My Sunday School Class

About 10 months ago I was asked to serve as the Sunday School teacher to the 10-11 year old children in my ward (congregation). I was terrified to accept this responsibility. I had not dealt with children on a consistent basis for almost a decade. I spent a few short months with one group of children.

At the beginning of the new year, I was assigned a new group of children in the 10-11 year range. I have been teaching the same eight children since January 1, 2008. There are four boys and four girls. I teach kids who excel at sports, music, academics, and any combination of those things. I have one kid who is terrified to talk and at least three who seem to be terrified to be quiet. I have a kid who is kind and quiet and a kid who is rough around the edges. I have two kids who like to be right and two kids who want everyone to get along. They are amazing.

Early on I learned that they are like lawyers, English professors, and tape recorders rolled into one. Like lawyers who could argue the finest details about anything, English professors who critique how well I speak or write on the board, and tape recorders that can repeat back any sentence I have spoken. They keep me in line that is for certain.

I feel my obligation to them and take it seriously. God asked me to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. To be an example to them. I will, in the end, have to report back to Him about what I did to fulfill these responsibilities. In some small measure I feel like they are "my" kids. I care deeply for them, their welfare, their happiness, and their spirituality. Each of those children have been blessed with excellent families. Families who want to see their children be as successful spiritually as temporally. They try to install good values in their kids.

Last year we studied the New Testament. We have a class manual and we are studying the Book of Mormon for this year's curriculum. Although we have a schedule and follow the curriculum closely twice this year I have felt extremely impressed to address an issue that was affecting the class. Recently (as in today) I taught a lesson on eliminating contention. I will share in the next post the content of today's lesson.