Doctrinal Mastery: 3 Nephi 27:20

“Come unto Me and Be Baptized … , That Ye May Be Sanctified by the Reception of the Holy Ghost.”

In your study of 3 Nephi 27, you learned about the sanctification you can experience from the Holy Ghost as you live the Savior’s gospel. This lesson can help you memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 27:20, explain the doctrine taught in this passage, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Helping students develop the ability to discuss gospel beliefs with others. Students’ understanding increases when they explain the gospel to each other. Create an environment in which students feel comfortable sharing their understanding of gospel truths.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to begin memorizing the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 27:20: “Come unto me and be baptized … , that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost.”

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “3 Nephi 27, Part 2,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 3 Nephi 27:20. 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

From your study of 3 Nephi 27:20, you learned the following truth: If we repent, come unto Jesus Christ, and are baptized, then we can be sanctified by receiving the Holy Ghost and stand spotless before the Savior at the last day.

Imagine that you had an opportunity to teach this truth to a young child.

Before inviting students to answer the following question aloud, consider inviting them to write their explanation in their study journal. You could then invite students to share what they wrote with a partner or a small group.

• How would you explain this truth to a young child in a way he or she could understand?

Practice memorizing the key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 27:20: “Come unto me and be baptized … , that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost.”

Divide the scripture reference and key phrase into the following segments. Practice reciting each segment several times. Then put the segments together and recite the entire reference and key phrase.

To add variety, you could ask different students or groups of students to memorize one of the following segments. Point to a student or group and have them recite their assigned segment. Continue this until the entire scripture reference and key phrase have been repeated. You could then assign a different segment to each student or group and repeat this activity.

• 3 Nephi 27:20

• Come unto me

• and be baptized

• that ye may be sanctified

• by the reception of the Holy Ghost

Practice application

To help you review, list in 30 seconds all you can remember about one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Then do the same with the other two principles. If you need help remembering the principles, you can look at paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

Another option to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge is to divide the class into three groups and assign each group one principle to review. One student from each group could write on the board what his or her group remembers about their assigned principle.

When students have finished reviewing their assigned principle, share the following scenario with the class. You may want to display the scenario so students can refer to it throughout the lesson.

You and your friend Meagan are having a gospel discussion on the way home from school. Meagan asks, “Do you ever get nervous about meeting God again? I try to live right and repent when I make mistakes, but the thought of standing before God to be judged terrifies me.”

Invite the students to discuss how they could use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine taught in 3 Nephi 27:20 to help Meagan with her concern.

You might consider beginning the discussion by asking students to share which of the principles they might begin with and how that principle could be helpful. Then continue discussing the other principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge until you have discussed how all three of these principles could help with concerns like Meagan’s.

As needed, use the following questions as part of your discussion. You do not need to use all these questions, and you can ask them in the order that is most helpful.

Examine Concepts and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

• What might be some false assumptions that Meagan has about Heavenly Father or His plan?

• What are some truths you would want Meagan to understand about Heavenly Father and His plan?

Seek Further Understanding through Divinely Appointed Sources

• What are some teachings from 3 Nephi 27:20 that could help in this situation?

• What are some other scriptures or statements from Church leaders that might be helpful?

Act in Faith

• What actions could Meagan take that could help her feel more at peace with her concern? Why do you think these actions could help?

Doctrinal mastery review

The following activity can be used in a future lesson to help students memorize the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 3 Nephi 27:20. This activity could be done as a class, in small groups, or in pairs.

Invite students to write on a piece of paper the scripture reference and key phrase for 3 Nephi 27:20 and recite the reference and key phrase aloud three times. Ask them to cut the words apart and mix them up. Then have students put the words in order.