A Sunday School teacher in the Church was asked by one in an advisory position how he went about preparing his lessons.

He responded that, in addition to the scriptures, he read through the outlined lesson in the teacher's manual at least a week in advance. This readied his mind for flashes of inspiration and to prepare how best to present the material.

During the conversation, he mentioned that he prepared to cover every point in the lesson but invariably found that the allotted time was too short to present everything he had planned, particularly when class members were disposed to share comments, insights and personal experiences.

Asked how he decided what portions of the lesson to include and what to leave out, he responded, somewhat abashedly: "I'm afraid I often don't make that decision until I come to class. I rely on the Spirit to tell me 'in the very hour or moment' what to do (see Doctrine and Covenants 100:6). Generally, I can't expect to feel what the class members need most until I have a chance to look into their eyes."

Through years of experience, the teacher had found that his lessons seemed to go best when they were well-prepared but less structured and scripted, when he allowed greater flexibility for the unplanned sharing of insights by class members, for the impromptu bearing of testimony and occasionally for the singing by the class of an appropriate hymn.

Over time, he had gained the confidence to allow the Spirit to guide and sustain his teaching. For example, he no longer felt a compelling need to cut off a good discussion just to "get through" the planned material.

In the scriptural passage cited above, the Lord instructed Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, "Verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts; and you shall not be confounded before men" (Doctrine and Covenants 100:5).

On that occasion in October 1833, the Lord had inspired the Prophet and Elder Rigdon to go on a missionary journey that took them to Perrysburg, N.Y. The Savior told them it was expedient "for the salvation of souls," for, He said, "I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about in this eastern land" (Doctrine and Covenants 100: 3-4).

The promise that His servants "shall not be confounded before men" if they deliver the message that He puts into their hearts should bring comfort to any teacher of the gospel.

A popular dictionary defines confound as "to make one feel confused; bewilder." What teacher or speaker in the Church has not wished for the assurance, prior to entering a classroom, chapel, meeting hall or home, that he would not feel confused or bewildered in the presentation of his message? Such assurance is promised to those who endeavor to speak the thoughts that that the Lord puts into their hearts by means of the Holy Ghost.

Samuel the Lamanite was one who spoke the thoughts the Lord put in his heart (see Helaman 13:3-5). Rejected by the Nephites in Zarahemla, Samuel was commanded by the Lord to return and prophesy to them about pending destruction of the wicked incident to the coming of the resurrected Lord.

A preacher of righteousness could hardly have had a more hostile reception. The people reviled Samuel and endeavored to slay him. But he definitely was not confounded before them. His words were clear, bold and true. They were recorded and became the means by which the righteous reckoned that the coming of the Lord was near (see 3 Nephi 1:4-8).

The Lord will place ideas in our hearts and minds in His own good time. But there are things we can do to facilitate that occurrence. We can pray fervently for inspiration. And we can "treasure up in (our) minds continually the words of life" (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:85) through regular and frequent study of the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets. Thus, the Holy Ghost can bring things to our remembrance (see John 14:26) in the proper time and setting.

As was promised to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, the Lord will open "an effectual door" to any teacher who is so prepared.