“Lesson 93—Assess Your Learning 6: Doctrine and Covenants 76–83,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Assess Your Learning 6,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 93: Doctrine and Covenants 81–83
Assess Your Learning 6
Taking time to recognize growth and spiritual development can strengthen our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and motivate us to stay on the covenant path. This lesson can help students evaluate their spiritual growth from their study of the Doctrine and Covenants thus far.
Possible Learning Activities
This lesson is intended to help students assess their ability to explain teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants, evaluate goals they have set, and measure how their attitudes, desires, and ability to live the gospel are changing. Your class’s study of Doctrine and Covenants 76–83 may have focused on truths different than those highlighted in the lesson. If so, consider adapting the activities to include truths more familiar to your students.
Appreciating growth and progress
If possible, begin class by displaying images of people hiking, biking, and running. Ask students to raise their hands if they have done one or more of these activities. Next, ask students to keep their hands raised if they have ever participated in an exceptionally long or challenging run, hike, or bike ride. Invite a few students with their hands raised to describe their experience. Consider discussing some questions like the following:
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What can you do to enjoy the journey?
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How might we compare that kind of journey to the process of becoming more like Jesus Christ?
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What are ways we can enjoy and appreciate the process of spiritual growth more?
Invite students to reflect on what they have been learning in the Doctrine and Covenants, how they have acted on it, and their spiritual journeys. They might ponder how the Savior has helped with any recent progress.
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How do you feel you are progressing and growing closer to the Lord?
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How is the Lord helping you?
The following activities are designed to help students recognize, appreciate, and evaluate more specific progress and growth.
Explaining the three degrees of glory
Consider using a scenario like the following to help students review and assess their understanding of the three degrees of glory in Heavenly Father’s plan. If needed, students could adjust details in the scenario to ensure that it feels authentic to them.
Imagine you have a close friend named Olivia who is not a member of the Church but firmly believes in Jesus Christ. One day she approaches you and asks: “What do members of your Church believe about life after death? I’ve been taught that everyone will go to heaven or hell, but I heard that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in multiple heavens. What’s that all about?”
Spend a few minutes writing a response to Olivia that explains your understanding and knowledge of the three degrees of glory. If you would like, you can include drawings to help Olivia picture what you are explaining.
After students have completed their explanations, consider inviting a few to share what they wrote or to role-play the scenario in front of the class.
If students do not mention it, ask them how the three degrees of glory show Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love and mercy (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:40–43). Make it clear that inheriting a kingdom of glory, including celestial glory, is only possible through Jesus Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:69–70).
Ask students what they learned from this experience. If students have questions concerning the three degrees of glory, ask the class if they can find verses in Doctrine and Covenants 76 to help answer their questions. You may also review some of the material from previous lessons.
Reverencing Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
Consider inviting students to make a list of anything they’ve recently learned in the Doctrine and Covenants that has increased their love, appreciation, and reverence for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Students might also include experiences at home, in Church settings, or elsewhere that strengthened their relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
It may be helpful to invite students to review Doctrine and Covenants 63:58–64; 76:19–24 and any notes they might have taken while previously studying these verses.
You could display the following question and invite students to respond to help them assess their current effort, desire, and progress:
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What are you learning about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that increases your love, appreciation, and reverence for Them?
Encourage several students to share. Consider sharing your thoughts as well.
Studying and pondering the scriptures
Consider showing the picture above and asking the following questions:
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What were Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon doing before they received the vision of the three degrees of glory?
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What did you learn from their experience?
If students do not remember, invite them to review Doctrine and Covenants 76:15–19. Be sure they understand that before the visions opened to Joseph and Sidney, the two men were studying and pondering the scriptures. One of the truths students may have learned is this: As we prayerfully study and ponder the scriptures, we prepare ourselves to receive understanding from the Lord through the Holy Ghost.
Give students time to reflect on the effectiveness of their scripture study. They might ponder how well they are prayerfully studying and pondering the scriptures. If useful, you could show the following graphic and invite students to share how each item could help them in their scripture study. Students could share what they are doing that they feel is helping them.
Students may also benefit from discussing challenges and possible solutions with other class members. You could divide students into small groups and invite them to discuss challenges they face while trying to study and ponder the scriptures. Encourage each group to choose a challenge and think of a few simple steps they could take to overcome that challenge and increase the impact of their scripture study. Invite each group to share with the rest of the class.
To conclude, invite a few students to testify how pondering and scripture study are blessing their lives and helping them feel closer to Jesus Christ.