Storytelling in Seminary Teaching

Foreword
Teaching seminary or institute classes provides one with an ample amount of opportunities to tell stories in attempt to prompt students to reflect on their feelings, evaluate their choices, and meaningfully connect with ancient historical individuals and families.  The majority of these stories and parables are taken from the scriptures and the history of the Mormon church.  However, teachers may also choose to relate personal accounts and experiences.  These stories are usually shared to a classroom of students in search of greater spiritual enlightenment.  The purpose of these stories is to inspire, invite, and influence the audience of young adults to pursue a more elevated course of life.  These stories can be shared by means of video and artistic representation, but are more commonly related orally. 


This example story is taken from the Book of Mormon, one of the texts endorsed by the Mormon faith.  It is a story I personally heard while attending seminary as a youth

Example Story

• Setup: The class is studying Alma 17.  The teacher hopes to help his students get a feel for the story before diving into its deeper meaning, so he briefly summarizes the content of the chapter.
• Story: Ammon was a missionary who desired to share the gospel with the Lamanites.  He was assigned to help guard the king's sheep.  One day, some wicked men came and scattered the flock.  After he and his fellow laborers had rounded up the sheep, the wicked men came back to scatter them again.  Ammon was determined to not let that happen.  Relying upon the hand of the Lord, he took out a sling and killed several of the wicked men.  After that he drew his sword and smote off the arm of every man that opposed him.  Ammon was a hero, and his efforts opened the hearts of the Lamanite people to hear his message.

Analysis

• This is a fairly typical sketch of how a seminary teacher would introduce the blueprint of a scriptural account to his class.  The rendering of the account is informative and clear, but also concise and leaves room for open discussion.  It is presented in a simple cause/effect format helping students to easily identify the main point.

Retelling the Story

• If the seminary teacher wanted his students to be a bit more exited about the story, he could portray a more intense and dramatic scene: 
• The members of the stunned mob stood in disbelief as they observed a handful of their brethren lying dead on the ground, small stones protruding from their bloody foreheads.  In anger, they all rushed at Ammon, clubs held high, ready to strike a fatal blow.  As we listen to the music that inspired Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to contend with the nefarious Darth Maul, we will read from the text what happened next.  "But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm."  Ammon won the hearts of a people that day, and thousands were saved in the kingdom of God because of his courageous efforts. 
• I had the teacher be more descriptive in his relating of the story, and had him rely on audio assistance to highlight and enhance the mood.  I had him directly quote from the text to add validity and emphasis.