3 Nephi 11:18–41

Jesus Christ Declares His Doctrine

Have you ever thought about what truths missionaries share with those they are teaching? One of their most important messages relates to what we must do to receive the blessings of eternal life. This message is sometimes called the doctrine of Christ (see 2 Nephi 31:21). The Savior taught this doctrine to the Nephites shortly after appearing to them at the temple. This lesson can help you better understand and explain the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Encouraging students to prepare to learn. When students prepare themselves to learn, they prepare their hearts to receive the Holy Ghost. Students can prepare for class by reading a scripture block, pondering a question, or thinking of an experience to share. Invite student preparation, and then create opportunities for students to see how their preparation influences their learning.

Student preparation: Invite students to learn about the doctrine of Christ before class. They could study the Savior’s teachings in 3 Nephi 11:31–41 or search “doctrine of Christ” on the Gospel Library app or ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Possible Learning Activities

The study activities in this lesson focus primarily on Jesus Christ’s doctrine taught in 3 Nephi 11:31–41. If needed, use the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section to help students understand the Savior’s additional teachings in 3 Nephi 11 about contention and also the proper way to baptize someone.

Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ

Consider inviting a few students to role-play the following scenario in front of the class. To give more students an opportunity to share, consider dividing them into small groups and inviting them to alternate sharing their responses.

Imagine you have a friend who has become interested in the Church. Your friend tells you he has a good feeling about what he has learned and experienced so far. He wants to know what he should do next to follow the Savior more fully.

• What might you invite your friend to do? Why?

“This is my doctrine”

Shortly after the resurrected Savior appeared to the Nephites in the land of Bountiful, He taught them His doctrine. This doctrine, sometimes referred to as “the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:21), helps us understand how we can follow Jesus Christ and receive the blessings of eternal life. Today you will have an opportunity to better understand the doctrine of Christ and explain it in your own words.

Inform students that they will have the opportunity to prepare and teach a lesson about the doctrine of Christ to a small group of classmates. Display the following instructions so students can refer to them as they prepare their lessons.

1. Study the Savior’s teachings about His doctrine in 3 Nephi 11:31–41.

2. If desired, study additional teachings about the doctrine or gospel of Jesus Christ, such as 2 Nephi 31:17–21 or 3 Nephi 27:19–22. You could also search “doctrine of Christ” in the Gospel Library app or at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

3. Prepare a three-to-five-minute lesson about the doctrine of Christ. Use the template provided below to help you prepare your outline. You could imagine you are a missionary preparing this lesson for someone you are teaching. Or you could think about someone you know and prepare as if you were going to share the lesson with them.

Distribute copies of the lesson template handout to students. Give them sufficient time to prepare their lessons.

Be sure to offer alternatives to students who may feel too anxious to teach aloud. Options include handing in an outline of their lesson or working with a partner who is more comfortable or experienced with teaching. It may help students if you briefly model how to prepare a short lesson.

The Doctrine of Christ Lesson Plan

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“3 Nephi 11:18–41: Jesus Christ Declares His Doctrine”

1. From what you have learned and studied, write a summary of the doctrine of Christ.

2. List two or three questions you could ask to help those you teach to understand and think more deeply about the doctrine of Christ.

3. Describe why you feel it is important to follow these teachings of the Savior. If possible, include experiences you have had that demonstrate how these teachings have blessed your life.

4. List one or two invitations you could extend to help those you teach apply what they have learned about the doctrine of Christ.

5. (Optional) Think of an object or activity to help those you teach better understand the doctrine of Christ.

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After the students have had sufficient time to prepare, give them an opportunity to teach their lessons to partners or small groups. Be careful not to force students who are too anxious to teach their lesson aloud. You could invite a few willing students to teach the whole class.

When the students have finished teaching, there may be time to discuss what they learned. Consider writing the following truth on the board: to enter the kingdom of God, we must follow the Savior’s doctrine by having faith in Him, repenting, being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

You could use questions like the following during your discussion:

• Why do you think this doctrine was among the first things the Savior taught the Nephites?

• Why do you feel these principles and ordinances are necessary to inherit the kingdom of God?

• What can you do to make these principles and ordinances a more important part of your life?

Self-assessment

If there is time after the students share their lessons, they could ponder ways to apply the doctrine of Christ to their lives each day. Consider sharing the following assessment and giving students time to quietly assess themselves:

As you conclude the lesson, take some time to ponder how you can apply the doctrine of Christ to your life each day. The following self-assessment can help you identify ways you are currently living the Savior’s doctrine, as well as ways you could improve.

Respond to each of the following statements with one of these answers: “regularly,” “sometimes,” or “rarely.”

1. I exercise faith in Jesus Christ by striving to keep the commandments and trust that He can help me overcome my challenges.

2. I repent daily for my mistakes and seek for the Savior’s power to help me become more like Him.

3. I strive to keep my baptismal covenants and weekly renew that effort by worthily partaking of the sacrament.

4. I invite the Holy Ghost into my life through regular prayer to Heavenly Father and study and seek to act on spiritual promptings.

Encourage the students to determine an aspect of the Savior’s doctrine they could incorporate more fully into their lives and then to make a plan to do so. Testify of the truths you have discussed. Encourage students to find opportunities to share these teachings with others.

Commentary and Background Information

What is the significance of the doctrine of Christ?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

This is our message, the rock upon which we build, the foundation of everything else in the Church. Like all that comes from God, this doctrine is pure, it is clear, it is easy to understand—even for a child. With glad hearts, we invite all to receive it. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Doctrine of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 86)

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone who understands it and seeks to implement it in his or her life. The doctrine of Christ helps us find and stay on the covenant path. Staying on that narrow but well-defined path will ultimately qualify us to receive all that God has. Nothing could be worth more than all our Father has! (Russell M. Nelson, “Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 6)

What might it have been like to hear the Savior declare His doctrine?

To watch a depiction of the events described in 3 Nephi 11:18–41, watch “Jesus Christ Teaches and Gives Power to Baptize“ (7:08).

Supplemental Learning Activities

3 Nephi 11:27. “After this manner shall ye baptize”

Jesus Christ taught important truths about how baptism should be performed. To help students better understand these teachings, consider sharing the following scenario:

Imagine you are discussing religion with a friend who is a member of a different Christian church. Your friend has some questions about your beliefs, including what you believe about baptism. She says she has read about baptism in the Bible. However, she is confused by differing ideas about things like whether baptism is essential, who can baptize, and how baptism is performed.

Consider dividing students into pairs and inviting them to role-play the scenario. Alternatively, two students could role-play the scenario in front of the class. Encourage students to use the following scripture references to answer their friend’s questions about baptism:

• 3 Nephi 11:18–22

• 3 Nephi 11:23–27

• 3 Nephi 11:33–34

3 Nephi 11:29. “The spirit of contention is not of me”

If students could benefit from learning more about avoiding contention, they could read 3 Nephi 11:28–30. Then discuss questions like the following:

• When was the last time you witnessed or were involved in a contentious discussion? What was the outcome?

• Why do you think Satan focuses so much on causing contention?

• How can we follow the Savior’s example and avoid contention?

Consider dividing students into small groups and give each group a blank piece of paper. Ask students to draw a stop sign in the middle of the page and to write “stop contention” in the sign. Invite students to discuss with their groups ways we can avoid contention in different aspects of our lives. Encourage them to write their answers on the paper around their stop signs and to be prepared to share.

Immersed in the doctrine of Christ

To discuss more about how the doctrine of Christ can bless students’ lives, you could share teachings from Elder David A. Bednar’s talk “Ye Must Be Born Again” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 19–22). You could show students a pickle and either invite them to explain the process of pickling or share Elder Bednar’s explanation of the process. You could share Elder Bednar’s counsel about how “complete immersion” in the doctrine of Christ helps us to become like the Savior, just as complete immersion in salt brine helps a cucumber become a pickle.