Doctrinal Mastery: 2 Nephi 28:30

“Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept”

youth studying scriptures

In a previous lesson, “2 Nephi 28:27–32,” you studied 2 Nephi 28:30 and learned that God reveals truth line upon line to those who are willing to receive it. This lesson can help you memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 28:30, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to realistic scenarios.

Helping students master doctrinal mastery scripture passages. Make sure students are aware of resources that can help them master doctrinal mastery scripture passages. These resources include the Doctrinal Mastery mobile app and the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023), which contains a list of the doctrinal mastery references and key scripture phrases.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase “2 Nephi 28:30: God ‘will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept.’”

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “2 Nephi 28:27–32,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 2 Nephi 28:30. 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.

Memorize and explain

Use the following activities or another effective method to help students memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 28:30 and explain the truths found in this passage.

On the board, draw four horizontal lines that look like stairs.

staggered lines

Invite four students to each write a part of the scripture phrase on the board as seen below. Help students understand stairs can remind us of how God teaches us “line upon line.”

staggered lines with text

Invite students to repeat the scripture reference and key scripture phrase with a partner until they can recite them from memory. As students practice, consider erasing phrases from the board to help them memorize.

In a previous lesson, “2 Nephi 28:27–32,” you learned that God reveals truth line upon line to those who will receive it. To help you prepare to explain this truth, ponder the following questions and then complete the following writing activity:

• What do you think “line upon line” means?

• How do you think receiving the truth God has already given us prepares us to receive more?

Choose one of these situations where someone might need help from God:

1. Needing advice about a challenge they are facing.

2. Desiring to develop a stronger relationship with the Savior.

3. Wanting to understand their patriarchal blessing.

Write a brief explanation about what you learn from 2 Nephi 28:30 that could help in the situation you chose.

Invite students to work in pairs or small groups and discuss their explanation to the situations they chose.

Move around the class and provide help if needed. After this activity, invite some students to share their explanations with the class.

Practice application

Help students review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. You could remind them of the first principle (act in faith) and ask several students to share words or phrases that describe what we learn from that principle. Repeat this with the other two principles. If needed, review these principles in paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

Read the following two scenarios about youth from the same ward who attend a fast and testimony meeting. Each one has different thoughts during the meeting.

Consider dividing the class in two groups and assigning one scenario to each group. Display the scenarios and the questions under each of the following principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, or give each group a copy of them to use during their discussion.

You could also invite students to create a different scenario related to 2 Nephi 28:30. Have them use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine from 2 Nephi 28:30 to help with the scenario they created.

1. Thomas begins to wonder what is wrong with him. He believes in God and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. But he feels like his testimony is weak compared to other members of the ward. He wonders if it is even possible for him to ever know for himself all the things that others are testifying of.

2. Partway through the meeting, Liz stops paying attention to the testimonies. She thinks to herself, “I have already heard everything they are saying, and I already know it’s all true.” She has also felt less desire to read the scriptures and attend seminary because she feels her testimony is already strong enough.

Describe how you would use each of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help Thomas or Liz with their situation. If needed, the following questions can help you.

Act in faith

Read paragraph 7 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

• What could you share from this paragraph to help Thomas or Liz act in faith?

• How can the truths from 2 Nephi 28:30 help Thomas or Liz act in faith?

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

• Using what you have learned from 2 Nephi 28:30, what could you share to help Thomas or Liz see their situation more like the Lord does?

• What other truths could you share to help them view their concerns with an eternal perspective?

• What do you know about God that could help them see themselves as He does?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• Why could it be helpful to Thomas or Liz to talk with their parents or church leaders about their thoughts?

• What scripture verses or stories can you think of that could help them?

After some time, invite students to move around the classroom, find someone who studied a different scenario, and share what they learned. Then invite a few volunteers to share with the class what they wrote.

Doctrinal mastery review

During upcoming lessons, help students briefly review the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 28:30. One way to do this is to repeat the activity from this lesson, drawing four horizontal lines on the board and asking students to fill in the scripture reference and key scripture phrase from memory. Help students if needed. Then invite students to repeat the reference and key phrase a few times until they have memorized it.