“Doctrinal Mastery: 3 Nephi 12:48—‘Be Perfect Even as I, or Your Father Who Is in Heaven Is Perfect,’” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Doctrinal Mastery: 3 Nephi 12:48,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Doctrinal Mastery: 3 Nephi 12:48
“Be Perfect Even as I, or Your Father Who Is in Heaven Is Perfect”
In your study of 3 Nephi 12, you learned about becoming perfect like Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. This lesson will help you memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 12:48, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.
Creating an active learning environment. As you prepare lessons and interact with students, look for ways to invite students to actively participate. Examples include inviting students to write on the board, present what they learn to the class, or choose from different study options. Doing so will help students engage in learning and help them grow closer to the Savior.
Student preparation: Invite students to memorize 3 Nephi 12:48 before coming to class. You might invite them to practice reciting the scripture from memory to other class members in the time leading up to class, whether in person, through messaging, or some other way.
Possible Learning Activities
This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “3 Nephi 12:17–48,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 3 Nephi 12:48. If this doctrinal mastery passage lesson needs to be moved to a different week, be sure to teach the corresponding contextual lesson during that week as well.
Explain and memorize
During the previous lesson, you learned the following truth: Jesus Christ wants us to become perfect like Him and our Father in Heaven.
Imagine you have a friend who believes that God does not have expectations of us beyond being nice and respecting others.
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How would you explain 3 Nephi 12:48 in a way that could add to your friend’s understanding?
Consider giving students time to write down their responses to the previous question. When they have finished, invite a few volunteers to share with the class what they wrote, role-play the conversation, or share their answer with a partner. As students respond, make sure they understand that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expect us to strive to become like Them, that perfection is only possible through the Savior’s help, and that the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes perfection a future possibility despite our sins and mistakes.
The key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 12:48 is “Be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” Use the following method, or another of your choosing, to help you memorize the reference and key scripture phrase.
Choose any method to help students memorize the key phrase and reference for this passage. The following activity is an example of one way you could do this:
For the activity, give each student a half-sheet of paper and encourage them to write the phrases in random corners of their paper. Once they have completed the activity with their own paper, they could exchange papers with other students and repeat the activity.
Write “3 Nephi 12:48” in the center of a piece of paper. In one corner of the page, write the words “Be perfect.” In another corner, write “even as I.” In another corner, write “or your Father who is in heaven.” In the last corner, write “is perfect.” Try to memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase by touching with your pencil or your finger each phrase in order, starting with the reference in the middle. It could help to say the words aloud as you touch them. After doing this a few times, try repeating the reference and entire phrase from memory.
Practice application
Divide the class into groups of three. Invite each student to select one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge (see Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2023], “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” paragraphs 5–12). Ask students to briefly review the principle and then explain it to their groups.
Use the following scenario to help you apply the Savior’s teachings in 3 Nephi 12:48 and the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.
Feel free to change the name or alter the scenario to better meet the needs of your students.
John is a young man who believes in God. However, there are some aspects of the gospel that he doesn’t like thinking about. One of those is the Savior’s admonition to become perfect. He has tried to make changes and become more Christlike but keeps falling short. He feels like he has already failed, so perfection for him is impossible.
To add variety to the following study activities, consider studying the “Act in faith” section of this lesson as a class and the other sections in small groups or with partners. Students could then answer the final question individually.
Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
The Doctrinal Mastery Core Document teaches that when dealing with a challenging issue, we can “reframe the question (to see the question differently) and view ideas based on the Lord’s standard of truth rather than accepting the world’s premises or assumptions” (page 3). The following questions could help with this process.
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How do you think the Lord views perfection differently than many in the world do?
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How does our knowledge of the plan of salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ help us better understand what the Savior teaches in 3 Nephi 12:48?
Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources
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How could you use what you have learned in 3 Nephi 12:48 about being perfect to respond to John’s concern?
Consider inviting students to search for scriptures or statements from Church leaders that could help John better understand the Savior’s teaching in 3 Nephi 12:48. If students need help, you could suggest some of the scriptures below.
There are also conference talks in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section that could be helpful.
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How could the insights you found help John with his concern?
Act in faith
Read paragraphs 5–7 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, looking for what John could do to act in faith.
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Which of these teachings do you think could help John? Why?
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What could John pray about that would help his situation?
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What would you suggest that John do to “live by faith” until he receives more understanding about his potential to become perfect?
Consider having students answer the following question individually in their study journals.
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How can what you have learned in 3 Nephi 12:48 about perfection influence your own feelings and actions?
Doctrinal mastery review
Consider drawing a paper on the board and writing the scripture reference 3 Nephi 12:48 in the center and the phrases in each corner like the memorization activity in this lesson under the heading “Explain and memorize.” Point to each of the phrases in order and have the students repeat the phrases in unison. Erase one phrase and repeat the activity. Continue erasing and repeating until all of the phrases and the scripture reference have been erased.