“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4: Finding Answers to Spiritual Questions,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)
“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4,” Book of Mormon Student Manual
Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4
Finding Answers to Spiritual Questions
At times, you may have spiritual questions or concerns about doctrinal, personal, social, or historical topics. When you have such questions or concerns, you can act in faith, examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources. This lesson is intended to help you review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.
Challenges to faith
Read the following scenarios. Or you may want to watch the video “Divinely Appointed Sources” from time code 2:43 to 4:19, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Ashlyn is a young woman who heard something that troubled her about the Church from a friend. She felt the information had been hidden from her and that she had been lied to by not being told these things earlier in her life. She started talking to others who were similarly upset, and she read negative commentary on the subject.
Hugo learned about a challenging doctrinal topic in seminary and went online to learn more. He saw sources that were critical of the Church in regard to this subject. Out of curiosity, he watched a video that negatively portrayed the Church’s teachings about the topic. This experience left him questioning the truthfulness of the Church for the first time in his life.
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How would you feel in these situations?
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How do you think you would respond?
Having unanswered spiritual questions about doctrinal, personal, social, or historical topics can be difficult. Think about such questions you might have and consider writing them down for this lesson.
There are things you can learn and do that can help you respond to questions or concerns with integrity and faith. As you study this lesson, think about how the information you learn can help you respond to your own questions with trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge
The following principles can guide you in your efforts to receive direction and understanding concerning spiritual questions:
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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 information through divinely appointed sources.
Act in faith
Read the following scenarios. Or you may want to watch the video “Divinely Appointed Sources” from time code 4:19 to 5:35, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. You may also want to read paragraphs 5–7 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) before reading the scenarios or watching the video.
After learning what she did, Ashlyn was so upset that she stopped participating in church. For over a year, she distanced herself from the Church. Eventually, a close friend asked her why she had stopped participating. He shared a general conference talk with her that he thought would be helpful and invited her to pray about what she read.
Hugo kept his doubts and concerns to himself but continued to participate in church. Yet his feelings of confusion did not go away. At a certain point, he had a very strong feeling that he should talk to his parents about his concerns. It was the first spiritual feeling he had recognized since his experience on the internet.
Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
Review paragraphs 8–10 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.
Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources
Review paragraphs 11–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.
Read the following scenarios. Or you may want to watch the video “Divinely Appointed Sources” from time code 5:35 to 7:01, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Ashlyn decided to read the general conference talk recommended to her by her friend. As she read, she felt a sense of peace and contentment that was very different from what she had felt when reading negative commentary about the Church. She felt a personal reassurance that there was goodness and truth in what she was reading. In time, through prayer and faithful study, she felt her testimony being strengthened, though she still had unanswered questions.
Hugo spoke to his parents and found that they were very kind and understanding about his concerns. They introduced him to the Gospel Topics resource in the Gospel Library, and they read together about topics that concerned him. He found comfort knowing there are prophetic responses he can look to for answers to his questions.