Doctrinal Mastery: Ether 12:6

Ye Receive No Witness until after the Trial of Your Faith”

two young women having a discussion

In your study of Ether 12:1–22, you learned how to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel before receiving a spiritual witness of truth (see Ether 12:6). This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for Ether 12:6, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Explain and memorize

In the previous lesson, you learned the following truth from Ether 12:6: If we desire a spiritual witness, then we must first exercise faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel.

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1.  To help you explain the teachings in Ether 12:6, use phrases from the verse and your own words to answer the following question:

   • What counsel is given in Ether 12:6 to those who have unanswered questions or do not yet “see” the truth?

Use your own memorization technique or the following idea to help you memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase.

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught that every person is eventually backed up to the wall of faith and there must make a stand (see “The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, May 1975, 65). In other words, all must decide for themselves in faith to believe, and know, the truth.

Draw a picture of a large wall with a stick figure of yourself standing in front of it. Use the “wall of faith” to help you memorize the reference to Ether 12:6 and the key scripture phrase. Decorate your wall by writing “Ether 12:6” at the top, then write “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” on the wall several times. When all the space on your wall is filled with the key scripture phrase, try saying it out loud a few times without looking.

Practice application

Review paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) to help you prepare to respond to the following scenario.

Christiana and Niceta are best friends. Christiana is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She tries hard to be a good example to Niceta, who doesn’t believe in organized religion. Niceta often questions Christiana’s beliefs and wonders why she attends church on Sunday, pays tithing, lives the Word of Wisdom, and chooses to dress modestly.

Christiana explains to Niceta that she feels the commandments and standards she lives are true and sent from God. Niceta kindly replies, “How can you say you know these things are true? How can you know that anything you can’t see is true?”

Use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine taught in Ether 12:6 to help Niceta with her questions.

2. Answer at least one question under each of the following headings:

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

• What concepts or truths would you want to help Niceta better understand? Why?

• What might you share with Niceta about the Lord and how He works with us?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• What teachings from Ether 12:6 might help in this situation? Why?

• What are some additional scripture passages or statements from Church leaders that could provide help and guidance for Niceta?

Act in faith

• What experiences have you or others had with exercising faith in Jesus Christ? How might sharing these with Niceta help motivate her to act in faith?

• What faithful actions could you recommend for Niceta to begin taking?