“Lesson 14: Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge (Part 3),” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)
“Lesson 14: Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge (Part 3)”
Lesson 14
Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge (Part 3)
Prepare to Learn
Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Remove any potential distractions. Focus on what you are studying by putting your worries and troubles aside. This will help you invite the Holy Ghost to help you learn.
Begin your study with prayer.
What are you currently doing to gain gospel knowledge?
While serving as a counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, Sister Ann M. Dibb emphasized why it is important to increase our own gospel knowledge.
You can read the text for this video here: “I Know It. I Live It. I Love It,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 10.
The Pattern
Do you remember God’s divinely ordained pattern for acquiring spiritual knowledge?
If you need to review, read paragraph 2 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.
What four things does this pattern include?
Three Principles
Review the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, found in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document:
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Act in faith.
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Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.
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Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.
These principles will help you with the scenario described next.
A Scenario to Consider
During a health class at school, Samuel’s teacher is discussing some of the latest research on nutrition. As part of her presentation, she shows the class some recent studies that show the health benefits of coffee. The research seems legitimate, and Samuel begins wondering about the Word of Wisdom.
“Why would the Lord prohibit something that has these health benefits?” he asks himself as he leaves the class. Throughout the rest of the day, this question about coffee continues to bother Samuel, and he wonders how inspired the Word of Wisdom is.
1. What do you think Samuel could do to act in faith in this situation? (If you struggle to answer this question, consider reviewing paragraphs 5–7 in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.)
An Eternal Perspective
Samuel wondered, “Why would the Lord prohibit something that has these health benefits?”
2. Consider how Samuel could examine this question with an eternal perspective by answering the following questions:
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What do you know about Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation that can help when secular knowledge contradicts God’s revealed word through His prophets?
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Even if there are health benefits to drinking coffee, how could having an eternal perspective help us to see that we should obey the Word of Wisdom anyway?
The Most Important Source
Read Isaiah 5:20 and Proverbs 3:5–6. How do these doctrinal mastery passages help us understand which sources we should trust and prioritize above others?
Divinely Appointed Sources
3. What divinely appointed sources would you use to better understand the issue Samuel faced? LDS.org can help to answer this question.
A Way to Resolve Concerns
If you had difficulty working through Samuel’s concern by using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, consider sharing your challenge or concern with your teacher or other class members during your weekly class. They might be able to help you.