Doctrinal Mastery: Assessment 1

1 Nephi 3:7 through Mosiah 18:8–10

During the first half of this course, students studied 12 Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passages from 1 Nephi through Mosiah. This assessment is designed to assess students’ ability to remember the references and key scripture phrases for these passages as well as their ability to use them in real-life situations. It will also assess students’ understanding of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

This assessment should be administered before the end of the first half of the course. To help prepare students, teach “Doctrinal Mastery: Assessment 1 Review” or provide students with the study guide found at the end of that lesson. In addition, teach all doctrinal mastery passages from 1 Nephi through Mosiah before administering this assessment. It may be necessary to adjust the teaching schedule in order to accomplish this.

If possible, administer this assessment in person and correct it in class immediately after students complete it or in the next class session.

In addition to assessing students’ current knowledge, the experience of taking and correcting the assessment is meant to be a meaningful, testimony-building experience for students. While correcting questions 7–12, invite students to express why they chose the answers they did and to explain how the passages they chose could help in the situations described. Help students understand any questions they may have answered incorrectly. Take time to answer any additional questions students may have.

Book of Mormon Doctrinal Mastery: Assessment 1

Doctrinal mastery references

For questions 1–3, write the letter of the corresponding reference in the blank next to each phrase. Please do not use your scriptures for this portion of the assessment.

Key Phrases	Scripture References
Key Phrases “Those that keep the commandments of God … are blessed in all things.”	Scripture References 1 Nephi 3:7
Key Phrases “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”	Scripture References 2 Nephi 2:25
Key Phrases “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”	Scripture References 2 Nephi 2:27
	Scripture References Mosiah 2:41
	Scripture References Mosiah 3:19

Key scripture phrases

For questions 4–6, fill in the missing words in the doctrinal mastery key scripture phrases. Please do not use your scriptures for this portion of the assessment.

4. “When ye are in the of your fellow ye are only in the service of your ” (Mosiah 2:17).

5. “[Put] off the man and [become] a through the of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19).

6. Be “ in the name of the Lord, as a … that ye have entered into a with him” (Mosiah 18:8–10).

Application to real-life situations

You may use your scriptures for the remainder of the assessment.

For questions 7–8, identify one or more doctrinal mastery passages that could help someone in the following situations and explain how the truth(s) in the passage(s) could help. Then follow the directions for question 9.

7. A young man has an important decision to make that could greatly impact his future. He is nervous and unsure what choice to make.

8. A young woman lives in a situation that she feels makes it very difficult for her to keep the commandments of God. She wants to be obedient, but it seems too hard in her circumstances.

9. Choose any of the 12 doctrinal mastery passages from 1 Nephi through Mosiah, and share a situation where the truths taught in that passage could help a teenager in his or her life.

Principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge

For questions 10–11, demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

10. Briefly explain the following three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in your own words.

    1. Act in faith.

    2. Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

    3. Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.

11. A friend is questioning why some things she has recently been taught in school seem to contradict what God has taught through the scriptures and modern prophets. Answer the following questions:

    1. What specific things could she do to act in faith?

    2. How could seeing this situation from an eternal perspective help her?

    3. Doctrinal mastery passages are examples of divinely appointed sources. What doctrinal mastery passage(s) from 1 Nephi through Mosiah might help your friend? How?

Impact on your life

12. What is a doctrinal mastery passage you studied this semester that has impacted you? How has it impacted you? What does this passage teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Give students enough time to complete the assessment. After students have finished, review it as a class. Determine whether it would be better for students to correct their own work or to pass it to a classmate to correct.

Answer key

1. d. Mosiah 2:41

2. a. 1 Nephi 3:7

3. b. 2 Nephi 2:25

4. service; beings; God

5. natural; saint; atonement

6. baptized; witness; covenant

7. Possible answers include 2 Nephi 32:3 and 2 Nephi 32:8–9, but students can receive credit for using any doctrinal mastery passage if they can explain how the truth in the passage applies.

8. Possible answers include 1 Nephi 3:7 and Mosiah 2:41, but students can receive credit for using any doctrinal mastery passage if they can explain how the truth in the passage applies.

9. As long as students answer this open-ended question sincerely and completely, they should be given credit.

10. Students should be able to briefly explain the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Consider inviting them to compare their answers with paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).

11. Students should be able to explain actions related to acting in faith and the blessings of examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective. They should also identify a doctrinal mastery passage that could help someone who may be questioning why some teachings in the world seem to contradict what the Lord has taught. Some of the passages students could use include Mosiah 4:9 and 2 Nephi 28:30.

12. As long as students answer this open-ended question sincerely and completely, they should be given credit. Invite them to discuss the doctrinal mastery passage they chose and why they chose it. Consider allowing as many students to share as possible in the time available. Invite them to share what the passage they chose teaches them about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Conclude the assessment by sharing your testimony of the power of understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ as found in His scriptures and knowing how to apply His teachings in real-life situations.