“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 3: Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 3: Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 3
Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources
One of the purposes of doctrinal mastery is to help you learn and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. This lesson can help you understand the importance of seeking truth from sources that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have lovingly provided.
Using divinely appointed sources. Teach students to turn to divinely appointed sources when seeking answers to spiritual questions. One way to do this is to model the process for students. Help them learn to distinguish truth from error and to understand that some sources of information are unreliable or seek to destroy faith.
Student preparation: Invite students to think about important questions or concerns they have and different sources they could turn to for answers. Encourage them to be prepared to share an example of one of these sources or even bring one to class.
Possible Learning Activities
Sources matter
Consider using water as an object lesson. One option is to pour a clear glass of water and invite a student to drink it in front of the class. Another option is to invite a student to wash their hands in a basin of water.
Reflect for a moment on the significance of water in your life.
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When does having water matter the most to you?
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Why is the source of the water you drink important?
Seeking truth can be like drinking water: the source matters. Think of sources you turn to when you have questions or concerns. How confident are you that these sources provide true answers?
Consider encouraging students to share what they thought of for the student preparation.
Seeking answers from reliable sources can make the difference between learning the truth and being deceived by false ideas. We may not always recognize when sources contain misinformation. Some sources may even be calculated to cause distrust, fear, and doubt. Heavenly Father desires to answer your sincere questions and has provided trustworthy sources to guide you. This lesson is intended to help you learn about and seek answers through divinely appointed sources.
Seeking truth
In the Book of Mormon, a man named Sherem confronted Jacob, the brother of Nephi, in an attempt to “shake [Jacob] from the faith” (Jacob 7:5). Sherem claimed that Jacob was teaching false doctrine about Jesus Christ: “No man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come” (Jacob 7:7). Jacob responded by declaring how he knew the truth about the future Savior.
Read Jacob 7:8–12, looking for sources that helped Jacob learn about Jesus Christ.
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Why do you think Jacob trusted these sources to provide truth?
Consider beginning a list of divinely appointed sources on the board. After the sources found in Jacob 7:8–12, you may want to ask students to list other trustworthy sources they are aware of. Encourage students to be prepared to add to the list after completing the following activity.
Read paragraphs 1, 11–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023), looking for information about sources of knowledge. Consider marking words and phrases that are meaningful to you.
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What stood out to you in these paragraphs?
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How might the sources you use make a difference in the information you find?
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How do divinely appointed sources demonstrate Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s love for us?
The following activity, which continues Adry’s scenario from “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 2,” will help students practice using divinely appointed sources. If students are already confident in using these sources, consider proceeding to the individual study activity.
Students could work as individuals, in pairs, or in small groups. Consider writing the question on the board and displaying the suggested sources or providing them on a handout. Help students use their time effectively so they will have time for the individual study activity.
Using Divinely Appointed Sources
Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 3”
A previous lesson introduced Adry, who asked the question “If there really is a loving God, why would He allow people to suffer?” To practice seeking truth from divinely appointed sources, take a few minutes to complete at least two of the following activities. Record what you learn in your study journal.
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Parents and Church leaders: Text Adry’s question to a parent or Church leader, and explain that you are discussing the question in seminary and want to know what they think about it.
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Prayer: In a silent personal prayer, ask the Lord for guidance and inspiration from the Holy Ghost on this question. Record the thoughts and feelings that come to you.
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Scriptures: Find scriptures that may help Adry. For example, you might read about Alma’s people in the Book of Mormon who experienced the suffering of physical captivity (see Mosiah 23:21–23; 24:8–15).
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The Lord’s prophets: Find a prophetic statement that may help Adry. For example, read the following statement by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others.
Because Jesus Christ suffered greatly, He understands our suffering. He understands our grief. We experience hard things so that we too may have increased compassion and understanding for others. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Come What May, and Love It,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 27)
Use the following questions or others that could help students better understand how divinely appointed sources can provide answers to difficult questions.
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What did these sources teach that you would want to share with Adry?
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What have you learned that will make a difference in how you seek answers to difficult questions?
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Questions of the soul
During the following activity, be aware of students who may need individual assistance. Consider directing them to helpful resources or asking follow-up questions to help them focus their efforts.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has referred to the difficult questions and concerns of life as “questions of the soul” (see “If Ye Had Known Me,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 103). In your study journal, list some “questions of the soul.” These could be questions you have or questions your friends or family members might have.
Choose a question that you need Heavenly Father’s help to understand. Take some time to seek further understanding from divinely appointed sources. Invite the Holy Ghost to guide you, and record in your study journal the understanding that you receive.
To begin, you could search ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the Gospel Library app, or conference issues of the Church magazines to find statements from Church leaders that address your question. The Guide to the Scriptures, the Topical Guide, and the index to the triple combination can also identify helpful scriptures.
Remember, seeking answers to spiritual questions takes time. As you follow the Lord’s pattern of acquiring spiritual knowledge, the Holy Ghost can teach you “line upon line, … here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30). Look for opportunities to share what you are learning with family members or Church leaders.
Encourage willing students to share how seeking answers from divinely appointed sources is helping them draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Consider bearing testimony of this truth.