I count myself lucky then. Our EQ isn’t like this at all and I cannot remember the last time we had a lesson where the instructor did nothing but make everyone read from the lesson.

I suppose the way to characterize it is to ask whether Jesus was fully God and whether he was tempted. If you say yes then the issue shouldn’t be a big deal.

Back on topic, can I confess that PH is the only lessons I find interesting because it’s the only place where a real discussion with a variety of opinions happen? I can’t recall a lesson where someone just reads the manual since my mission. I’d take PH over SS any day of the week. Since in SS if you have done your reading it typically (although not always) is a waste of time. PH always seems much more practical and laid back. i.e. it’s not really about how much you know or, as you said, to impress, but how to actually do things.

But most of all, I must admit, I like throwing out ideas that make everyone a bit uncomfortable.

Kinda like my blogging motivation sometimes….

There is a certain teacher in EQ who teaches a lesson once a month. I skip the first 10 minutes to avoid the overbearing guilt trip he puts the class through for not bring their manuals. (I never bring mine.) After ten minutes, I return and take my seat usually to wish that I had stayed outside to get the fresh air and see the sunshine and trees. THAT is far more spiritually uplifting than sitting in that stuffy room listening to passages being read from the manual.

Really, these manuals are not “teacher-friendly.” Unless you are a skilled teacher, what in the world can you do with these lessons. It is nothing but page and page of text. It practically calls out, “READ ME, READ ME OUT LOUD IN ELDER’S QUORUM CLASSES!!!” I think perhaps the point in introducing this new curriculum was to get the teachers to work a little harder, go from the spirit more, in their class preparation. And that is happening, but it depends on the teachers.

Even with the tighter controls over curriculum, there are still a few members who manage to teach false doctrine. My jaw dropped when a newly returned missionary told us that God, despite having progressed to Godhood, is still being tempted to sin. It is just that he is so perfect he nevers gives in. I thought to myself, “Goodness! If I have to suffer temptation for an eternity, I’d rather just give in to it now and put myself out of misery!!”

The theological conundrums implied by such an outlandish statement apparently were never thought through by this young man. If God suffers temptation, that means there is a power independent from and possibly greater than He. And that power would be the source of temptation: either a physically imperfect body or Satan.

I just close my eyes and shake my head sometimes.

I wonder how much false doctrine I have taught. Hmmmmmmmm.

John

Seek Learning by Faith

Oh, and at least in some singles wards I’ve attended, GD is better because guys try to sound more impressive in front of the girls. Too bad too because that often intimidates girls from adding to the discussion.