introduces the focus of the chapter; (2) an 'Introduction,' which illustrates the messages of the chapter with a story or counsel from President McKay; (3) 'Teachings of David O. McKay,' which presents doctrines from his many messages and sermons; and (4) 'Suggestions for Study and Discussion,' which contains questions to encourage personal review and inquiry, application of gospel principles, and discussion at home and at Church."

The general presidency emphasized the need to stay with approved curriculum. "One of the things we are trying to help sisters understand is that the study guide and the scriptures are the curriculum," Sister Hughes said.

Sister Parkin and her counselors offered the following suggestions for improved Sunday lessons:

• Urge sisters to come prepared. Announce the week before what the following week's lesson will be. List the lessons in the ward bulletin. Encourage the sisters to bring their scriptures, the study guide and the recent conference edition of the Ensign or Liahona. The general presidency hopes sisters come to "understand the importance of coming prepared themselves to hear the lessons and to be a participant in the discussion that ensues," Sister Hughes said.

• Include sisters in the lessons. Sister Pingree hopes this will go beyond just having sisters read a quote and then moving on. "Dig deep when having sisters take part," she added.

  Sister Parkin offered three questions to ask sisters when discussing a particular point in the lesson: "What do you think? How do you feel? Have you had any experiences with this?"

• Know your sisters. "Good information makes for good inspiration," Sister Parkin said. She hopes education counselors will counsel often with teachers in discussing the individual circumstances of sisters — without breaking confidentiality. This could even be done simply by pointing out sections of the lesson to emphasize.

• Be guided by the Holy Spirit. "One of the things we're trying to help teachers understand is that the teacher is not the center of the lesson. The gospel and the doctrine are the center of the lesson," Sister Hughes said.

  The general presidency emphasized that elaborate handouts and table decorations are not necessary to a successful lesson. "The message of a good lesson comes through spiritual preparation," Sister Hughes said.

• For more information on teaching in Relief Society, see www.lds.org and click on "Serving in the Church," then click on Relief Society. For a copy of Sister Parkin's address on "Teaching: An Entrance to the Heart," click on "Fall 2004 Open House Talks and Materials." The general presidency also referred readers to Teaching: No Greater Call, chapters 14, 16.

  E-mail: julied@desnews.com