Preparing to teach a lesson when you don't "feel it."

[Portland Ute]

I bring this up because I am preparing a lesson for Priest Quorum tomorrow.

I just don't feel it.

The lessons ask to portray such conviction about each of the subjects.

I almost feel like a fraud some times as I give these lessons. Here I am encouraging these young men to gain testimonies about all these subjects and many times I am as uncertain or maybe moreso than many of them in regards to my faith in many of the topics.

I feel caught between a rock and a hard place sometimes.

I find myself often steering the lessons toward more practical, temporal points and lessons.

I dunno. Am I alone in this?

I feel "naked" or "transparent" some times in front of these young men. I feel like they see right through me and perceive my own doubts. I worry that my doubts and struggles will negatively affect their own spiritual progress.

[All-American]

You should pray about it and get a testimony on the matter. It's really so simple, I'm surprised that you haven't done it already.

In all seriousness, though, I've felt the same from time to time when teaching groups of peers, but I don't know if anything relates to teaching priests. I do remember one lesson when I was a priest, though, that may be relevant.

The topic was missionary service, and the instructor was teaching the lesson from the book. At one point, he stopped and read the instructions in the lesson manual which said something to the effect of "speak about the difficulties of serving a mission, but be careful not to discourage quorum members from desiring to serve." He clearly felt uncomfortable toeing the party line to the recommended extent, and let us know it. Instead, he told us in no uncertain terms that our missions would be difficult, and he did not want us to be surprised by what we were going to find. I appreciated him being up front with us.

Professors make a habit of telling us that if we have a question, the chances are pretty good that somebody else has that question too, so you might as well ask. If you have a question or concern, chances are pretty good that somebody else does, too. We aren't as homogeneous as perhaps we think. Those who don't appreciate you giving voice to your perspective on account of representing their position on a matter ought at least appreciate your sincerity.