Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Nephi 3:7

“I Will Go and Do the Things Which the Lord Hath Commanded”

Nephi with Lehi in his tent

In a previous lesson, you learned that the Lord always prepares a way for us to accomplish what He commands us to do. This lesson can help you memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Nephi 3:7, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to realistic scenarios.

Learning to explain doctrine and principles. Students increase their understanding as they explain the gospel to each other. Create an environment in which students feel comfortable sharing their understanding of gospel truths with others.

Student preparation: Invite students to think of experiences they or loved ones have had that show the Lord prepares a way to accomplish what He asks of us.

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “1 Nephi 3,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Nephi 3:7. If this doctrinal mastery passage lesson needs to be moved to a different week, be sure to teach the corresponding contextual lesson during that week as well.

Explain and memorize

Use any effective method to help students memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Nephi 3:7 and to explain the truths found in this passage.

The following activities are suggestions for how to do this.

One purpose of doctrinal mastery is to allow you to practice explaining the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ in your own words. There are countless ways you can bless the lives of those around you as you better understand and practice explaining the Savior’s doctrine found in His scriptures.

Read 1 Nephi 3:7 and summarize what it teaches in your own words.

Invite each student to share their summary with a partner.

Try to think of a situation in which the truths taught in this verse could help someone. Then answer the following questions:

After giving students time to prepare their answers to the following questions, consider inviting them to explain their answers to a partner so every student has the opportunity to express their thoughts aloud.

• What truths from this verse would you share with someone in the situation you thought of? Why?

• What are different ways God might prepare a way for us to accomplish what He asks?

• What experiences could you share to illustrate the truth that God prepares a way for us to accomplish whatever He asks us to do?

If students did the student preparation activity, consider inviting volunteers to share their experiences with the class.

To help students memorize the key scripture phrase and reference, consider displaying the image of Nephi talking to his father from the beginning of the lesson. Invite students to look at the image while repeating, “‘I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded’—1 Nephi 3:7,” as many times as they can in one minute.

Then, to help students better commit this doctrinal mastery passage to memory, consider pausing once or twice when there is a natural break in the lesson to again display the image and invite students to recite the key scripture phrase and reference.

Practice application

We will all face difficult situations and be asked by God to do difficult things in our lives. Applying principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help you strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ as you handle these situations.

Rather than using the following scenarios, students could focus on something the Lord has commanded that relates specifically to their lives. They may have identified something in the “1 Nephi 3” lesson. If this adjustment is made, consider allowing students to work individually, since some of the things they choose to focus on may be very personal.

Read the following scenarios and choose one you would like to focus on for the next activity.

1. Sarah loves the Lord and wants to serve in His Church. However, she has recently received a Church assignment that she doesn’t feel qualified to accomplish. She accepted the assignment but is hesitant to move forward with it.

   Consider inserting any commandment into the following scenario that students could best relate to. Some examples are fasting, paying tithing, fulfilling a Church calling, or being honest.

2. Rosa feels down on herself because she struggles to keep a certain commandment. She has obeyed the commandment at times but has not done so consistently.

If using the suggested scenarios, consider asking students to form groups of three with others who chose the same scenario. Assign each member of the group to study one of the following principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and to answer the questions in that section. After sufficient time, invite students to report what they learned to their group.

It may be helpful to display or print copies of the following sections for students to refer to as they study.

Act in faith

Read paragraphs 5–7 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

• How might Elder Holland’s statement in paragraph 6 help Sarah or Rosa?

• If Sarah or Rosa can’t immediately accomplish what God asks, how could the truths about Heavenly Father in paragraph 7 help?

• If you have had thoughts similar to Sarah’s or Rosa’s, what has helped or could help you move forward with faith in Jesus Christ?

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Read paragraph 8 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Consider marking at least two phrases or ideas that you think could help Sarah or Rosa.

• How could each of the phrases you chose help Sarah or Rosa?

• What do you know about Heavenly Father and how He deals with His children that could help?

• How could viewing the situation in the context of the plan of salvation help?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

Read paragraph 11 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

• Where would you advise Sarah or Rosa to look for truths that could help her?

Take a few minutes to search divinely appointed sources for truths that you feel apply to the situation. One source you could choose is the list of doctrinal mastery passages found at the end of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Consider reading the key scripture phrases of the Book of Mormon passages, looking for ones that could be helpful. Be sure to include 1 Nephi 3:7 as one of your sources.

• What did you find that you might share?

• How have the truths you found made a difference in your life?

Consider walking around the room and helping students who are unsure how to find scripture passages or statements by Church leaders. Rather than giving them an applicable scripture reference or statement, consider showing them how to find what they are looking for.

Doctrinal mastery review

During an upcoming lesson, spend no more than three to five minutes reviewing the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Nephi 3:7. One way to review is to hold up the same image of Nephi that was used in this lesson to see if students can still remember the key scripture phrase and reference. This could be done briefly at the beginning or end of each of the next few lessons.