Preparing a Talk for Church
A Guideline for Planning Effective Sacrament Meeting Presentations
Feb 1, 2009
Whether being provided a specific topic to present at church or asked to choose one at random, a church member can often feel overwhelmed at the thought of having to deliver a message in front of an entire congregation. The following points will provide new speakers with some guidance on preparing their first talk for church.
Researching the Topic
Many church materials are available to members to help them research their topic. Information can be found in church-produced magazines and also in home study manuals used for Family Home Evening and Sunday School. Archives of conference talks are available online and can also provide good material for a Sacrament Meeting Presentation.
Choosing Subtopics
Thorough research will enable the speaker to gain insight as to what information is available to expand on. From these results the speaker should isolate roughly three or four points to focus on during the talk. These points should be connected to the main topic and support the message that is being delivered to the congregation. Once this information is decided on, the speaker is ready to prepare an official outline.
Creating an Outline
As with any other type of presentation, the speaker should prepare an outline of how the talk is going to flow. This ensures that the speaker has introduced the topic, covered all points suggested at the beginning, made use of all his references in appropriate order and adequately summarized the message at the end. It will also help the speaker stay focused on the topic at hand.
Using Supporting Materials
Referring to other sources to support the talk helps to lend credibility to the information being presented. Speakers should take care that the sources are not in conflict with church doctrine. If in doubt, the speaker can request guidance from the person who assigned the talk. Some possible sources for supporting materials include the following.
- Scriptures
- Accounts of other notable church figures
- Personal Stories/Experiences relevant to the message being shared
- Supporting information from appropriate reputable sources
Rehearsing the Final Draft
Once the last draft is completed the speaker should take the time to read it out aloud either to himself or to another supportive person. This will help the speaker get a feel for how long the delivery of the actual talk will be and will help him determine if he needs to make any changes to the material.
Using a timer while rehearsing will give the speaker a better idea if he has enough material to fulfill the assigned time requirement. It can be helpful for the speaker to know that many people speak faster when addressing an audience. If the speaker falls short of his time limit while rehearsing at a normal pace he might want to consider adding more material.
Final Pointers on Public Speaking
Considering the following points can help ease some of the stressful effects of public speaking.
- Keeping a glass of water handy will help to ease dry mouth that often accompanies public speaking stress.
- If the topic is particularly emotional for the speaker keeping a tissue handy can help him avoid the embarrassment of a dripping nose during the presentation.
- Finding a smiling and supportive face amidst the congregation at the beginning of the talk can help the speaker to feel more confident. If confidence starts to waver, the speaker can look towards that person for some visual reassurance.
Preparing to speak in front of a congregation or any other crowd for the first time can be stressful and overwhelming. Good organization and planning can help a speaker overcome some of the stress that accompanies public speaking. Once a speaker has presented a few talks he will feel more confident and find that his experience is less stressful.
 |
 |
