Lesson 164: Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions

Strengthening Your Spiritual Foundation

Introduction to Doctrinal Mastery

As disciples of Jesus Christ in the latter days, we face many spiritual dangers and difficulties. To stand strong against the influences of the adversary, we must build our lives on the only sure foundation, Jesus Christ. This lesson will help students understand how doctrinal mastery can bless their lives and help them build their spiritual foundation on Jesus Christ.

Possible Learning Activities

This lesson can be used to introduce students to the purposes of doctrinal mastery. It can also be used to remind students who are familiar with doctrinal mastery about the value of this important part of their seminary experience. You could teach this lesson at the beginning of a new calendar year, but you might also revisit it if you are teaching a new group of students.

The “Doctrinal Mastery Training” for teachers can be a helpful resource to understand how to implement doctrinal mastery into your teaching. This training can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Our spiritual foundation

Help students understand the importance of building their spiritual foundation upon Jesus Christ. You might do this by discussing the Salt Lake Temple renovation, emphasizing the work that was done to strengthen the foundation against earthquakes and other potential dangers. You may want to display images. You could also show “President Nelson—Temple Foundation” (2:03).

• Why do you think so much time and resources were devoted to renovating the Salt Lake Temple and improving its foundation?

• How might we compare what was done to the temple to our personal lives?

Read Helaman 5:12, looking for truths and principles that can help you better understand the need for a spiritual foundation built on Jesus Christ.

• What did this verse help you understand about why we need the strength that comes from Jesus Christ?

• What is a truth you learned from this verse about what can happen when we center our lives on the Savior?

  You could ask students to write what they learned in one statement on the board. You could then give them a chance to explain their answers. They may say something like if we build our spiritual foundation on Jesus Christ, we cannot fall.

• What do you think it means to build our spiritual foundation on Jesus Christ?

Students could share ideas such as centering our lives on Jesus Christ and His teachings, following His example, and repenting regularly.

President Russell M. Nelson described reasons why we need to build our foundation on Jesus Christ:

It is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.

My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. …

The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 93)

• What does this statement help you understand about your need for a strong spiritual foundation?

Consider inviting students to think about what they are experiencing in life that helps them recognize the need for building their foundation on the Savior. Then invite them to evaluate the strength of their spiritual foundation. One way to do this is to display the following self-assessment, which relates to different outcomes of doctrinal mastery that students will learn about in this lesson. Students could assess themselves silently or write their answers in their study journals.

For each of the following statements, rate yourself on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

1. I rely on Jesus Christ and His teachings when I am tempted or influenced by the adversary.

2. I know how to receive answers to my doctrinal, personal, social, or historical questions.

3. I can explain Jesus Christ’s doctrine to others.

4. I can locate important scripture passages that contain Christ’s doctrine.

5. I rely on Jesus Christ’s example and teachings to help me make daily choices.

Doctrinal mastery

Explain that one of the ways students can build their foundation on Jesus Christ through their experience in seminary is through doctrinal mastery. If you have students who have previously participated in seminary, consider asking them to explain what they know about doctrinal mastery. You could also introduce students to doctrinal mastery by showing the video “What Is Doctrinal Mastery?” (3:56), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Read the section “Introduction to Doctrinal Mastery” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023). Think about how participating in doctrinal mastery can help you build a strong foundation on Jesus Christ.

You might ask students to read together in small groups. One student could be in charge of assigning students in the group to read various paragraphs, another could be assigned to list important findings, and another could report the group’s findings to the class.

• What are the two main outcomes of doctrinal mastery?

  Be sure students understand that these outcomes are (1) learning and applying the principles for acquiring spiritual knowledge, and (2) mastering the doctrinal mastery scripture passages and the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they teach.

  It may be helpful to explain that students will participate in lessons throughout the year that focus on these outcomes. They will have opportunities to explain doctrine in their own words, memorize key scripture phrases of doctrinal mastery passages, and use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to apply the doctrine to real-life situations.

• How do you think doctrinal mastery can help you build your foundation on Jesus Christ?

• How might participating in doctrinal mastery protect you from future challenges and the attacks of the adversary?

Help students understand that an effort to actively participate in doctrinal mastery can help them turn to Jesus Christ with more confidence. Consider asking students who have previously participated in doctrinal mastery to share how it has blessed their lives. Testify that as they rely on Jesus Christ, they will be able to withstand the challenges they face today and prepare for those that will come in the future.

Additional Resources

What can I learn from the construction of a temple foundation?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy taught:

Using the temple as a metaphor, tonight I will speak about foundations. With the design and construction of every temple, significant work is expended on what cannot easily be seen when the project is finished—the foundation. For example, … the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple, which … [w]hen completed, … will be 82 feet tall at its roofline and rise 195 feet to the top of the angel Moroni. As … imposing and stately as this structure will be, it will still be subject to destructive winds and invasive groundwater. These harsh conditions, if left unchecked, could significantly damage and even destroy this noble edifice.

Knowing these forces would relentlessly attack the temple, the engineers designed and the contractor excavated a hole 32 feet deep under the entire footprint of the structure. The hole was dug into native Pennsylvania granite to provide an immovable foundation upon which to build. The concrete footings and foundations were then tied to the granite bedrock with rock anchors to resist even torrential wind and powerful groundwater. The anchors were drilled 50 to 175 feet into the granite and tensioned at 250,000 pounds per square inch. The anchors are spaced 15 feet apart in both directions.

I give such detailed information to teach this point: Unlike building a structure (which by any definition is temporary), in building our everlasting (and hopefully, eternal) lives, we sometimes pay woefully little attention to the engineering and construction of our foundations. Consequently, we are left highly exposed and are easily buffeted by dangerous forces. (Donald L. Hallstrom, “How Firm a Foundation” [Church Educational System devotional for young adults, Nov. 2, 2014], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

What is the purpose of doctrinal mastery?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following while speaking to seminary and institute teachers:

The Board of Education recently approved an initiative in seminary called Doctrinal Mastery. … This new initiative will focus on building and strengthening our students’ faith in Jesus Christ and fortifying them with increased ability to live and apply the gospel in their lives. Drawing on the scriptures and the words of the prophets, they will learn how to act with faith in Christ to acquire spiritual knowledge and understanding of His gospel. And they will have opportunities to learn how to apply the doctrine of Christ and gospel principles to the questions and challenges they hear and see every day among their peers and on social media.

This initiative is inspired and timely. It will have a wonderful influence on our young people. (M. Russell Ballard, “The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 26, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Doctrinal mastery scripture-marking activity

Use a fun activity to help students mark doctrinal mastery scripture passages. Invite them to look up “Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Passages and Key Scripture Phrases by Course” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023). Students could sit next to a partner as they mark the passages, then share their answers to a question that could help the students get to know each other better. Students could then switch partners and repeat this process until the desired number of passages has been marked.

Memorizing scriptures

You might invite students to look up “Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Passages and Key Scripture Phrases by Course” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023). Explain that students will be invited to study these passages to come to know the doctrine and to give them opportunities to practice explaining what they are learning. Tell students that they will be given opportunities to memorize important parts of the verses contained in the key scripture phrases.

Invite students to think of times when knowing important scriptures and what they teach would be important. Ask students if they have experiences with remembering and sharing scriptures with others.

Doctrinal Mastery app

Help students download the Doctrinal Mastery app on a mobile device. Use class time to help students become familiar with the app and work on some of the activities. Encourage students to use the app outside of class.