Doctrinal Mastery Review 21

Understand and Explain

One purpose of doctrinal mastery is to help you understand the truths of the Savior’s gospel and be able to explain them in your own words. This lesson will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding of and explain truths from one or more of the doctrinal mastery passages from the Book of Mormon.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share a list of what they do to better understand the scriptures in their study.

Possible Learning Activities

A doctrinal mastery passage lesson may need to be taught in place of this review lesson. Refer to the pacing schedule provided by the area or region director or coordinator to ensure that each doctrinal mastery passage lesson will be taught while seminary is in session.

Understanding the scriptures

As an alternate to the activity below, consider identifying areas of great understanding or talents that your students possess. Ask them to explain what they did to improve those abilities. Inquire about what they could do to continue progressing in those areas.

Look at the following images:

• What is required for a young soccer player to develop into a professional?

• How might this process relate to our ability to understand the scriptures?

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

For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it. When I say “study,” I mean something more than reading. (D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 11)

• How has your understanding of the gospel grown throughout your life? How has studying scriptures helped?

  Help students see that it is normal to not understand everything in the scriptures initially. You might refer them to the doctrinal mastery passage 2 Nephi 28:30 as a part of this discussion. This could be a good place to follow up on the preparation activity.

• What are some study methods you have used to deepen your understanding of a scripture passage or gospel topic?

To see examples of study methods, consider watching “Advice for Studying the Scriptures” (2:06) from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Though you may be familiar with some of the doctrinal mastery passages and the doctrine they teach, the Savior desires that your understanding continues to grow. This requires effort on your part. In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to practice scripture study skills that can help increase your understanding of doctrinal mastery passages.

Scripture study skills

Briefly review each of the following doctrinal mastery passages and key scripture phrases.

Consider narrowing the following chart to a few passages that you feel students most need to study. Students could review these passages individually, in pairs, or as a class.

Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery: Alma–Moroni

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

Scripture Reference	Key Scripture Phrase
Scripture Reference Alma 7:11–13	Key Scripture Phrase “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.”
Scripture Reference Alma 34:9–10	Key Scripture Phrase “There must be an atonement made, … an infinite and eternal sacrifice.”
Scripture Reference Alma 39:9	Key Scripture Phrase “Go no more after the lusts of your eyes.”
Scripture Reference Alma 41:10	Key Scripture Phrase “Wickedness never was happiness.”
Scripture Reference Helaman 5:12	Key Scripture Phrase “It is upon the rock of our Redeemer … that ye must build your foundation.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 11:10–11	Key Scripture Phrase “I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 12:48	Key Scripture Phrase “Be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.”
Scripture Reference 3 Nephi 27:20	Key Scripture Phrase “Come unto me and be baptized … that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost.”
Scripture Reference Ether 12:6	Key Scripture Phrase “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”
Scripture Reference Ether 12:27	Key Scripture Phrase “If men come unto me … then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
Scripture Reference Moroni 7:45–48	Key Scripture Phrase “Charity is the pure love of Christ.”
Scripture Reference Moroni 10:4–5	Key Scripture Phrase “Ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ … [and] by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

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Consider dividing the class into small groups to complete the following activity. If students would benefit from an example, consider modeling one or more of the following study skills with a doctrinal mastery passage. You might also replace one of the skills listed below with another of your choosing.

Choose one of the doctrinal mastery scripture passages in this chart you would like to better understand. Then use one or more of the following scripture study skills to help your understanding of that passage to grow. Be prepared to explain the scripture you chose to others.

Activity A: Cross-reference

Use scripture footnotes, the Guide to the Scriptures, the Topical Guide, or other resources to find additional scriptures that can increase your understanding of a passage. Consider writing the cross-reference in your scriptures near the doctrinal mastery passage or linking it in your Gospel Library app. Write in your study journal or the Gospel Library app the cross-references you chose and an insight you gained about the doctrinal mastery passage from studying in this way.

Activity B: Define words and phrases

Find words in the doctrinal mastery passage that you would like to understand better. Search for definitions of those words or phrases in available resources, such as the Guide to the Scriptures, the Bible Dictionary, or a general dictionary. Record in your study journal, scripture margins, or the Gospel Library app the definitions you discovered, along with any new insights about the doctrinal mastery passage.

Activity C: Understanding context and content

To understand the context and content of a passage, you might read the chapter heading and surrounding verses of the passage you are studying. Seek to understand who is speaking and why. Look for clues to understand the situation or background to the verses and the main message the author is trying to convey. Record what you better understand about the passage because of what you pondered.

If time permits, try using a different skill on one of the other passages.

After enough time, invite students to explain to students in a different group their scripture study skill and what they better understand about their doctrinal mastery passage because of it. Consider inviting a few students to explain their passage to the entire class.

Remind students that the Lord will help them understand scriptures through the Holy Ghost. Consider bearing testimony of the importance of seeking the Lord’s help as they study.