“Doctrinal Mastery: Ether 12:27—Overcoming Our Weaknesses,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)

“Doctrinal Mastery: Ether 12:27,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual

Doctrinal Mastery: Ether 12:27

Overcoming Our Weaknesses

In your study of Ether 12:23–27, you learned that if we are humble and exercise faith in the Lord, He can turn our weaknesses into strengths. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for Ether 12:27, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Give students time to apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Provide students with clear instructions, and then give them time to apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Allow them to discover answers for themselves. Encourage students to faithfully turn to and trust in the Lord.

Student preparation: Invite students to try to memorize Ether 12:27.

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “Ether 12:23–27,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage Ether 12:27. 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

Provide students with a simple activity to help them explain the doctrine taught in Ether 12:27. The following is one possible activity.

Without looking at Ether 12:27, see if you can fill in the missing blanks in this sentence based on the Lord’s teachings to Moroni:

If I , , and , then Jesus Christ will make weak things become strong unto me.

What do you think would be important for someone to remember about this sentence?

Help students practice memorizing the reference and key scripture phrase. Students could do the following in pairs or small groups. Consider setting a time limit to make sure that students have enough time to practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in the “Practice application” section of the lesson.

To help you memorize both the reference and the key scripture phrase, review them both a few times and then try writing them from memory in your study journal.

Ether 12:27: “If men come unto me … then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

Compare what you wrote from memory with the reference and key scripture phrase above, and make any needed corrections. Try writing the reference and key scripture phrase three or four more times or until you can write them from memory.

Practice application

Give students an opportunity to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Consider inviting three students to each write one of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge on the board. Invite additional students to write explanations next to each principle from memory. Give students a few minutes to review these principles in paragraphs 5–12 of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) and to add any details that they may have missed.

The following activity is intended to help students practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to a relevant weakness. Students could complete the activity the first time in small groups, in pairs, or as a class. Students could then repeat the activity individually for a different or more personal weakness.

If you prefer to use a scenario, see the suggestions in the “Supplemental Learning Activity” section of the lesson.

In your study journal, list some weaknesses that may cause a youth to feel incapable or inadequate.
Choose one of these weaknesses that you feel is relevant for many youth, and record how a youth could apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to overcome this weakness.
One way to do this may be to list each of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in your study journal under the weakness you chose to focus on. Then you could list below each principle how it could be applied to the weakness, or you could record questions someone might ask about the principle.

You could display the following example for students. This could help them as they do their own practice.

For example, if you were to choose a weakness or concern like “Youth spend too much time on their phones,” your journal entry may look something like the following:

Youth spend too much time on their phones

Act in Faith

Perhaps those who struggle with this could pray more specifically for help with this problem. Before praying, they could ponder what help they may need for that day. They could maybe even pray before they use their phone.
God has given us technology to bless our lives and to help us and others be closer to Him; how can we use it in this way?
Ether 12:27: How can we show the Lord that we are humble, trust Him, and need His help improving at this?

Eternal Perspective

If someone doesn’t overcome this, how will it affect their future relationships, job, eternity, and so on?
What do I know about God and His standards? Why does our use of technology matter to Him?

Divinely Appointed Sources

I know my bishop has spoken about this, and I remember him talking about things he has done. I will ask him what resources he has used and what has helped him.

When you have finished, complete the previous activity again. This time focus on a specific weakness that you would like help with. You will not be asked to share this with others.

Consider allowing time for students to reflect on their experiences and to share what they learned from the activity today. Bear testimony of the Savior’s power and desire to help us improve and become more like Him.

Doctrinal mastery review

Use the following review activity in a lesson you will teach soon after this one.

Ask students if they can remember the key scripture phrase for Ether 12:27. As a class, repeat the scripture reference and key scripture phrase, “Ether 12:27: If men come unto me … then will I make weak things become strong unto them,” a few times.