Don’t manage people. Lead people and manage systems.

And so begins the 2010-2011 seminary year. It actually started 8 days ago but I’ve been on vacation with my family and at the Restoring Honor rally in Washington D.C. so my first teaching day is tomorrow.

Teaching seminary is a consecration of time, energy, and heart in the service of the youth in my class, about 20 hours a week. Totally voluntary. It’s an act of service that feels great!

It’s so awesome to be able to do this again. This is my fourth year teaching and it’s been amazing.

What informs how I teach and conduct myself in the class?

We are free to act and not to be acted upon (Alma 2:26-27).

Manage systems not people. Lead people. I’m a leader not a manager.

Be humble, submissive, gentle, easy to be entreated, patient, long-suffering, temperate in all things, have faith, hope, and charity (Alma 7:23-24).

I don’t assign seats, don’t force anyone to do anything, and put the learning responsibility directly on the shoulders of the youth. From what I can tell after doing this for 3 years, they like being treated like responsible people and they respond positively to it.