"A Time of Teachers Being Taught"

We were asked, along with the other Institute teachers in our part of the mission, to meet with our coordinator, Cory Bangerter for training with a representative from the area office in Washington, D.C.

That representative was Randy Daybell, assistant to the area director, a soft-spoken master teacher and spiritual giant. Brother Daybell taught us from the 3rd and 4th chapters of Zechariah. And in so doing, he revealed to us who we really are as teachers, leaders and examples of youth. As if he could read our minds, he told us that some days we may wonder whether or not we are really doing any good amongst the young people here in the mission field.
(Pictured above is Randy Daybell, Assistant to the CES and S & I Area Director, Washington, D.C. with Elder & Sister de Paula)

Zechariah Chapters 3 and 4
Then, getting into the scriptures, Brother Daybell promised - "Before we are through today, you will own these two chapters." The spirit and power with which he spoke bore testimony to our hearts. We learned that as adults and teachers we represent the "oil" (nourishment) coming from the "olive trees" (the Savior) which fill the "menorah" (the youth and others). As explained by Brother Daybell, because we are "tapped" by others, we will very often feel virtue (i.e. "power and strength") go out of us as did the Savior when the woman touched His clothes to be healed.

He then asked us to recall those times in our own lives when we remember having "tapped" into others for "oil" in our journeys through life. Perhaps we may not now remember those people, but they were there perfectly placed as sentinels just, as he noted, like the temples stand as our protection and strength. Even when others, and especially the youth seem uninterested, they are "tapping in" to our reservoir to gain strength and light from our "oil." This is one way we become "Saviors" to others along the way in this life.

The symbolism was beautiful. The message was timely and carried by the Spirit to our minds and hearts. Brother Daybell said, "And sometimes you don't even have to say a word, you just need to be available." It was truly a day of teachers being taught. How blessed we are to be here to teach...and to learn!