In Tune
Author: Gerald N. Lund
Publisher: Deseret Book
Published: Dec. 2013
ISBN13: 978-1-60907-858-4
Hardcover: 182 pages
FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mindy
Book Jacket
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are all teachers. Not only do we have a glorious mandate to “teach all nations” the gospel (Matthew 28:19), we also have numerous charges to “teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D & C 88:77). In formal and informal settings, we are constantly teaching and learning.
Not only has the Lord commanded us to teach, but He has taught us what we are to teach and how we are to are to do it: diligently and by the power of the Spirit. But how do we know if we’re “doing it right”? What signs can we watch for that the Spirit is actually present in a teaching setting?
In this insightful companion volume to Hearing the Voice of the Lord, bestselling author Gerald N. Lund brings his decades of experience working in the Church Educational System to the topic of teaching and learning by the Spirit. He discusses common misconceptions, important questions we should ask about our teaching, and the role of the Holy Ghost in the process.
“The Lord has given the responsibly to save His children to teachers,” writes Elder Lund. “The charge is clear. It is specific. It is inspiring. And, gratefully, the Lord blesses us greatly when we strive to carry out His will.”
My Review
This book is great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to be guided by the spirit when teaching. All throughout the book there are fabulous quotes, heartfelt stories, and step by step instructions in each chapter to help you be guided by the spirit of teaching through the Holy Ghost. Not wanting to quote the whole book, I wanted to share a couple of my favorite.
If we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide us, we can teach any person, no matter how well educated, any place in the world. The Lord knows more than any of us, and if we are his servants, acting under his Spirit, he can deliver his message of salvation to each and every soul. Dallin H. Oaks page 166
Parents and teachers need to do much more with the children and young people than say, essentially, “Sit down and pay attention while we tell you what you need to know.” Parents and leaders should become guides who help young people learn how to find answers for themselves. Youth need to act as agents and properly exercise their agency in order to obtain and retain strong testimonies and to become converted — instead of primarily depending spiritually on someone else. We cannot borrow from another what is necessary “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9). With multitudes of secular influences trying to counteract the truth about and from God, no one can thrive by attempting to borrow light from the spiritual lamps of others.” David A. Bednar pages 166 – 167.
This book is a great tool for any parent, leader, or teacher seeking how to properly teach and learn from the Spirit. We have had many Family Home Evenings about this lately and I greatly appreciate any assistance in teaching my children to learn from the Spirit.
About the Author
Elder Gerald N. Lund received his BA and MS degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific author (The Work and the Glory series, The Kingdom and the Crown trilogy, Fire of the Covenant, The Undaunted) and has received many honors for both his fiction and nonfiction works. He and his wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
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