Genesis 18–23; Lesson 28

Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2

Understanding Doctrine and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

Doctrinal mastery can help you build the foundation for your life upon Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson can help you understand truths taught in doctrinal mastery passages. It can also help you apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Review the Doctrine

Think about a time when you had a hard time learning or doing something new. This could be learning a new language, practicing an instrument, or playing a sport. What helped you overcome the challenges of learning something new?

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 your understanding of a scripture passage is to study it carefully. You can use scripture study tools to define and clarify language and meaning.

Review some of the first six Old Testament doctrinal mastery references and key scripture phrases below. Choose one that you would like to understand better.

Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference	Key Scripture Phrase
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference Moses 1:39	Key Scripture Phrase “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference Abraham 2:9–11	Key Scripture Phrase The Lord promised Abraham that his seed would “bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations.”
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference Genesis 1:26–27	Key Scripture Phrase “God created man in his own image.”
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference Genesis 2:24	Key Scripture Phrase “A man … shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one.”

Complete the following steps:

1. Read the doctrinal mastery passage. Pray to invite the Holy Ghost to help increase your understanding. Mark any words and phrases that you find meaningful.

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

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

Respond to the following questions in your notebook:

• What does the passage teach about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• Why do you think it would be important for a teenager to know and understand this passage?

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

Take some time to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge from the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

Read the following scenario. Consider how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help the person in this situation.

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.

Review the following study options. Complete two or more.

Option A

How can I examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective?

Create a poster or infographic. Write the title “Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective” in your notebook. Under that title, record ideas or draw images that might help Andy examine his problem with an eternal perspective. The following question might help you think of ideas:

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

Option B

How can I seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources?

Create a poster or infographic. Write the title “Divinely Appointed Sources” in your notebook. Under that title, record ideas or draw images from divinely appointed sources you find that might help Andy. The following question might help you think of ideas:

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

Option C

How can I act in faith?

Create a poster or infographic. Write the title “Act in Faith” in your notebook. Under that title, record ideas of how Andy could act in faith. The following question might help you think of ideas:

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

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you understand truths taught in doctrinal mastery passages. To help you apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

• The doctrinal mastery passage you chose. What did you learn? How can that scripture bless your life?

• The posters you created to help Andy.

• Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

• Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?