Doctrinal Mastery: Overview

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

“Doctrinal Mastery: Overview,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrinal Mastery,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions

Overview

Participating in doctrinal mastery helps students build their spiritual foundations on Jesus Christ. Part of doctrinal mastery includes learning and applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge: act in faith; examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective; and seek further knowledge through divinely appointed sources. These principles can help students address questions or concerns in their lives.

Pacing suggestion: It may be best to teach these lessons toward the beginning of the school year. In some areas of the world, the beginning of the school year occurs later in the calendar year, such as in the fall. If this is the case in your area, consider teaching the lesson titled “Strengthening Your Spiritual Foundation” at the beginning of the calendar year. This could help students review important concepts associated with doctrinal mastery midway through their academic school year.

Prepare to teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson.

Strengthening Your Spiritual Foundation

Lesson purpose: To help students understand how doctrinal mastery can bless their lives and help build their spiritual foundations on Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share examples of how doctrinal mastery has blessed their lives. If students are new to doctrinal mastery, consider having them read “Introduction to Doctrinal Mastery” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).
Images: Salt Lake Temple renovation
Videos: “President Nelson—Temple Foundation” (2:03); “What Is Doctrinal Mastery?” (3:56)
Content to display: Five statements for self-evaluation

Seeking Personal Revelation for My Questions

Lesson purpose: To help students understand how they can receive guidance and revelation from God through the Holy Ghost.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about their knowledge of spiritual revelation and what more they might like to know. You could also invite them to ask a family member or youth leader to share a scripture or experience about receiving personal revelation from God.
Video: “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” (20:27; watch from time code 17:44 to 18:53)

Acting in Faith to Find Answers

Lesson purpose: To help students understand how to act with faith in Jesus Christ as they seek answers to their questions.

Student preparation: Invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 and to ponder its meaning. They could also memorize this verse and think about how it can help them when facing difficult questions.
Video: “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge: Madison’s Story” (8:35; watch from time codes 0:00 to 1:44 and 1:44 to 8:35)

Examining Gospel Topics and Questions with an Eternal Perspective

Lesson purpose: To help students examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective to view them like Jesus Christ does.

Student preparation: Invite students to read paragraphs 8–10 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023).
Images: Side and front views of human eye artwork by Michael Murphy
Videos: “Human Eye Artwork” (0:37); “The Eye of Faith” (15:15; watch from time code 4:22 to 4:47); “‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ Artwork” (0:22)

Turning to Divinely Appointed Sources to Help Find Answers

Lesson purpose: To help students understand the importance of seeking truth from sources provided by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about sources they have turned to for answers to spiritual questions. Encourage them to come to class ready to share at least one example of a source and how it helped them.
Handout: “Determining Truth from Error”