“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4: Finding Answers to Spiritual Questions,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 4,” Book of Mormon Teacher 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.
Teaching the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Learning and reviewing these principles can help students respond when spiritual questions arise. Regularly reviewing them will allow students to better internalize and use these principles daily.
Student preparation: Students could be invited to think about spiritual questions they have had or currently have and what they have done to find answers to their questions.
Possible Learning Activities
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.
You may choose to use one or more of the suggested scenarios or create your own to share with the class. Consider having students choose one scenario to work through as the lesson continues or assign scenarios to small groups and have them discuss the questions during the lesson.
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.
You may choose to adapt this lesson, depending on how familiar your students are with the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. For example, if you have some students who are familiar with the principles but others who are not, you could have those familiar with the principles explain them to the class. If all your students are new to these principles, you will need to take more time to introduce the principles. You might refer to “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Parts 1, 2, and 3 from the beginning of this manual.
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.
One way to review the paragraphs mentioned in the previous sentence would be to put students into groups of four. Invite three of the group members to read one of the three paragraphs out loud to the group. Then invite the fourth group member to summarize what the other three read.
You could have students answer the following questions based on the scenario they chose above.
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.
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How do you see Ashlyn and Hugo acting or not acting in faith?
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What could you say that might encourage them to turn to God in response to their challenges?
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What scriptures could help a person act in faith when he or she has a question that is not easily answered?
You may want to give students some time to find scriptures in answer to the previous question. These scriptures might include 2 Nephi 31:20 and Proverbs 3:5–6. After sufficient time, they could then share with someone sitting near them. Alternatively, they could write the verses they found on the board and other classmates could read verses they are unfamiliar with. Students could then share what they learned from the scriptures their classmates found.
Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
One way to review the following paragraphs is to place students in small groups and invite each student in the group to read all three paragraphs. Then invite them to share one line with their group that impressed them the most from the paragraphs.
Review paragraphs 8–10 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.
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How would examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective have helped Ashlyn or Hugo when their doubts first arose?
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How could it help them in their current situations?
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What would you want Hugo or Ashlyn to understand about God and His plan at this point in their lives?
This may be another good place to have students practice using the scriptures. You could have students find scriptures that support their answers to the previous question. For example, if a student points out that Heavenly Father doesn’t always give us a complete answer all at once, he or she might use 2 Nephi 28:30 to support that statement.
Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources
Review paragraphs 11–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.
One way to review the paragraphs mentioned in the previous sentence would be to invite two students to read the paragraphs out loud to the class. Then invite a volunteer to write on the board while students share different divinely appointed sources they heard mentioned.
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.
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From what sources did each person in the scenarios get information? Which sources were trustworthy? Why or why not?
While there are divinely appointed sources that are clearly defined, such as scriptures, prophets, and the Holy Ghost, there are other trustworthy sources that also point us to Jesus Christ and align with teachings of modern-day prophets.
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What difference did it make when Ashlyn and Hugo turned to divinely appointed sources?
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What divinely appointed sources are you grateful for? Why?
Think about what you learned today and how it might help with spiritual questions or challenges you or others have. Consider writing in your journal what you have learned that might help you find peace and understanding. Invite Heavenly Father’s influence to inspire you as you reflect and write.
Consider inviting a few volunteers to share some of their insights with the class. Testify of the truths you have discussed today and encourage students to use these principles when they face spiritual questions.