One of the most influential women in the life of President Andy Diaz, president of the Salt Lake Riverside Stake, was his seminary teacher, Sister Martha Williams.
After joining the Church at age 13 in Tampa, Florida, President Diaz began attending her early morning seminary class every morning at 6 a.m. “She was essentially the one who helped me learn the gospel,” President Diaz said.
Also attending that class was Kathy Williams, Martha Williams’ daughter and the future wife of Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In addressing teachers and administrators within the Church Educational System during a devotional broadcast on June 11, Elder Andersen invited President Diaz to speak about the Apostle’s mother-in-law as an example of the impact a seminary or institute teacher can have on the life of a young person.
Martha Williams taught the pure doctrine of Christ and never ended a class without sharing her testimony, President Diaz recalled. “She would envelop you in the love of the gospel that she had.”
During the broadcast, Elder Andersen shared words of appreciation, counsel and encouragement to the tens of thousands of seminary and institute teachers across the world who, like Martha Williams, seek to strengthen the faith of the rising generation. In his remarks, titled “The Power of Jesus Christ and Pure Doctrine,” he offered two insights for teachers to consider.
He was joined at the devotional by his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen. Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Church commissioner of education and General Authority Seventy, introduced the Apostle. Also in attendance were the presidents of all the institutions within the Church Educational System and other top administrators within Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
The devotional was translated into roughly 40 languages and is available to view on broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in Gospel Library.
Teach and testify more frequently and more powerfully of Jesus Christ
Elder Andersen quoted the words of President Russell M. Nelson from this past general conference: “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about His Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine and His restored gospel of healing and progression.”
While recently in his grandchildren’s seminary building, Elder Andersen was impressed by the many images and words of the Savior on the walls. “There is a transcendent power in the words of Jesus Christ,” he said.
If a teacher ever wonders what to say, “speak the words of the Savior,” Elder Andersen encouraged. “Speak of His experiences; speak of His parables; speak the words of scripture and of prophets testifying of Him. As we teach and testify of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost will confirm in the hearts of our young disciples the truth of His life and teachings with a power far more lasting than the power of our own teaching.”
Keep the doctrine pure and simple
Elder Andersen told teachers to center their teaching on Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and Their revealed doctrine to help youth increase faith in Them, become converted to Them and receive Their promised blessings. “The doctrine of Christ is found in the scriptures and in the teachings of the prophets, whose responsibility it is to communicate the will of the Lord.”
Elder Andersen reiterated his teachings from October 2012 general conference. “[The doctrine] is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find.”
In keeping the Lord’s doctrine pure and understandable, be careful to avoid the errors that come through speculation and nondoctrinal personal ideas, Elder Andersen warned. When questions arise that are not clearly explained in the doctrine of Christ, be willing to say: “I don’t know about that. But this is what I do know.”
Be careful not to embellish, and be sure to share scriptures or statements in the context they were intended, he advised. “Clear, accurate, simple is the divine way of teaching.”
The truths of the gospel must be shared in a climate that welcomes and encourages the Spirit, Elder Andersen said. “We cannot force the Spirit. We pray for and we invite the Spirit, but we do not artificially attempt to fabricate a spiritual experience.”
Reminding his listeners of the love President Diaz felt from Sister Williams, Elder Andersen taught, “We invite the Spirit as we teach with love, peace, gentleness, meekness and faith.”
With apostolic authority, Elder Andersen blessed the teachers that their minds and hearts “will be filled with the love, the mercy, the teachings and a deep reverence for the incomparable atoning sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. I bless you, if it is your desire, that your ability to teach the doctrine of Christ with purity and power will increase and that you will see and feel the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost upon your good students.”
