Doctrinal Mastery Review 24

Understand and Explain

Doctrinal mastery can help you understand and explain the Savior’s doctrine in your own words. This lesson will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of and explain truths found in various doctrinal mastery passages from the Book of Mormon.

Asking questions

Think of someone you know well.

• How did you get to know them?

• What role did asking questions play in your ability to come to know them?

• How would your relationship be different if you had never asked any questions?

Just as it is important to ask questions to get to know someone in person, it is also essential to ask questions as you study the scriptures to come to better know and understand Jesus Christ through them.

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Achieving scriptural guidance is aided by posing pertinent questions” (“Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 18).

Asking questions about doctrinal mastery passages can help us better understand them and more fully invite the Lord’s guidance into our lives.

Briefly review the doctrinal mastery references and key scripture phrases in the following chart.

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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Choose one of the doctrinal mastery passages that you would like to better understand and read it carefully. Identify at least two questions you could ask about the passage to better understand it and write them down. For example, as you read 3 Nephi 27:20 you might ask, “What does it mean to be sanctified?” Or as you read Moroni 10:3–5 you might ask, “What does it mean to ask ‘with real intent’?”

Search for answers to the questions you thought of; use scripture-study tools such as Guide to the Scriptures, Topical Guide, or even general conference talks. You could use other scripture-study strategies you know, such as studying the surrounding verses to better understand the context of the passage.

Remember, you may not find answers to all of your questions as you study. But as you continue to exercise faith in the Lord, He will help you know the truth of what you seek.

Consider inviting a friend or family member to help you answer your questions. You may also consider repeating this activity using other doctrinal mastery passages that you would like to understand better.

1. Answer the following questions:

   • Which scripture passage did you choose?

   • What did you learn about this scripture passage from this activity?

   • What does this scripture passage help you understand about the Savior or His gospel?