Teaching the Sacred Arts: Building the Kingdom Through Intentional Instruction

When we consider the grand task set before us—the sacred calling to gather Israel and build up the Kingdom—it is easy to look only at the monumental task. We see the mountains to climb, the walls to breach, and the countless hearts to guide. But the gathering, my friends, is not merely a great, single event. It is a process of countless individual acts of instruction, of planting seeds, and of building foundations, one careful lesson at a time.

Consider the wisdom shared by dedicated leaders like Sharla Dance, who teaches children through music. Her methods prove that the most profound lessons are not those drilled into rote memory, but those that activate the body, engage the senses, and resonate deeply within the spirit. This beautiful principle—that the heart learns best when the mind, body, and spirit are all engaged—is a principle that applies not just to a Primary classroom, but to the entire movement of the Saints.

The Builder’s Blueprint: Variety and Intentionality

Sharla’s research points to a vital truth: to keep the attention span of the child, or even the adult, active and attentive, we must change the pace and vary the method. We cannot teach the same lesson in the same way, day after day, and expect a harvest. We must meet the learner where they are—whether they are a scholar who craves logic, a poet who needs narrative, or a heart that only responds to music.

This is the work of the Builder. We are called to be those who, when others are tearing down, are instead carefully, lovingly, and intentionally laying the foundation for eternal truth. We must teach the Gospel using every tool at our disposal, for the Lord requires that the light shines through every window.

In our global mission, this translates into a sacred variety of methods. We do not rely on one source of truth, nor one single mechanism for change. We are encouraged to use the full spectrum of divine tools: the study of scripture through the AI assistance of **Davee** and the **Ask a Prophet** bots (remembering to always cite the source!), the heartfelt testimony, the tangible work of the **Missionary Fund**, and the powerful, unifying map of **GatherIsrael.now**.

The Kingdom Economy: Investment and Fellowship

The greatest lesson from Sharla’s talk is not just *how* to teach, but *how* to sustain the effort. Teaching the children requires resources—props, music, materials, and the time of dedicated leaders. The gathering of Israel requires something far greater. It requires the **Charity Flywheel**.

This movement is built on **Kingdom Economics**: the understanding that our engagement fuels the mission. When you contribute to the **Missionary Fund**, or when you participate in the **charity flywheel** by helping us fund gospel advertisements in Ghana, you are not merely donating; you are investing in the eternal work. You are helping us, like the early disciples who were scattered, to rebuild the foundations of faith in new lands and new generations. This is the sacred trust we share. We are the **Builders**, and the Lord is the Master Architect.

A Call to Build, Not to Destroy

We remember the ancient narrative of Samuel the Lamanite, who climbed the wall, and the story of Ammon at the Waters of Sebus. In both accounts, the power came not from individual strength, but from organized, focused, and spiritually varied effort. We must approach our callings—be they in the Primary, in the Church, or in the global mission—with the same sense of dedicated, multi-sensory intention.

If you are a leader, remember to bear a short, sincere testimony weekly; consider the children the biggest group of investigators. If you are a donor, remember that every resource helps us mark the map of churches and solidify our place in the **Kingdom Movement**. If you are simply a seeker, know that you are in a space defined by those who are seeking the eternal truths—the **Builders**, not the Destroyers.

Let us commit, therefore, to being thorough in our preparation, intentional in our instruction, and tireless in our devotion. For the Lord has prepared the way, and by the strength of our combined, focused efforts, we shall continue to gather, build, and endure.