Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 2

Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

One of the purposes of doctrinal mastery is to help you learn and apply principles for acquiring spiritual knowledge to become more like Jesus Christ. This lesson can help you examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective and see them more like the Savior does.

Understanding your role in doctrinal mastery. Speaking to seminary and institute teachers about doctrinal mastery, President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “This initiative is inspired and timely. It will have a wonderful influence on our young people. However, the success of Doctrinal Mastery, and of all the other programs of study in [seminaries and institutes], will depend to an important extent upon you” (“The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 26, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Student preparation: Invite students to thank Heavenly Father in their personal prayers for the knowledge they have of the plan of salvation. Consider inviting them to also ask Him how they can use that knowledge for good.

Possible Learning Activities

Principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge

When we experience life’s challenges or face unanswered questions, the following principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help us:

1. Act in faith.

2. Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

3. Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.

In this lesson we will focus on examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

A limited view

Use an activity like the following to help students discuss how perspective and context are important to understanding:

Invite two volunteers to the front of the class. Give each a piece of paper that has one small hole punched in the middle. Ask them to hold the paper up to one eye, and ask if they can see through it. Then challenge them to play catch with a soft object while looking only through the paper. If they struggle, ask them why it was so difficult when they had already affirmed that they could see.

• How is this like making life-changing decisions or answering important questions with limited understanding of the plan of salvation?

Having a more complete view is helpful when interacting with the world around us. Likewise, an eternal perspective can help us as we acquire spiritual knowledge.

Consider marking the following sentence from paragraph 8 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023): To examine doctrinal concepts, questions, and social issues with an eternal perspective, we consider them in the context of the plan of salvation and the teachings of the Savior.

Before students read the following paragraphs, invite them to summarize what they already know about this principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Study paragraphs 8–10, looking for what can help you examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

Invite students to mark certain words and phrases and report what they found. Ask follow-up questions to help them understand that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see things with an eternal perspective. Learning to do this in our lives helps us become more like Them. The following questions may help.

• What are some issues and questions that you think the Savior might view differently than many people on earth do?

• How does examining concepts and questions in the context of the plan of salvation help us see things more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do? (see Mosiah 4:9).

• Why might this be an important skill for you to learn, practice, and use in your life?

An example from the scriptures

Alma the Younger showed us how to look at things with an eternal perspective as he answered difficult questions that his son Corianton struggled with.

Read Alma 40:1; 42:1, looking for two of the concerns that Corianton had. Consider paraphrasing his concerns in your own words.

Now read the chapter headings for Alma 40; 41; 42 to see a summary of what Alma taught Corianton as he addressed his concerns. Look for elements of the plan of salvation that Alma taught.

• What elements of the plan did you see?

• How may this have helped Corianton view his concerns from an eternal perspective?

Reframing

Make the shape of a picture frame using your index fingers and thumbs. Choose anything in the room as the subject of your picture.

• What did you decide to include in your frame? Why?

• What did you leave out of your picture? Why?

Like pictures, questions also have a frame or context. The frame can represent a person’s beliefs and assumptions that lead them to view questions in a certain way. Sometimes those beliefs and assumptions are based on a misunderstanding or something that isn’t true. In those cases, it can help to reframe them. Reframing is when we examine those beliefs or assumptions in the context of the plan of salvation and the Savior’s teachings.

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

Because of our knowledge of this plan and other truths that God has revealed, we start with different assumptions than those who do not share our knowledge. As a result, we reach different conclusions on many important subjects that others judge only in terms of their opinions about mortal life. (Dallin H. Oaks, “As He Thinketh in His Heart” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 8, 2013], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Imagine you had a friend named Adry who asked, “If there really is a loving God, why would He allow people to suffer?”

You may want to watch the video “Examining Questions with an Eternal Perspective” (2:55), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to see an example of how this concern could be reframed.

It may be helpful to pause the video occasionally to allow the students to practice reframing Adry’s question. The following are two suggested time codes and questions.

• 1:12: What might be some other assumptions or beliefs that led Adry to ask this question?

• 1:57: What truths do you know that could address the assumptions or beliefs behind Adry’s question?

Questions like the following could be used to help you see how well students understand the skill of reframing.

• Why do you think it is helpful to think about the beliefs or assumptions that may have influenced Adry’s question about God?

• How does the context of what we know about Heavenly Father and His plan allow us to see the question differently?

• How do you feel about your ability to resolve difficult questions through reframing? What questions or concerns do you have about it, if any?

Time permitting, consider allowing students to practice the skill of reframing with their own questions or concerns. See the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section for ideas about how this could be done.

Consider sharing a personal experience of viewing problems or concerns with an eternal perspective.

You will have many opportunities to practice reframing in seminary and in your life. As you seek the help of the Holy Ghost and broaden your understanding of the plan of salvation and the doctrine of Christ, your ability to examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective will increase. This will also build your confidence in sharing what you know and helping others with difficult questions and concerns.

Commentary and Background Information

How is it helpful to have an understanding of the plan of salvation?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

Because Latter-day Saints know our Heavenly Father’s plan for His children, we know that this mortal life is not a one-act play sandwiched between an unknowable past and an uncertain future. This life is like the second act in a three-act play. Its purpose is defined by what is revealed about our spiritual existence in act 1 and our eternal destiny in act 3. (Dallin H. Oaks, “As He Thinketh in His Heart” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 8, 2013], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, God gave the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and many additional teachings to the Church. These include a knowledge of the plan of salvation, which is a map of where we came from, our purpose here on earth, and where we are going when we die. The plan also provides us with a unique, eternal perspective that we are God’s spirit children. By understanding who our Heavenly Father is and our relationship to Him and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we will accept Their commandments and make covenants with Them that will lead us back into Their eternal presence. (M. Russell Ballard, “God Is at the Helm,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 25)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Create a quiz

Divide the class into small groups and assign each group paragraph 8, 9, or 10 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

Invite each group to write a question that is answered by their assigned paragraph. Distribute the questions to the other groups, and invite students to find the answers to the questions.

Practice reframing

Many youth find it difficult to identify underlying assumptions and premises. They may learn more easily from examples that have a clear element of misunderstanding or falsehood. If practicing reframing with students, be sure to use questions that are relevant to them, and be prepared to help them identify the misunderstanding or false assumptions.

When practicing, consider listing potential questions on the board and allowing the class to work on them together or in small groups. If they are working in groups, consider allowing one group to identify the premises or assumptions and then pass the question and assumptions to another group to analyze with an eternal perspective.