Lesson 84

Prophets and Revelation (Part 2)

Introduction

The teaching materials for this doctrinal mastery topic are divided into four parts. In part 2, students will review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and participate in a practice exercise in which they will apply the truths they learned in part 1.

Note: You could teach each segment of this lesson in a single class session or over the course of two class sessions, dividing class time between Doctrinal Mastery and a regular sequential scripture lesson.

Suggestions for Teaching

Refrain from sowing seeds of doubt

“Many of our students have been blessed with the gift of a believing heart. The majority of our students have questions, not doubts. The way in which we approach Doctrinal Mastery should confirm faith and help students to answer questions for themselves and prepare them to help others. But it should never be done in a way that will create doubt or diminish faith” (Chad H Webb, “Doctrinal Mastery” [address given at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Annual Training Broadcast, June 14, 2016], broadcasts.lds.org).

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge Review (20 minutes)

Examining Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

Divide students into three groups. Assign each group the paragraphs in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document that are associated with one of the three principles discussed in paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section: Act in Faith (paragraphs 5–7); Examine Concepts and Questions from an Eternal Perspective (paragraphs 8–10); and Seek Further Understanding Through Divinely Appointed Sources (paragraphs 11–12). Invite each of the students to identify the three to five most important points taught in their paragraphs and then discuss them with their group as they prepare to summarize the principle. After sufficient time, divide the class into groups of three students, with each group including a student from each of the three original groups. Invite each student to summarize and share what they learned from the first group activity (begin with the student who studied the Act in Faith paragraphs). After the groups have finished, discuss any questions they may have.

Explain that throughout our lives we will face difficult issues, circumstances, and questions. To illustrate the principle of examining these challenges with an eternal perspective and how doing so can bless us, consider using the following idea.

City of Zion Is Taken Up

Display a picture of the prophet Enoch (for example, City of Zion Is Taken Up [Gospel Art Book (2009), no. 6; see also lds.org/media-library]). Explain that the Old Testament prophet Enoch was blessed to speak with the Lord and see everything that would happen on the earth (see Moses 7:20–67). As part of this vision, Enoch saw the great wickedness and destruction that would take place on the earth.

Invite a student to read Moses 7:41, 44 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how seeing this wickedness and destruction affected Enoch.

• What was Enoch’s response to the wickedness and destruction he saw?

• According to the end of this verse, what did the Lord tell Enoch to do?

Ask students to silently consider what they think the Lord was going to show Enoch that would help him to “lift up [his] heart, and be glad.”

Invite a student to read Moses 7:47 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord showed Enoch that caused him to rejoice. You may need to explain that the phrases “Son of Man,” “the Righteous,” and “the Lamb” are all titles for Jesus Christ.

• What did Enoch see? (He saw the coming of Jesus Christ to the earth and His crucifixion.)

Summarize Moses 7:48–67 by explaining that not only did Enoch see the Savior, but he also learned about His Crucifixion and Resurrection, the redemption of mankind from sin and death, the Restoration of the gospel in the latter days, the destruction of the wicked, and the ultimate triumph of the righteous. All of these events are elements of the plan of salvation.

Invite a student to read Moses 7:67 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for the effect that seeing the rest of this vision of the Savior and the events of the plan of salvation had on Enoch.

• What effect did seeing and learning about the Savior’s mission and the plan of salvation have on Enoch? (He “received a fulness of joy.”)

• Why do you think Enoch could be filled with joy rather than experiencing “bitterness of soul” (verse 44) after learning about the Savior’s mission and the plan of salvation?

After students respond, write the following principle on the board: When we view difficult circumstances with an eternal perspective, we can experience joy rather than bitterness of soul.

Point out that Enoch was blessed with a vision that helped him gain an eternal perspective.

• What have we been blessed with that can help us gain an eternal perspective? (Students’ answers could include the scriptures, the commandments, the testimonies of prophets and apostles, and personal revelation.)

• When have you been able to be filled with joy because of what you know about the Savior and His mission despite witnessing or experiencing difficult circumstances?

Invite students to ponder any difficult issues, circumstances, or questions they may be dealing with. Ask them to consider how what they learned from the account of Enoch could help them as they work through these challenges.

As appropriate, you may want to invite a few students to share their thoughts or experiences with the class. You may also want to share your testimony of the principle on the board.

Practice Exercise (20 minutes)

Explain that in this practice exercise, students will have the opportunity to practice helping others acquire spiritual knowledge. Invite students to turn to the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Refer students to paragraphs 13–17 in the “Helping Others Acquire Spiritual Knowledge” section, and review the following principles of helping others acquire spiritual knowledge: (1) listen carefully and prayerfully, (2) teach and testify of gospel truths, (3) invite them to act in faith, and (4) follow through.

Go through the following scenario with the class. As you share the scenario, invite students to think of ways they could help Alex, the young man in the scenario, to apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge as he strives to find answers to his question.

As you are watching general conference with your family, the time comes to sustain the leaders of the Church. After the sustaining is finished, your brother Alex begins to look a little concerned. You notice that he continues to seem bothered throughout the remainder of the session, so when it is over you ask him what is wrong.

Alex responds by saying that while the Church leaders were being sustained, he noticed that most of the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles seem to have come from similar cultural backgrounds. He asks, “Why aren’t there more Apostles from other cultures or countries? Isn’t this a global church?”

• What could you do to show Alex that you care about his question and want to help him find an answer?

You remember that in seminary you have been discussing the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, and you recognize that following these principles could help your brother find greater peace about his question. As you consider how to respond, you realize you don’t know the exact answer to Alex’s question, so you decide to try to understand the question with an eternal perspective by considering truths you do know about prophets and apostles and the way in which they are called.

• What truths do you know about prophets and apostles and the way in which they are called that could help Alex see his question with an eternal perspective?

• What scripture passages can you think of that might be helpful to Alex?

One scripture passage that you decide would be important for Alex to understand is Jeremiah 1:4–5. (Invite a student to read the passage aloud.)

• According to Jeremiah 1:4–5, when did the Lord choose prophets to be in their appointed positions?

• How could the doctrine taught in this passage help Alex see his question with an eternal perspective?

You share Jeremiah 1:4–5 with Alex, and he thanks you for sharing it with him.

You know that there are other divinely appointed sources that could help answer Alex’s question. However, you can’t think of any at the moment, so you suggest that Alex take some time before the next day’s sessions of general conference to gain additional understanding of this subject by studying and praying about the scriptures and the words of prophets and apostles. You tell him that you will do the same. (If there is enough time, give students a few minutes to search these sources for further information that could be helpful to Alex. Invite students to share what they find. Students may find scripture passages, articles from mormonnewsroom.org, statements from recent general conference sessions, or articles from LDS.org, such as the Church News article “New First Presidency Answers Questions about Church Challenges and Opportunities” [Jan. 16, 2018, LDS.org].)

The next day, you and Alex discuss a source each of you has found that testifies of the inspired calling of prophets and apostles. Alex says he is beginning to feel better about his concerns, but you know there is one more principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge that can help him: acting in faith.

• What are some ways you could invite Alex to act in faith that would help him continue to find peace about his question?

After discussing with Alex what he thinks he could do to act in faith, he decides that during the upcoming sessions of general conference, he will listen with an open heart, seeking a stronger testimony that the leaders of the Church are called of God. He says he will also continue to search and pray about the scriptures and the words of prophets and apostles to learn more about this subject.

A week later, you follow up with Alex and ask him how he is doing with his question. Alex shares with you that while he’s still not exactly sure why God calls who He calls to be prophets and apostles, the Spirit has testified to him that the Savior is the head of the Church, and that he trusts that we are led by prophets and apostles who are called of God. You realize that although someone might not fully understand every detail about a certain question or issue, the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can still help people understand enough through the Spirit and therefore find peace.

Invite students to share anything they have learned from this practice exercise about how to help others acquire spiritual knowledge. After students respond, invite any students who are willing to share how they or someone they know has been able to help someone acquire spiritual knowledge. Consider concluding this practice exercise by testifying of the calling of prophets and apostles by the Lord and that the Lord can answer students’ questions with reassurance from the Spirit.