Doctrinal Mastery Review 15

Understand and Explain

Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is vitally important, Heavenly Father desires all His children to know its truths. Learning to explain gospel truths in your own words can help clarify your understanding. This lesson can help increase your understanding and your ability to explain truths found in the doctrinal mastery passages from the Book of Mormon.

Misunderstanding

The following accounts by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, illustrate some humorous misunderstandings. As you study them, ponder your experiences with misunderstandings.

I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife. (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Come What May, and Love It,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 27)

I once sent a message to my daughter and son-in-law using the voice-to-text feature on my phone. I said, “Hey, you two. Sure love you.” They received, “Hate you two. Should love you.” Isn’t it amazing how easily a positive and well-intentioned message can be misunderstood? (Bradley R. Wilcox, “Worthiness Is Not Flawlessness,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 61)

While some misunderstandings can be funny, misunderstanding truths about Jesus Christ, His gospel, and our eternal salvation can lead to serious consequences.

• What are some of the Savior’s teachings or truths that can be easily misunderstood today?

• How might misunderstanding truths about Jesus Christ, His plan, or His gospel influence our lives now and in the future?

Doctrinal mastery passages

One purpose of doctrinal mastery is to help you know the Savior’s doctrine and be able to explain it to others. This kind of knowledge is more than just superficial information. It is a deep understanding and ability to apply the doctrine to your life and circumstances. This understanding will help you explain the Savior’s doctrine clearly enough that those you explain it to will be unlikely to misunderstand it.

Read through the doctrinal mastery key scripture phrases in the following chart. Consider noting which truths you feel you understand well and which you may want to understand better.

Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery: Alma–Moroni

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

Scripture Reference	Key Scripture Phrase
Scripture Reference Alma 7:11–13	Key Scripture Phrase “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.”
Scripture Reference Alma 34:9–10	Key Scripture Phrase “There must be an atonement made, … an infinite and eternal sacrifice.”
Scripture Reference Alma 39:9	Key Scripture Phrase “Go no more after the lusts of your eyes.”
Scripture Reference Alma 41:10	Key Scripture Phrase “Wickedness never was happiness.”
Scripture Reference Helaman 5:12	Key Scripture Phrase “It is upon the rock of our Redeemer … that ye must build your foundation.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 11:10–11	Key Scripture Phrase “I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 12:48	Key Scripture Phrase “Be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 27:20	Key Scripture Phrase “Come unto me and be baptized … that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost.”
Scripture Reference Ether 12:6	Key Scripture Phrase “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
Scripture Reference Ether 12:27	Key Scripture Phrase “If men come unto me … then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
Scripture Reference Moroni 7:45–48	Key Scripture Phrase “Charity is the pure love of Christ.”
Scripture Reference Moroni 10:4–5	Key Scripture Phrase “Ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ … [and] by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

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Increasing understanding

Choose one of the doctrinal mastery passages that you would like to understand better, and use it to complete the following activity. If time permits, consider repeating this activity with a different doctrinal mastery passage.

1. Complete the following activity.

   Imagine you are asked to teach a new convert or a group of Primary-aged children about this passage. Prepare a three- to five-minute talk or lesson to help deepen understanding of the truths taught in this passage. It may be helpful to answer the following questions for yourself before contemplating how you would teach the truths to others.

   • Identify key words and phrases, especially those that may be misunderstood. Consider looking up definitions or finding cross-references in the scriptures that can help clarify the passage. Why are these key words or phrases so important?

   • How does this scripture passage connect to the Savior? What do you learn from or about Him? In what ways is He an example of the truths in this passage?

   • What objects might you use or display to help explain the message of this scripture?

You may either write out your responses to the three prompts above or submit your actual lesson or talk.

Consider presenting your lesson to a sibling, parent, or friend and asking for feedback. Ask those you teach to share whether the lesson helped them better understand the truths taught in the doctrinal mastery passage.