Doctrinal Mastery: 2 Nephi 2:27

We Are Free to Choose Through the Great Mediator

In a previous lesson, “2 Nephi 2:26–30,” you learned that we are free to choose liberty and eternal life through Jesus Christ. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for 2 Nephi 2:27, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Memorize and explain

Read 2 Nephi 2:27 and draw a picture that helps you visualize the meaning of the key scripture phrase: “They are free to choose liberty and eternal life … or … captivity and death.” Include the key phrase on your drawing to help you memorize it.

Next, write on your drawing what it means that we are free to choose liberty and eternal life through Jesus Christ, or to choose captivity and death. Include what this verse means to you personally and how it can help you better follow Jesus Christ.

Finally, while looking at the picture, repeat the scripture reference and key scripture phrase until you know them from memory.

Consider placing your drawing where you will see it frequently for the next few days and practice saying the reference and key scripture phrase each time you notice it.

Practice application

To review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, see if you can remember what each of the three principles are. Then see if you can match the following phrases with the correct principle. (Use paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2023] to check your accuracy.)

• “Protect us from misinformation and from those who seek to destroy faith”

• “View ideas based on the Lord’s standard of truth rather than accepting the world’s premises or assumptions”

• “Rely on the testimony that we already have”

Read the following scenario and think about how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge could be applied by Ivan.

Ivan had been planning to spend Saturday afternoon with his friends, but when one of them unexpectedly showed up with alcohol to share, he felt it was time for him to leave. He knew his friends wouldn’t be surprised because he had consistently gone home in similar situations in the past. As he walked away, he heard his friend Daniel say, “It seems like Ivan’s church won’t let him do anything.”

Ivan continued to think about Daniel’s comment as he walked home.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Read paragraph 8 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Pay special attention to what it means to reframe questions.

1. Complete the following reframing activity:

   Practice the skill of reframing Daniel’s comment. First, identify Daniel’s premises or assumptions. Next, consider the issue in the context of the plan of salvation and teachings of the Savior. Write a paragraph comparing Daniel’s point of view to what you know about agency in Heavenly Father’s plan. The following questions may help you to reframe it, but you do not need to answer every question in your paragraph.

   1. Identify possible premises or assumptions.

      • What does Daniel seem to believe about freedom and the purpose of agency?

      • What does he seem to believe about the standards of the Savior’s Church?

   2. Consider the issue in the context of the plan of salvation and teachings of the Savior.

      • What have you experienced by living the gospel of Jesus Christ that helps you see things differently than Daniel does?

      • What aspects of the plan of salvation do you think would be most helpful for Daniel to understand?

      • What kind of freedom does the Savior offer to those who use their agency to keep His commandments? What kind of captivity results from rejecting them?

Read paragraphs 5–7, 11 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, and ponder how the following two principles apply to Ivan’s situation.

Act in faith

• If Ivan were to start questioning his decision to walk away from spiritually dangerous situations, what might you share with him from paragraphs 5–7? Why?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• What sources mentioned in paragraph 11 do you think would be most helpful to Ivan?

• How could the truths in 2 Nephi 2:27 to help him?