Seminary
Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

“Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Ghost”

Two youth walk across a bridge. It is fall. The boys seem to be in conversation. The bridge goes over a lake. In the distance you can see fields and playground equipment.

In your study of 1 Corinthians 6, you learned about the Lord’s standard of sexual purity and the importance of your physical body. This lesson will help you increase your mastery of these teachings by giving you the opportunity to memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, to explain the doctrine, and to apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to a real-life situation.

Explain and memorize

Imagine being in a class or quorum discussion when a younger classmate asks the teacher, “What exactly is the law of chastity?” The teacher asks other students, including you, to respond.

Using the truths taught in the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, plan what you might share with your classmates to help them understand the Lord’s standard of sexual purity, or chastity, and why it is important.

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil. 1. Answer the following question in your study journal:

  • Using the teachings recorded in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, how might you explain to someone what the Lord’s law of chastity is and why it is important?

To help you memorize the reference for the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 and its key scripture phrase, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost,” consider creating an image, meme, or collage of pictures to represent this passage and the doctrine taught. The visual that you create should be memorable but should also be reverent and respectful of the scripture and the doctrine it teaches. You might use the picture you drew of a person standing next to the temple in the activity for the lesson on 1 Corinthians 6. Be sure to write the reference 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 and the key scripture phrase somewhere near your image.

While looking at the visual representation you have created or chosen, repeat the scripture passage reference and key scripture phrase in your mind until you feel you have committed them to memory.

Practice application

In your study journal, briefly record what you know and remember about the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge without referring to other sources. When you have finished, refer to the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2023) to check your knowledge and add any important information you may have missed.

Ponder the following situation. Then answer the questions that follow using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine taught in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 that our bodies are temples of God where the Spirit can dwell. Alternatively, you could also create a different scenario more relevant to you or the youth in your area.

A teenager has grown up knowing the Lord’s standards of chastity but, after being in a serious relationship for some time, feels a desire to express his feelings through engaging in a sexual relationship with his girlfriend. He has family members and friends who have had sexual relations before marriage, and they all seem happy.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized that “the eternal importance of chastity can only be understood within the overarching context of our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness for His children” (“We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 41).

  • What specific aspects of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation would you want someone in this situation to understand and contemplate?

  • How do the truths in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 affect the way you view the law of chastity and your relationship with the Godhead?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

Consider choosing one or more of the following divinely appointed sources to search for truths that would apply to and help in the scenario you chose.

Answer the following question:

  • What did you find that might help in this scenario?

Act in faith

  • What are some different ways an individual might choose to act in faith in this situation?

  • What experiences have you had with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that would help you trust Them and follow Their teachings?

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil. 2. Do the following in your study journal:

Summarize how each of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge could be applied to the scenario. If you created your own scenario, be sure to also include a brief summary of that situation.