Teach Ye Diligently

Mark Mason and Will Perez

Welcome to "Teach Ye Diligently!" Join Mark Mason and Will Perez, Seminary and Institute Coordinators for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints every Friday for insights, ideas, and best practices in gospel teaching and learning!

  1. 12/12/2025

    S3 E11 - Official Declarations 1 and 2 | Assess Your Learning 10 | Life Prep 187 Stress and Anxiety

    Teach Ye Diligently — Episode 11Hosts: Mark Mason and Will PerezYouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/W3PvUJZOJJI In this episode, Mark Mason and Will Perez walk seminary and instituteteachers through four end-of-year lessons in the Doctrine and Covenantscurriculum. The focus is helping students handle doctrinal complexity,unresolved questions, personal reflection, and rising stress and anxiety byturning deliberately to Jesus Christ. This episode models the PEEL framework (Prepare, Engage, Empower, Learn)and emphasizes student-led learning, acting in faith during uncertainty, andtranslating belief into discipleship. DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCEShttps://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resources EPISODE CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction and episode overview(02:15) Official Declaration 1 — Continuing revelation and expanding binarythinking(18:40) Official Declaration 2 — Acting in faith during uncertainty (Martinezfamily case study)(42:10) Assess Your Learning 10 — Reflection, testimony, and “Therefore, what?”(55:05) Life Preparation 187 — Managing stress and anxiety by turning to JesusChrist(1:17:30) Closing testimony and encouragement to teachers LESSONS COVERED • Official Declaration 1• Official Declaration 2• Assess Your Learning 10• Life Preparation Lesson 187 — Managing Stress and Anxiety KEY TEACHING THEMES • The Church is “true and living,” not frozen in time• Continuing revelation requires faith, patience, and maturity• Acting in faith does not require having all the answers• Reflection deepens conversion when it leads to action• Turning to Jesus Christ is central to managing stress and anxiety HASHTAGS #seminary #ldsseminary #TeachYeDiligently #PEELPodcast #ComeFollowMe2025#comefollowme #DoctrineAndCovenants #LDSYouth #TeachingInTheSaviorsWay #HearHim#SeminaryTeachingTips #ChurchofJesusChrist#churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #churchofjesuschristoflatter

    41 min
  2. 11/22/2025

    S3 E10 - D&C 135 • Life Prep 185 • D&C 137 • D&C 138 (Part 1)

    ⏱️ Spotify Timestamps (00:00) Introduction(01:42) Segment 1 — D&C 135: Strengthening Testimony of Joseph Smith(17:24) Segment 2 — Life Prep 185: Building Emotional Strength in the Lord(38:33) Segment 3 — D&C 137: The Celestial Kingdom & “Degree of Difficulty”(52:10) Segment 4 — D&C 138 (Part 1): Salvation for All of God’s Children(01:12:40) Closing Remarks 📘 Segment Summaries D&C 135 — The Martyrdom of Joseph & Hyrum SmithWill shares methods to help students prepare spiritually, reflect on blessings received through Joseph Smith, and understand how Joseph’s prophetic role directs us to Jesus Christ. Includes ideas for involving students’ families and youth leaders. Life Prep 185 — Building Emotional Strength in the LordMark uses President D. Todd Christofferson’s 2024 conference story to help teachers model emotional resilience centered in Jesus Christ. Students learn to identify their emotions, see the Savior’s role in their healing, and practice applying resilience tools to real challenges. D&C 137 — Hope Through Heavenly Father’s PlanWill guides teachers in connecting students’ personal experiences with grief to Joseph Smith’s vision of the celestial kingdom. Includes Sister Rooney’s “degree of difficulty” analogy to help students understand how the Savior judges with perfect love and understanding. D&C 138 (Part 1) — Christ’s Work in the Spirit WorldMark explains the historical context behind President Joseph F. Smith’s vision. Teachers learn how to help students feel the fairness of God’s plan and understand how Jesus Christ offers salvation to all of Heavenly Father’s children on both sides of the veil. 📥 Downloadable Seminary Resources ⁠https://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resources⁠ 🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Platforms Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts 🔖 Hashtags #seminary #ldsseminary #TeachYeDiligently #PEELPodcast #ComeFollowMe2025 #comefollowme #DoctrineAndCovenants #LDSYouth #TeachingInTheSaviorsWay #HearHim #SeminaryTeachingTips #ChurchofJesusChrist #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #churchofjesuschristoflatter 🔖 Hashtags

    33 min
  3. 11/14/2025

    S3 E9 - Life Prep 193 • D&C 133 (1–40 & 41–56) • D&C 134

    Chapters (00:00) Introduction(02:40) Life Prep 193 — Discovering Strengths & Abilities(18:20) D&C 133:1–40 — Preparing for the Second Coming(33:50) D&C 133:41–56 — Christ’s Attributes in the Last Days(49:10) D&C 134 — Government, Agency & Religious Freedom(01:02:10) Closing Thoughts Episode 9 — Life Prep 193 • D&C 133 (1–40 & 41–56) • D&C 134 This episode explores four lessons that help seminary teachers strengthen student confidence, deepen conversion to Jesus Christ, and create higher-impact learning experiences. Mark and Will walk through practical ways to prepare, engage, empower, and help students learn—using the PEEL framework and Teaching in the Savior’s Way. What’s inside this episode: • Life Prep 193 — Discovering Strengths & AbilitiesA deeper approach to helping students recognize gifts, build confidence, and prepare for future education and employment. Includes an expanded self-evaluation tool and scripture-focused group activities. • D&C 133:1–40 — Preparing for the Second ComingHelp students replace fear with confidence through principles of preparation taught in this section. Includes a meaningful object lesson and insights on “fleeing Babylon” in a discipleship-centered way. • D&C 133:41–56 — Christ’s Attributes in the Last DaysShift the focus from events to the Savior Himself. Includes a powerful “portrait of Christ” activity that helps students visualize and reflect on His attributes. • D&C 134 — Government, Agency & Religious FreedomA grounded, non-political approach that centers the Savior while teaching about obeying the law and protecting religious freedom. Downloadable Resources https://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resources Hashtags #seminary #ldsseminary #TeachYeDiligently #PEELPodcast #ComeFollowMe2025 #comefollowme #DoctrineAndCovenants #LDSYouth #TeachingInTheSaviorsWay #HearHim #SeminaryTeachingTips #ChurchofJesusChrist #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #churchofjesuschristoflatter

    35 min
  4. 10/24/2025

    S3 E6 - Establishing Nauvoo, D&C 124, Life Prep Lessons on Temple Worship and Perfectionism!

    Episode Title: Establishing Nauvoo, D&C 124, Life Prep Lessons on Temple Worship and Perfectionism! (00:00) IntroductionMark Mason and Will Perez introduce the PEEL model (Prepare, Engage, Empower, Learn) and the three lessons featured in this episode: Establishing Nauvoo, Doctrine and Covenants 124, and two Life Preparation lessons. (01:00) Establishing Nauvoo – A Lesson on Liken and ApplyLearn how to help students practice likening the scriptures and Church history accounts to their own lives through a four-step process: find details, make comparisons, discover lessons, and determine application. Will shares strategies to model and practice these skills in class using case studies about the Saints in Nauvoo. (06:40) Doctrine and Covenants 124 – Why We Build TemplesMark teaches how to help students understand the Lord’s purposes for temples: as places for the Most High to dwell, to restore that which was lost, as refuge, to receive sacred ordinances, and to be crowned with eternal life. He discusses how to balance curriculum fidelity with Spirit-led adaptation by following the principles in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. “You can pray for the understanding that only the Spirit can give, which is, which of those truths is absolutely essential for my class today.”— Teaching in the Savior’s Way, p. 18 (15:45) Life Prep 205 – Making Temple Worship a Lifelong PursuitWill shares a hands-on object lesson using stones, sand, and rice to illustrate putting first things first. President Russell M. Nelson promised: “I promise that increased time in the temple will bless your life in ways nothing else can.”— Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures,” General Conference, Oct 2019 Teachers learn how to help students feel the importance of worshiping in the Lord’s house and plan specific actions to prioritize temple attendance. (24:50) Life Prep 189 – Being Perfected in Jesus ChristMark focuses on helping students recognize perfectionistic thinking errors and replace them with faith in the Savior. He introduces the “Two Voices” activity to contrast self-criticism with Christ’s voice of compassion. Discussion centers on the questions: How might the Savior want me to view myself with compassion and patience? Instead of trying to do everything on my own, how can I acknowledge and rely on the Savior and His power? Will and Mark conclude by emphasizing that true learning means teaching skills that lead to conversion and action — not just content. (33:50) ConclusionTeachers are reminded that deep learning takes time and that it’s worth spending class time on reflection and application. Christ-centered, learner-focused, and scripture-based teaching leads students to lasting conversion. 📘 Downloadable Resources: https://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resources 🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts #DandC124 #Seminary #TeachYeDiligently #ComeFollowMe2025 #ComeFollowMe #HearHim #DoctrineAndCovenants #TempleWorship #FaithInChrist #churchofjesuschristoflatter #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #churchofjesuschrist

    36 min
  5. 10/17/2025

    PEEL - S3 E5 - D&C 121-123 & Life Prep Lessons on Scriptural Context and Teachings of Church Leaders!

    Teach Ye Diligently — PEEL S3E5Hosts: Mark Mason & Will Perez (00:00) Introduction(01:00) Life Prep 173 — Understanding the Context of Scripture(10:00) D&C 121–123 — How God Helps in Our Trials(21:00) D&C 121:34–46 — Accessing Heaven’s Power to Lift Others (DM)(33:00) Life Prep 210 — Studying Teachings of Church Leaders(41:00) Wrap-up & Invitations Today we walk through four lessons tailored for seminaryteachers: Life Prep 173 — Understanding the Context of the Scriptures. Practical ways to help students preview headings/summaries, generate better questions, and feel the power of context in D&C 121–123.D&C 121–123 (Seminary 130) — How God Helps in Our Trials. We keep returning to the “how”: How do we endure well? How does God give peace? We use the Provo Tabernacle → Temple story to frame Liberty Jail as a “prison-temple.”D&C 121:34–46 — Accessing the Powers of Heaven to Bless Others. A purpose shift: access priesthood power through covenants and righteous living so we can lift others (Doctrinal Mastery included).Life Prep 210 — Studying the Teachings of Church Leaders. A flexible template: let youth help choose a message, learn a bit about the speaker, then make and report on a concrete plan to live and share.Quotes Jeffrey R. Holland: “You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in any situation you are in. Indeed, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experiences with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life…” Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, September 2009. (The Church of Jesus Christ)Russell M. Nelson: “Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.” Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures,” General Conference, October 2019. (The Church of Jesus Christ)Downloadable Resources: https://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resourcesPlatforms: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts.

    37 min
  6. 10/10/2025

    PEEL - S3E4 - D&C 115-120, Self Reliance Life Prep, Expulsion from Missouri

    Teach Ye Diligently — PEEL Ep. 4 | D&C 115; 119–120; Life Prep 180; Expulsion from Missouri (00:00) Introduction Mark and Will set the stage for this week’s lessons, connecting real-world challenges with how the Savior strengthens and teaches His people. (01:40) D&C 115 — The Correct Name of the Church Will explores President Russell M. Nelson’s message, “The Correct Name of the Church” (October 2018 General Conference) and helps teachers invite students to take responsibility for their learning through focused preparation, purposeful questioning, and real-life application. (09:00) D&C 119–120 — The Law of TithingMark discusses how students can learn by living the law of tithing, drawing from Malachi 3:8–10 , John 7:17, and Doctrine and Covenants 119:5–7. Includes the inspiring story of Mary Fielding Smith and prophetic insights from Elder David A. Bednar and President James E. Faust. (17:40) Life Prep 180 — Building Self-Reliance in the Lord’s Way Will highlights practical ways to help students understand that self-reliance is spiritual reliance on the Lord. This section integrates President Gordon B. Hinckley’s definition and President Camille N. Johnson’s worldwide devotional examples of young adults using their gifts to bless others. (26:50) Church History — The Expulsion from Missouri Mark closes with one of the most difficult periods in early Church history—the expulsion from Missouri—and invites teachers to help students feel a greater desire to turn to God when facing hardship. Downloadable Resources: https://www.teachyediligently.org/podcast-resources Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Podcasts.#ldsseminary #seminary #SeminaryTeachers #TeachYeDiligently #ComeFollowMe2025 #HearHim #DandC115 #DandC119 #DandC120 #SelfReliance #Tithing #JesusChrist #lds

    40 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Teach Ye Diligently!" Join Mark Mason and Will Perez, Seminary and Institute Coordinators for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints every Friday for insights, ideas, and best practices in gospel teaching and learning!