Genesis 18–23: Lesson 28

Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2

Understanding Doctrine and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Doctrinal mastery can help students build the foundation for their lives upon Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson can help students understand truths taught in doctrinal mastery passages and apply the divine principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Student preparation: Invite students to select a doctrinal mastery passage they would like to understand better. Then invite them to study the passage, ponder its meaning, and consider why the doctrine taught is significant.

Possible Learning Activities

Doctrinal mastery review: Understand

Consider inviting students to reflect on a time when they had difficulty learning or doing something new. Examples might include learning a new language, practicing an instrument, or playing a sport. Students could share things that helped them to learn and to overcome the challenges of learning something new. If students do not mention it, you might want to add that it can be helpful to be patient and to avoid comparing your progress with others.

In the same way learning a new skill can be difficult, the language of the scriptures can sometimes make them difficult to understand.

• What are some things that have helped you or others better understand the language of scripture?

One way to increase our understanding of a scripture passage is to study it carefully, using scripture study tools to define and clarify language and meaning.

Explain that in this part of the lesson, students will have opportunities to deepen their understanding of one of the doctrinal mastery passages they have studied so far this year. You could display the first six Old Testament doctrinal mastery references and key scripture phrases, found in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022). Invite students to select a doctrinal mastery passage they would like to understand better.

For this study activity, students could work individually or in small groups with other students who selected the same passage. Consider displaying the following instructions.

1. Read the doctrinal mastery passage slowly and carefully, prayerfully inviting the Holy Ghost to help increase your understanding. Mark any words and phrases that you find meaningful.

2. Write down any questions you or others may have about the language or meaning of the scripture verse.

3. Use available scripture study tools to search for definitions, clarifications, cross-references, statements from Church leaders, or any other information that could add understanding to the verse or the words or phrases you marked.

4. Discuss what the passage teaches about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Why do you think it would be important for a teenager to know and understand this passage?

For an example of this scripture study pattern, see the video “Analyzing a Passage” (8:12), found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

As time allows, students could share with others what they discovered and how it increased their understanding of the passage. Alternatively, students could practice explaining the doctrine of the passage to a partner using the additional insight they gained through the study activity.

You could encourage students to use these techniques in their personal scripture study efforts.

Throughout the day, ponder the doctrinal mastery passage you selected, looking for impressions from the Holy Ghost teaching you how that scripture can bless your life.

Learn and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge

The remainder of the lesson focuses on helping students apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to relevant situations. Before continuing, it may be useful to invite students to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Suggested review activities are included in the section of the appendix titled “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.” Descriptions of the principles are found in paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022).

Remember that doctrinal mastery practice lessons are not meant to introduce new content. Doctrinal mastery practice lessons give students a chance to review what they have learned, practice explaining it, and apply it to a relevant scenario. This can increase students’ ability to recall and use important doctrinal principles in their lives.

To help students practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, consider displaying the following scenario. You could adapt the details of the scenario to best fit the needs of your class.

Instead of the scenario, you might use the video “Find Answers through Jesus” (1:04).

Your friend Andy has shared that he feels dissatisfied with his life. He spends a lot of time on his phone, playing video games, and hanging out with friends, but he finds he doesn’t have much time for God or his family. Lately, he has wondered if there is more purpose and meaning to his life than what he is currently experiencing.

Display on the board the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the following questions. Consider organizing students into small groups to discuss the principles and how they might represent them visually. Invite students to create a pamphlet or poster that could help someone use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to address their concerns. You could provide paper and art supplies. For a pamphlet, students might fold the paper into thirds and illustrate one principle on each section. Encourage students to be creative in illustrating the three principles.

If needed, the following questions could help students better understand how to apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Keep in mind that this activity is intended to give students opportunities to practice sharing what they have learned. While you as the teacher can help facilitate their discussions and provide assistance as needed, do your best to create a setting where student-led discussions can take place.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

• How could keeping an eternal perspective be helpful in this situation?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• What doctrinal mastery passages, other scripture references, or statements from Church leaders might be helpful to Andy and his situation?

Consider encouraging the students to use Gospel Library to find three or more sources they would recommend Andy study. If students need help finding scripture references, you could suggest verses such as Genesis 12:1–3; Moses 1:6, 39; Moses 6:26–33; and Abraham 3:22–23.

Act in faith

• What are some specific things Andy could do to feel greater meaning and purpose in his life?

  Give students an opportunity to share their posters or pamphlets with another group.

  To conclude class, you could provide students an opportunity to respond to the following questions as a discussion or to record their thoughts in their study journals.

• What insights did you find meaningful as you studied today?

• How could the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge help you come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Supplemental Learning Activity

Alternate scenario

Students could practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge by creating their own relevant scenario. You might introduce a basic scenario and invite students to add details that reflect situations they or others they know might be facing. To do this, you could display the following incomplete statements. Students could fill in scenario details as a class or create individual scenarios in partnerships or small groups.

(name) has been having a difficult time getting along with members of

because .

(She/He) is wondering .

Invite students to use each of the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help this person. As students discuss divinely appointed sources, you could invite them to use Moses 7:18 as a starting point. Students could then search the Gospel Library for cross-references and statements from Church leaders that could help this person. You might suggest search terms like peace, peacemaker, contention, and unity.