Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Doctrine and Covenants Lessons
- The Restoration Proclamation
- Doctrine and Covenants 1
- Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65
- Doctrine and Covenants 3–5
- Doctrine and Covenants 6–9
- Doctrine and Covenants 10–11
- Doctrine and Covenants 12–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 18
- Doctrine and Covenants 19
- Doctrine and Covenants 20–22
- Doctrine and Covenants 23–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 27–28
- Doctrine and Covenants 29
- Doctrine and Covenants 30–36
- Doctrine and Covenants 37–40
- Doctrine and Covenants 41–44
- Doctrine and Covenants 45
- Doctrine and Covenants 46–48
- Doctrine and Covenants 49–50
- Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
- Doctrine and Covenants 58–59
- Doctrine and Covenants 60–63
- Doctrine and Covenants 64–66
- Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
- Doctrine and Covenants 71–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 76
- Doctrine and Covenants 77–80
- Doctrine and Covenants 81–83
- Doctrine and Covenants 84
- Doctrine and Covenants 85–87
- Doctrine and Covenants 88
- Doctrine and Covenants 89–92
- Doctrine and Covenants 93
- Doctrine and Covenants 94–97
- Doctrine and Covenants 98–101
- Doctrine and Covenants 102–105
- Doctrine and Covenants 106–108
- Doctrine and Covenants 109–110
- Doctrine and Covenants 111–114
- Doctrine and Covenants 115–120
- Doctrine and Covenants 121–123
- Doctrine and Covenants 124
- Doctrine and Covenants 125–128
- Doctrine and Covenants 129–132
- Doctrine and Covenants 133–134
- Doctrine and Covenants 135–136
- Doctrine and Covenants 137–138
- The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- The Living Christ
Life Preparation Lessons
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
- Building Self-Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Succeeding in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders
Appendix

Lesson 30—Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2: Understanding and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

“Lesson 30—Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2: Understanding and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 30: Doctrine and Covenants 18

Doctrinal Mastery Practice 2

Understanding and Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

youth reflecting thoughtfully as though seeking revelation

Doctrinal mastery can help students build the foundation for their lives upon Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson will give students opportunities to practice mastering the doctrinal mastery passages and the doctrine they teach as well as learning and applying divine principles for acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Possible Learning Activities

Doctrinal mastery review: Understand

The following activity provides students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of one or more doctrinal mastery passages. This activity should last only 10–15 minutes to allow enough time for the doctrinal mastery practice application later in the lesson.

Consider playing a song or hymn and inviting students to raise their hands if they recognize it. Then invite those that know some of the words to raise their hands. Finally, invite students who understand what the song is about to raise their hands and share what it is about.

What is the difference between recognizing, knowing, and understanding?
In what ways can we recognize or know something without understanding it?
How could this apply to doctrinal mastery?

Consider inviting students to look at the doctrinal mastery passages and key scripture phrases in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023). Have them select one they would like to better understand. The following activity could help students deepen their understanding.

Imagine there is someone who really needs the message contained in the passage you chose. However, you have only 30 seconds to explain to them the meaning of the passage. Take the next few minutes to better understand the content of the passage.

Consider using some of the following strategies:

Read the verse slowly.
Look up words or phrases you do not understand.
Read the section heading to learn the background behind the passage.
Look at footnotes.
Use resources on Gospel Library.

After sufficient time, divide students into groups or pairs. Students can then share their 30-second summaries of the doctrinal mastery passage they chose.

Learn and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge

If needed, invite students to briefly review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge (see paragraphs 5–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document [2023]). Suggested review activities are included in the appendix under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

After students have reviewed the principles, consider presenting the following scenario. You could have students think of more specific details to help make the scenario more relevant to their lives. For example, they could determine what decision Josie is trying to make (such as whether she should end a friendship, how to deal with a doctrinal concern, or if she should serve a mission).

Josie has a significant decision to make. She understands this decision could have a serious impact on her life and wants to seek God’s direction through revelation. Josie has prayed for guidance but hasn’t felt like she received an answer. She wonders whether she is seeking revelation in the right way.

How could Josie use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to help her understand how to receive revelation?

If students are confident in their understanding of the three principles, allow them to determine which principle they would apply first if they were Josie. If they are not sure where to start, you could use the suggestions below. Do your best to help students explore each principle as part of this discussion.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Read paragraph 8 under “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023), looking for insights about inviting Heavenly Father’s guidance when making a challenging decision.

How could Josie consider her choice in the context of the plan of salvation?
How might viewing the choice with an eternal perspective help invite revelation?

Act in faith

Consider inviting students to read and discuss the following in pairs or small groups.

Read paragraphs 5 and 7 under “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023), looking for truths that could help Josie seek and receive revelation from Heavenly Father.

Why might Josie feel that she hasn’t received revelation? (Note what might be helpful in paragraph 7 for Josie to understand.)
What are some ways Josie could act in faith to receive revelation?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

What are some divinely appointed sources Josie could study to better understand how to seek, receive, or recognize revelation?

If needed, refer students to “Revelation” in the Guide to the Scriptures or Topics and Questions.

Students might also find the following scriptures helpful: Joseph Smith—History 1:11–14, 29; Doctrine and Covenants 6:14–16, 22–24; 8:1–3; 9:8–9; 11:12–13. After studying, students could read quotes they found and share why they think they would be helpful.

If useful, create three columns on the board and list one of these phrases at the top of each column: Seek Revelation, Receive Revelation, and Recognize Revelation. As students share what they found, invite them to write their insights under one or more of these headings. If one column has fewer insights, ask students what they learned that might help with that portion of revelation.
What else have you learned or felt about receiving revelation that you could share with Josie?

Provide students with opportunities to ask questions or share experiences they have had. As they share, continue to emphasize the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. You could do this by pointing out ways they applied the principles in their experiences or by inviting them to practice using the principles as they seek answers to questions. Remember that you do not need to know the answer to every question they will ask. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once told teachers: “It is perfectly all right to say, ‘I do not know.’ However, once that is said, you have a responsibility to find the best answers to thoughtful questions your students ask” (“The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century” [address to Church Educational System religious educators, Feb. 26, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).