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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3

To the Adviser

"To the Adviser," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3, v

These lessons are intended to help young men learn about the gospel and help make Aaronic Priesthood meetings enjoyable and meaningful to them. You may use this manual to teach individual quorums of priests, teachers, and deacons, or you may use it to teach a group of all three quorums. By prayerfully preparing each lesson, you can help the young men learn how to magnify their callings in the Aaronic Priesthood and truly become sons of God (see D&C 84:26-42 and John 1:12-13).

This manual contains fifty lessons-more than you will be able to teach during the year. Prayerfully select lessons that will meet the needs of the young men you teach. Some lessons may be more appropriate for priests, while others may be more appropriate for deacons or teachers. Even though you will not use all the lessons and might not teach them in the order they occur in the manual, make sure that you cover all the topics sometime during the year to ensure a balanced approach to learning the gospel.

Keys to Successful Teaching

To make the best use of the lessons in this manual, use the following keys to successful teaching:

Where stories are included, read them several times while preparing the lesson so you will understand them and be able to present them well. Stories and examples given in lessons are meant to help young men understand how the gospel principles being taught apply to their everyday lives. As you prayerfully prepare and present a lesson, you might feel impressed to substitute stories of examples from your own experience or other reliable sources. When doing so, always keep the objective of the lesson in mind. Any stories that you add should help support and teach the principle identified in the lesson objective.

When appropriate, use the pamphlet and card For the Strength of Youth (34285 and 34287) to enhance your lessons. Help the young men become familiar with the standards in the pamphlet. Encourage the young men to read it often and keep the standards explained in it.

Additional Suggestions

The following suggestions will help make each lesson more interesting and effective:

Deacons Quorum Presidency Visits to Primary Class

The deacons quorum presidency has a responsibility to prepare other young men to receive the priesthood. Encourage the presidency to make a few short presentations to the Primary class these younger boys attend. These presentations should have a threefold purpose:

The presidency might give presentations similar to the two suggested below:

A Deacon Serves Others

The deacons quorum presidency might prepare a twenty-minute presentation that explains how deacons serve others by performing their priesthood duties; during this presentation, they could share the joy and satisfaction that come through this service. The quorum presidency could explain how passing the sacrament and gathering fast offerings bless the lives of ward members. They could also report on specific service projects.

Be an Example

The deacons quorum presidency might prepare a twenty-minute presentation about the importance of being a good example as a priesthood bearer who represents Jesus Christ. The quorum presidency could explain the importance of setting a good example in dress and conduct, particularly when passing the sacrament and gathering fast offerings.

The adviser and the deacons quorum presidency should meet with the Primary teacher to plan the presentations before the presidency gives them. Visits to Primary classes should be coordinated with the Primary president.

Special Guidelines for Including Those with Disabilities

The Savior set the example for us in feeling and showing compassion for those with disabilities. When he visited the Nephites after his resurrection, he said:

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you" (3 Nephi 17:7).

As a teacher in a Church classroom, you are in an excellent position to show compassion. Although you may not be trained to give professional assistance, as a teacher you can act as an understanding and nurturing influence in the lives of those with disabilities. You need concern, understanding, and a desire to include, as much as possible, each class member in the learning activities.

Class members with disabilities may be challenged by learning disabilities, intellectual impairments, language or speech problems, vision or hearing loss, behavioral and social problems, mental illness, movement and mobility problems, or chronic health impairments. Regardless of individual circumstances, each class member shares the same needs to be loved and accepted, to learn the gospel, to participate successfully, and to serve others. The following are ideas to keep in mind when teaching children with disabilities.

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