Question Tool for teachers
Questions that invite people to share
Start with simple questions anyone can answer, go a layer deeper, then invite personal reflection, and learn to sense when your class is ready for the next step.
DEMO MODE
Brady’s layers of questions
The Rules for Questions
Each layer goes a little deeper. Every discussion starts at the surface. Go deeper as your class is ready.
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Layer 1 · Near the surface
Noticing
Ask“What is something you noticed about what we just read?”
- Don’t lead them to an answer. Let them explain the thoughts, ideas and inspiration that came to mind.
- As the topic is discussed, their minds fill with ideas and promptings from the Holy Ghost. Try to tap into that.
Why it works: people learn best when they put their own thoughts into words.
Reached about 99% of the time
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Layer 2 · Deeper
Feeling
AskHow do you feel about it?
- Now go to a personal level and ask how they feel about it.
- There’s no right or wrong, just honest feelings, whatever their emotions allow them to feel.
Why it works: feelings are where the message starts to become personal.
Reached about 50% of the time
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Layer 3 · Deepest
Experience
Ask“Could you share an experience where this happened in your life, or in the life of someone close to you?”
- Ask this once you know how they feel.
- Let them share openly. Don’t talk over them, and don’t try to top their story.
- When you share, keep a tone similar to theirs and liken it to their experience, which reinforces it.
Why it works: their own experience makes the principle real to them.
Reached about 25% of the time
For every layer
Be kind, thoughtful and considerate. Smile, and thank them for sharing, especially the deeper you go.
Why this works
This takes away the fear of answering. It invites people to share what they know and believe, so their answers can never be wrong, because it’s their belief.
As the teacher, you can add your points and emphasize what is true and what the true doctrine is. Then let each person decide how to align their beliefs with the pure doctrine and standards.
Don’t tell them; let them discover it. It’s wonderful to see how it changes them and strengthens their witness and testimony.
For teachers
When a tough question comes up
A hard question usually means someone is thinking, and that they trust you enough to ask. You don’t need every answer. Here is a gentle way to respond.
Thank them for asking.
Because it tells everyone that questions are welcome here, and it keeps the room safe for the next person who wonders.
It’s okay to say, “I don’t know. Let’s look together.”
Because honesty builds trust, and you don’t have to be an expert to be a good teacher.
Listen first.
Because understanding what they are really asking, and why, matters more than a quick reply.
Go to official sources together.
Because the Church has written carefully about many hard questions, and reading it together keeps the answer accurate and in its own words.
Invite them to talk with local leaders.
Because a bishop or branch president can give personal, ongoing help that a class discussion can’t.
Share your own testimony, in a similar tone.
Because a calm, sincere witness invites the Holy Ghost, who is the true teacher.
Find what the Church has written
Type a topic to see the Church’s Gospel Topics Essays and Gospel Topics pages about it. This site doesn’t answer doctrinal questions; each result opens the Church’s own page in a new tab.
Official Church pages: Gospel Topics Essays Gospel Topics Search ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Your questions
Your questions will appear here
Enter a topic and choose Plan my questions.
Teaching a lesson?
Church lesson resources
Come, Follow Me and the Church’s other lesson materials, all on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Links open in a new tab.
Come, Follow Me 2026
The Old Testament this year. One manual serves homes, Primary, Sunday School and youth classes.
- For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026The weekly lessons, with ideas for teaching children in every lesson.
- All Come, Follow Me resourcesEvery year’s manuals plus extra resources for teaching children.
- For Primary: Appendix BHelping children prepare for a lifetime on God’s covenant path.
- For Sunday School: ideas to improve learningSimple ways to learn and teach from the weekly lesson, at home and in class.
- For youth: Appendix DMeeting agenda for Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes.
- Old Testament overviewA short map of the Old Testament before you begin.
Teaching
For anyone who teaches at home or at church.
- Teaching in the Savior’s WayHow to teach as the Savior taught, for every teacher and parent.
- Teaching and learning resourcesTeacher skills, teacher council meetings and teaching videos.
- Relief Society and elders quorum lessonsLesson resources for Sunday Relief Society and elders quorum meetings.
- Teaching from general conference messagesHow to plan a Sunday lesson around a recent conference talk.
Organizations
Callings, classes and how each organization meets.
- Relief SocietyPurpose, meetings and resources for sisters and leaders.
- Elders quorumPurposes, Sunday meetings and gospel learning (General Handbook, chapter 8).
- PrimaryResources for teaching children ages 3 to 11.
- Sunday SchoolResources for youth and adult Sunday School classes.
- Young WomenClasses, activities and resources for young women and leaders.
- Children and YouthGoals, activities and guides for children, youth and their leaders.
- General HandbookHow Church organizations, classes and callings work.
Study
Scriptures, prophets’ words and gospel guides.
- The ScripturesThe Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
- Gospel Library appScriptures, manuals, magazines and conference on your phone.
- Books and lesson manualsEvery Church manual and lesson book in one place.
- General ConferenceEvery talk, in full.
- Gospel TopicsShort, clear explanations of gospel subjects and questions.
- Gospel Topics EssaysIn-depth essays on history and doctrine questions.
- Preach My GospelThe doctrine of Christ and how to share it, for missionaries and members.
- For the Strength of YouthA guide for making choices, centered on Jesus Christ.
Media and magazines
Pictures, videos and music to bring a lesson to life.
- Media LibraryImages, videos and audio you can show in class.
- VideosVideo collections for gospel study and teaching.
- MusicHymns, children’s songs and other sacred music.
- LiahonaThe Church’s magazine for adults, every month.
- For the Strength of Youth magazineMonthly stories and messages for youth.
- FriendMonthly stories, activities and pages for children.
Seminary and Institute
Daily scripture study for youth and young adults.
- Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)Daily seminary lessons that follow this year’s Old Testament study.
- Old Testament Seminary Student Manual (2026)Lessons students can study on their own.
- Institute course materialsTeacher manuals and readings for institute classes for young adults.
Questions open the heavens
“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.”
Joseph Smith—History 1:16
It began with one sincere question. Good questions still open the heavens, and the hearts of a class.
Teaching as Alma taught
“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort”
Mosiah 18:9
Alma taught a few believers by the Waters of Mormon. A lesson is not a lecture; it is people helping each other come to Christ.