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DOCTRINAL MASTERY

MAKE-UP WORK

BOOK OF MORMON

Contents

• Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge
• The Godhead
• The Plan of Salvation
  • The Atonement of Jesus Christ
• The Restoration
• Prophets and Revelation
  • Priesthood and Priesthood Keys
  • Ordinances and Covenants
• Marriage and Family
  • Commandments

During your experience in seminary, you will have many opportunities to work to increase your understanding and testimony of the gospel and to learn how to find answers to your questions and the questions others may have about the Church—including its teachings and history. One opportunity you have is through Doctrinal Mastery. Doctrinal Mastery includes seeking to learn and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and developing a deeper understanding of key doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God Is the Source of All Truth

Go to the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, and turn to the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section. Read the first paragraph, looking for what it teaches about the source of all truth.

• Who is the source of all truth?
• Which doctrinal mastery passage supports this doctrine?

Read Mosiah 4:9, looking for how this verse helps us understand why we should look to God as we search for truth.

• What words or phrases in this verse help us understand why we should look to God as we search for truth?
• What experiences have helped you know that God knows all things and is the source of all truth?

Tasks:

• Mark the following doctrine in your Core Document: God knows all things and is the source of all truth.
• Mark Mosiah 4:9 in your scriptures.

How to Acquire Spiritual Knowledge

Consider the following statement: The pattern God has given to help us acquire spiritual knowledge.

• How would you explain what a pattern is?

Read the second paragraph of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document , looking for four things we must do to follow the pattern God has given to help us acquire spiritual knowledge.

• Based on what we read in this paragraph, what four things must we do to follow the pattern God has given to help us acquire spiritual knowledge?
• Why do you think it is important for us to apply God’s pattern for acquiring spiritual knowledge every day and not just when we have pressing questions or concerns?

Go back to the second paragraph of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

• Which of the doctrinal mastery passages in the Book of Mormon support God’s pattern for acquiring spiritual knowledge?

Asking Questions and Seeking Answers Is a Vital Part of Our Effort to Learn Truth

Consider if you think it is good for people to ask questions about the teachings of the Church or aspects of Church history that may be difficult to understand.

Read the third paragraph of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document , looking for what this paragraph teaches about the role of asking questions and seeking answers in our effort to learn truth.

• What is the role of asking questions and seeking answers in our effort to learn truth?
• Why do you think asking questions and seeking answers is a vital part of our effort to learn truth?
• According to what we learn in the third paragraph, why does our attitude and intent matter when we ask questions?

Task:

Mark the following truth in your copy of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document :

“The attitude and intent with which we ask questions and seek answers will greatly affect our ability to learn through the Holy Ghost”.

Remember the account of the young woman who contacted Sister Sheri L. Dew because she was worried about whether the teachings of the Church are true. The young woman decided to meet with her bishop and with others—including Sister Dew—who could help her find answers to her questions.

Read the follow-up account, told by Sister Dew, of what happened as the young woman sought answers to her questions. Answer the questions that follow.

“I told [the young woman], ‘Bring your scriptures and every question you have. Questions are good. Let’s see what the Lord will teach us.’

“She took me at my word and brought one thorny question after another. We searched the scriptures and the teachings of prophets for answers. Little by little, she began to realise that just because she had questions didn’t mean she didn’t have a testimony. The scriptures are filled with accounts of prophets who had questions. And she began to recognise when the Spirit was bearing witness to her—including bearing witness that prophets, seers, and revelators are truly prophets.

“Her testimony began to grow, and time passed. Then about a year ago, she called again. ‘I wanted you to be one of the first to know that I am holding in my hand a temple recommend. Will you come when I receive my endowment?’ Then she added, ‘Do you know what you said that helped me the most? You told me that questions are good, and that allowed me to see myself as a seeker rather than a doubter.’

“I was overjoyed! But two days later, I received a much different call from another [young woman]. ‘Sister Dew,’ she said, ‘before you hear it from someone else, I want you to know that I’m pregnant.’ She said that for several years she had doubted the truthfulness of the gospel and had finally decided there was no reason to live the law of chastity.

“I told her that I was not her judge and that I loved her. Then I asked her if she would like to have a testimony. ‘No, I don’t think so,’ she said.

“The contrast was stunning. At about the same time, these two young women had questions that threatened their testimonies. One of them sent out a cry for help, and family, friends and leaders followed President Monson’s counsel and went to her rescue. The other girl nursed her doubt and convinced herself that her immoral choices were acceptable. …

“One girl’s questions propelled her to become a seeker of truth. The other girl used her questions to justify her immorality. “My dear friends, questions are good. Questions are good if they are inspired questions, asked in faith, and asked of credible sources where the Spirit will direct and confirm the answer. …

“None of us are entitled to revelation without effort on our part. Answers from God don’t just magically appear. If we want to grow spiritually, the Lord expects us to ask questions and seek answers. ‘If thou shalt ask,’ He promised, ‘thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge’ [D&C 42:61]. How much clearer can it be? The Lord loves inspired questions asked in faith because they lead to knowledge, to revelation, and to greater faith.” Sheri L. Dew, “Will You Engage in the Wrestle?” [Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional, May 17, 2016], byui.edu/devotionals.

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Part 2 (70 minutes)

Principles That Can Help Us Answer Questions

Consider what questions they may have about life or about the Church and its teachings and history.

Read the example of a concern and question that some students may have or may be asked by another person:

This portion of the learning experience on acquiring spiritual knowledge is intended to help them learn three principles that can guide them when they have questions or are presented with questions from others: act in faith, examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.

Act in Faith

Read principle 1, “Act in Faith,” in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document , looking for statements that explain what we can do to act in faith when we have questions or concerns. Mark the statements that are especially meaningful to you.

• Which Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passage supports this statement of doctrine?

Read Ether 12:6, looking for words or phrases that help us understand why it is important for us to live by faith as we seek answers to our questions.

• What words or phrases in this verse can help us understand why it is important that we live by faith as we seek answers to our questions?

• What do you think it means that “ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6)?

Read the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, looking for what we can

do in order to receive a witness or testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.

• According to this statement by President Uchtdorf, what can we do in order to receive or strengthen our testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel?
• Why do you think the Lord expects us to exercise our faith before we receive a witness or testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel?
• What is a truth you have received a testimony of by choosing to exercise your faith by applying gospel principles on a daily basis? How did that testimony come to you? (You may also want to share an experience.)

• Based on what you learned from this statement, what are some reasons why God might choose not to answer some of our questions and prayers immediately or in the way we desire?

Read again the concern that was at the beginning of this section:

• If you had this concern and question, how could you choose to act in faith?

Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

Think of times when you may have noticed that your religious beliefs and views on life were different than some of the beliefs and views of your friends and associates who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Read the following statement by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, looking for why Latter-day Saints often view questions relating to life and religious subjects differently than how others might view them.

• According to Elder Oaks, why do Latter-day Saints view questions relating to our life on earth and religious subjects differently than how others might view them?

Look at the following diagram:

• What is an example of an important subject that we might view differently if we didn’t have knowledge of our premortal life or of life after death?

Read the following statement by Elder Oaks. The context of this quote was when he was speaking to seminary and institute of religion teachers. Look for what he said students should do when they are presented with a difficult concept or question.

• Based on Elder Oaks’s suggestion, what can we do when we are presented with a difficult concept or question?

• How might the beliefs or assumptions on the board indicate that the person may be viewing the question with a limited perspective?

Read principle 2, “Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective,” in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Look for how we can examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

Mark the following truth: To examine doctrinal concepts, questions, and social issues with an eternal perspective, we consider them in the context of the plan of salvation and the teachings of the Saviour.

Complete if you have access to the Internet:

To help you understand how to consider concepts and questions in the context of the plan of salvation and the teachings of the Saviour, watch the video “Examining Questions with an Eternal Perspective” (2:55).

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-05-2000-examining-questions-with-an-eternal-perspective?lang=eng

Watch for how a young woman named Lauren took time to think about the beliefs or assumptions that may have influenced her friend’s question about God and how Lauren then examined the question with an eternal perspective.

• Why do you think it was helpful for Lauren to think about the beliefs or assumptions that may have influenced her friend’s question about God?
• What happened as Lauren examined her friend’s question with an eternal perspective?

• What do we know about Heavenly Father, His plan, and the teachings of the Saviour that could help us look at this question differently and find answers based on eternal truth?

Consider the new frame in the diagram below:

This new frame represents truths we know about Heavenly Father, His plan of salvation, and the teachings of the Saviour.

• How does viewing this question in the context of what we know about Heavenly Father, His plan, and the teachings of the Saviour allow us to see the question differently?

Refer to the concern or issue in the frame below, answer the question that follows:

• What are some divinely appointed sources you could turn to if you had this concern and question?

Additional resources that can help you locate divinely appointed sources are:

1. The official Church website mormonnewsroom.org. On this website the Church clarifies information regarding various issues of public interest related to the Church and corrects partial or incorrect information that is reported in the media.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org./

2. The Church’s Gospel Topics page at lds.org/topics. The Gospel Topics essays contain valuable and forthright information on many difficult historical and doctrinal issues.

https://www.lds.org/topics?lang=eng

Read the second paragraph of principle 3, “Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources,” in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Look for what this paragraph teaches about sources of information that are not produced by the Church.

• Why is it important to be wary of unreliable sources of information?

• How can we recognise truth in sources of information that are not produced by the Church? (see Moroni 10:5).

During the school year, in addition to studying the teachings of the Book of Mormon sequentially, you will also be studying the nine doctrinal topics from the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (which correspond to topics in the Sunday youth curriculum). You will also study the Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passages associated with each topic. As each topic is studied, they will use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge discussed in this lesson to consider real questions, issues, and opportunities for personal application.

It is important to apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge when we are faced with difficult concepts or questions. The Lord wants to teach us through His Spirit. As we act in faith, examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources, God will give us answers and provide direction in our lives.