Guest Author - Terrie Lynn Bittner

Each lesson in your manual contains a stated purpose. We are generally expected to stay within this purpose and to be sure our students don’t sidetrack us. It would be inappropriate, for example, to let our students lead us into a discussion of the football game-even if BYU was one of the teams. It would even
be inappropriate, in most cases, for a lesson on tithing to turn into one on the Word of Wisdom. However, there are times when we need to listen to the spirit and allow the Savior to tell us what to teach.

This can be particularly true when teaching children or teens. Sometimes a life-event will be so overwhelming that a child needs to talk, and needs advice. If the child is young, and the situation does not demand privacy, it may be acceptable to stop the lesson for a moment. Recently, one of my first-grade students blurted out anxiously that her mother was going to get married again. The other children were very interested in this, and I could see that such a tremendous event needed recognition. For a few minutes, I encouraged her to tell us about her new stepfather and stepbrother, and about the impending move to a new home. Then I gently led the children back to the lesson. Later, as we did our craft, she was encouraged to offer more details, but her need to tell us had been eased by the brief introduction she had given earlier.

Sometimes the lesson brings up essential questions. While you may not have intended to answer those questions, you should let the spirit tell you whether the question should be discussed in detail, answered briefly or deferred to a later time. A tactful teacher might give a brief answer and offer to stay after class to assist the student in finding more detailed answers.

On the other hand, a teen might admit that her testimony on the chosen topic is shaky and she doesn’t understand how to improve it. It may be necessary to immediately stop and discuss this issue, especially since the input of her peers can be at least as valuable as your own opinion. When you feel certain the
question has been handled to the Lord’s satisfaction, gently guide the discussion back onto the chosen topic.

Use tact in returning the topic. It is best to avoid embarrassing a student, particularly adults, teens or older Primary students. I once watched a teacher who tried to teach some chatty teens about journals. When they slid off-track and started discussing an upsetting event that had happened at school, she gave them just a moment to provide the details and get it out of their system. Then she asked, “How could you write about this event in your journal in such a way that it would help you to solve the problem?” The girls were still discussing the event, but were back on the topic of journals. From there, the teacher led them to discuss other uses for journals and the school event was temporarily forgotten. When I teach little children, I allow them to talk somewhat off-topic when we do our craft, so topics that aren’t essential can be easily stopped. I simply remind them that we only talk about this subject during the craft.

Use these guidelines to help you decide whether or not to pursue an off-topic subject during a lesson:

1. Is the Spirit prompting you to discuss the new topic? This is your most important guide. What may seem trivial to you may be more important than you know.

2. Is the topic so essential that the students will not be able to effectively put it out of their minds until it is discussed?

3. Can you put the topic aside without hurting someone?

4. Is the person involved a member or a guest?

5. Can you find a way to relate the new topic to the scheduled one?

6. Will the new topic detract from the spirit of the lesson?

7. Can you answer the question briefly and then return to your scheduled lesson?

8. Can you invite the student to discuss the topic with you later?


The guidance of the Spirit should be your first guideline in deciding what path to follow. Remember that you are first teaching students, not lessons, and you are teaching what the Savior wants you to teach at this moment, not what you want to teach. With these thoughts in mind, you will be able to make wise choices and affect eternity.


Gentle Teacher