In an 1831 revelation, the Lord asked church members in Kirtland, Ohio, “Unto what were ye ordained?” Then, He provided the answer:
To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.
Doctrine and Covenants 50:14
What does it mean to preach “by the Spirit,” and how can we do it?
Moroni reported that church meetings anciently were conducted “after the manner of the workings of the Spirit.” He added, “as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done” (Moroni 6:9).
Matthew Richardson, who served in the Sunday School General Presidency, emphasized that teaching after the manner of the Spirit “requires more than just having the Spirit with us.” He explained:
To conduct ourselves “after the manner” of the Holy Ghost means that we may need to change our way of teaching to emulate the way the Holy Ghost teaches.
“Teaching after the Manner of the Spirit,” General Conference, October 2011
He gave two examples of ways we can harmonize our teaching with the teaching of the Holy Ghost:
- Personalize your teaching to the needs of individual students, including pausing, listening, and observing.
- Invite and encourage others to exercise their agency and act for themselves.
Today, I will strive to teach by the Spirit. I will invite the Spirit to be with me as I teach, and I will strive to follow the teaching style of the Spirit: individualized and with invitations.
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