Helps for the Teacher

“Helps for the Teacher,” New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, v

After the resurrected Lord had shown himself to his Apostles, he appeared again to a group of them at the Sea of Galilee. While he was with them, he asked Peter a question three times: “Lovest thou me?” Each time Peter responded, “Thou knowest that I love thee.” To Peter’s declaration the Lord replied: “Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep. … Feed my sheep” (John 21:15–17).

As a Gospel Doctrine teacher, you can show your love for the Lord by feeding his sheep, ensuring that each member of your class is “remembered and nourished by the good word of God” (Moroni 6:4). One important purpose of the word of God is to help us “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing [we] might have life through his name” (John 20:31). Guided by the Spirit, you will be able to help class members strengthen their testimonies of the Savior, their faith in him, and their commitment to live his gospel. You will also be able to help them receive other blessings that come from sincere study of the New Testament, as expressed by President Thomas S. Monson:

“The entire message of the New Testament breathes a spirit of awakening to the human soul. Shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us” (“The Spirit Giveth Life,” Ensign, June 1997, 2).