The Sunday School general presidency has announced the posting of two new features on its Web site. The first is called "Helps for Teachers." The second is called "Sunday School Callings."

The Web site can be found by going to www.lds.org — Serving in the Church — Sunday School and then selecting either Helps For Teachers or Sunday School Callings.

In a statement to the Church News, A. Roger Merrill, Sunday School general president, explained these new features: "Each week there will appear on the Sunday School web site a variety of information and materials designed to help gospel teachers and leaders. The site will contain quotations from the latter-day prophets and scriptures applicable to teaching the gospel. It will also contain stories, suggestions and ideas on how gospel lessons might be presented or strengthened in the classroom and the home."

Brother Merrill noted that the Sunday School Web site now contains a page for each stake and ward Sunday School calling. Sunday School leaders, such as presidencies, secretaries, teacher improvement coordinators and meetinghouse librarians, can go to these pages to find specific information concerning the duties and responsibilities of their callings as well as finding helpful suggestions on how they can serve in their callings.

"One of the responsibilities of the Sunday School," Brother Merrill said, "is to assist teachers, leaders and parents in the Church to improve the quality of gospel instruction. This new feature is intended to help not only Sunday School teachers and leaders improve the quality of teaching, but all gospel teachers, including parents, priesthood quorum teachers and leaders, and teachers and leaders in the various auxiliary organizations of the Church."

Brother Merrill quoted the remarks of President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, who explained that all are teachers: "The prophet is a teacher; his counselors are teachers; the General Authorities are teachers. Stake presidents and mission presidents are teachers; high councilors and quorum presidents are teachers; bishops are teachers; and so through all of the organizations of the Church. The Church moves forward sustained by the power of the teaching that is accomplished." (See Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, rev. ed. (1991), 7, 3-4.)

Daniel K. Judd, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, said, "The goal of the Sunday School in presenting this material is to help, inspire, and motivate gospel teachers and leaders throughout the Church to improve the quality of teaching in classrooms and at home. The helpful suggestions now posted on the Web site will be added to periodically.

"The application of the quoted materials is done by asking questions or offering ideas and suggestions as how the teachers and students can think, ponder and pray in applying the gospel in their lives."

William D. Oswald, second counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, suggested, "Teachers and parents may wish to save these 'Helps For Teachers' for use in preparing or giving lessons. The Helps may be saved either electronically or in printed form. Parents may wish to place a copy on the family bulletin board, incorporate them in family home evening lessons, or place them in a teaching file for later use in the home or classroom."