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 198—Growth Mindset: Developing Attitudes and Actions That Improve Our Thought Patterns

“Lesson 198—Growth Mindset: Developing Attitudes and Actions That Improve Our Thought Patterns,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Growth Mindset,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 198: Succeeding in School

Growth Mindset

Developing Attitudes and Actions That Improve Our Thought Patterns

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happy teenager

Each of us will face obstacles in our learning and education. Depending on our mindset, we can see these obstacles either as barriers that will stop us or as opportunities to learn and grow. Choosing to face obstacles with a growth mindset demonstrates our faith in Jesus Christ. This lesson can help students develop a growth mindset to overcome obstacles in learning.

Possible Learning Activities

Obstacles in learning

Consider beginning the lesson by sharing the following scenario. Alternatively, you could have students create a scenario where a youth faces a perceived obstacle in his or her learning. You could then adapt the questions so they relate more to the scenario that was chosen.

As Caden learns about the classes he will be taking for the upcoming school year, he notices that he has a math class. Caden remembers how poorly he has done in math previously. He believes that if he takes this math class, he’s going to fail it.

What stands out to you about Caden’s mindset?
What advice might you share with him?

Growth mindset

Explain that when we experience challenges or obstacles in our education and other aspects of our lives, we can view them with either a growth mindset or a fixed mindset.

Display the following definitions, and invite two students to read them to the class.

Growth mindset: People with a growth mindset believe they can learn and draw strength from Jesus Christ. They are quick to change as they learn. They push themselves even when things are difficult by relying on Jesus Christ.

Fixed mindset: People with a fixed mindset doubt their ability to learn. They are afraid to fail, and they believe they cannot learn certain things.

To help students better understand these mindsets, consider sharing some of the following statements. You could display the first statement from each column to help students see a paired example. You could then provide students with the rest of the fixed-mindset statements. Invite them to work in small groups to write a statement someone with a growth mindset may say that demonstrates their faith in the Savior.

Fixed Mindset	Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset “My mistakes show that I am not smart.”	Growth Mindset “Because of the Savior, I can learn from my mistakes and get better.”
Fixed Mindset “I do not like to try new things because I will probably fail.”	Growth Mindset “Knowing that Jesus Christ is pleased with every effort I make to grow, I can try new things and enjoy challenges.”
Fixed Mindset “I cannot learn things.”	Growth Mindset “If I want to learn something, I can learn it with the Lord’s help.”
Fixed Mindset “When I am frustrated, I give up.”	Growth Mindset “Working through difficulties helps me grow and become more like Jesus Christ.”

Invite students to think about whether they typically view challenges with a growth or a fixed mindset. Invite them as they continue studying to look for helpful truths and to pay attention to impressions from the Holy Ghost that can help them develop a growth mindset.

Eternal truths that can help us develop a growth mindset

Brother Devin G. Durrant, formerly of the Sunday School General Presidency, explained why disciples of Jesus Christ should develop a growth mindset:.

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Brother Devin G. Durrant

Heavenly Father urges us to seek to develop gifts and improve ourselves because He, as a loving parent, believes that we can achieve great things, including, eventually, exaltation. He is a parent with a growth mind-set. If we are to become like Him, we need to adopt that same mind-set and learn to grow in all the ways He expects. (Devin G. Durrant, “Helping Children and Youth Develop a Growth Mind-Set,” Ensign, Feb. 2020)

What does this statement help you understand about how a growth mindset can affect your life?
What do you think can help you develop a growth mindset?

If needed, explain that understanding and remembering truths about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help students develop a growth mindset when they face obstacles, including obstacles in their education.

Invite students to find some of these truths in their scriptures. You could invite them to identify scriptures they know of or to study some of the following verses.

After students have had sufficient time to discover truths, invite them to share what they discovered with the class. They could also write on the board the truths they found. They might discover truths similar to the following: In God’s strength we can do all things.

How can remembering these truths about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help you have a growth mindset in your education?
What are some examples of people in the scriptures who used their faith in God to approach their challenges with a growth mindset?

As part of your discussion of the previous question, you could invite students to find examples from the life of Nephi. You could also have students look at examples of Laman and Lemuel demonstrating a fixed mindset.

These are some examples you could refer students to: the response to the commandment to return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates from Laban (see 1 Nephi 3:4–7); the attempts to get the brass plates (see 1 Nephi 3:24–31; 4:1–6); the brothers’ actions after Lehi shared his vision of the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 10:17–19; 11:1–6; 15:1–3, 8–9); Nephi breaking his bow (see 1 Nephi 16:18–23, 30–32); and Nephi being commanded to build a ship (see 1 Nephi 17:7–11, 17–18).
How has the Lord helped you, or how do you think the Lord can help you, have a growth mindset and overcome obstacles in your education?

Consider sharing an example from your own life.

You could also consider showing one of the videos in the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section.

My growth mindset

Invite students to think of some of the obstacles they face in their education or learning that a growth mindset could help with. They could write these obstacles in their study journals. They might mention reading struggles, difficulties with a subject in school, or a lack of available educational opportunities. Then invite them to do the following.

Pick two or three potential obstacles in your education and learning. For each obstacle, write down a growth-mindset statement that demonstrates your faith in the Savior’s ability to help you succeed.

Consider inviting students to share a statement they wrote. They could share with a neighbor or by walking around the room and sharing with others.

After students have shared, encourage them to determine ways they will follow the statements they came up with. Testify of the truths you have discussed today. Encourage students to strive to overcome obstacles to their education with a growth mindset.

Additional Resources

What can be helpful to remember when I face obstacles to my learning?

Elder Carlos A. Godoy of the Seventy explained:

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Elder Carlos A. Godoy

This mortal experience is a time for learning and growth, but sometimes it is not easy. Just as you find in your studies, you might feel inadequate or frustrated with your own personal progress, but I want to assure you that you can do it. Of course there is also a price to be paid, but it is possible. And the main reason why it is possible is because we have the Savior Jesus Christ and His grace as a resource in times of trouble. (Carlos A. Godoy, “Enter to Learn; Go Forth to Fight!” [Brigham Young University devotional, March 12, 2019], 3, speeches.byu.edu)

How can I develop a growth mindset in my learning?

Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Seventy taught:

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Elder Clark G. Gilbert

I know that pursuing your education can be challenging and requires sacrifice. I know how hard you are working and that there are many difficult nights as you stay up late to complete assignments, learn new concepts, and manage other demanding commitments in your life. But hang in there. Keep demonstrating real grit. But also, be prepared to move from grit to grace. Involve the Lord. Pray for His help, and He will magnify your efforts. (Clark G. Gilbert, “From Grit to Grace” [BYU–Pathway Worldwide devotional, Sept. 25, 2018], byupathway.org)

Why might I not experience immediate success?

While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Lynn G. Robbins explained:

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Elder Lynn G. Robbins

Nephi’s unwavering faith helped him go from failure to failure until he finally obtained the brass plates. It took Moses 10 attempts before he finally found success in fleeing Egypt with the Israelites.

We may wonder—if both Nephi and Moses were on the Lord’s errand, why didn’t the Lord intervene and help them achieve success on their first try? Why did He allow them—and why does He allow us—to flounder and fail in our attempts to succeed? Among many important answers to that question, here are a few:

First, the Lord knows that “these things shall give [us] experience, and shall be for [our] good” [Doctrine and Covenants 122:7].

Second, to allow us to “taste the bitter, that [we] may know to prize the good” [Moses 6:55].

Third, to prove that “the battle is the Lord’s” [1 Samuel 17:47], and it is only by His grace that we can accomplish His work and become like Him.

Fourth, to help us develop and hone scores of Christlike attributes that cannot be refined except through opposition and “in the furnace of affliction” (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Nephi 20:10).

(Lynn G. Robbins, “Until Seventy Times Seven,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 21)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternate beginning

To help students evaluate learning obstacles through different lenses, consider starting class by drawing or displaying a large rock in a pathway. You could then ask questions such as the following:

Do you see this rock as a stepping stone or a stumbling block? Why?
What determines if the rock is a stepping stone or a stumbling block?

You could then discuss obstacles teenagers face in learning. Invite students to evaluate how these obstacles could be perceived as stepping stones or stumbling blocks.

Additional practice

To help students practice replacing fixed-mindset ideas with growth-mindset ideas, you could give them the following chart. Students could work with a partner to come up with phrases in the “Try saying” column. They could then share with another partnership what they found.

Instead of saying …	Try saying …
Instead of saying … “I cannot do this.”
Instead of saying … “I give up.”
Instead of saying … “I am just not good at this subject.”
Instead of saying … “I will never be as smart as my friend.”
Instead of saying … “I tried, but I still could not do it.”
Instead of saying … “This is too hard.”

Video options

Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Seventy shared how the Lord helped him develop over time. You could watch “The Mismeasure of Man,” available at byupathway.org, from time code 0:21 to 3:05.

Brother Devin G. Durrant, former counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, shared how his wife’s growth mindset enabled her to accomplish something she felt would be difficult. You could watch “Choose a Growth Mindset,” available at speeches.byuh.edu, from time code 30:54 to 33:08.