Doctrinal Mastery: Ephesians 1:10

The Restoration of All Things

In your study of Ephesians 1, you learned about the doctrine of the Restoration. This lesson will give you the opportunity to increase your mastery of the teachings in Ephesians 1:10 by memorizing the reference and key scripture phrase, explaining the doctrine, and applying principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in a real-life situation.

Explain and memorize

Imagine that several classmates were absent on the day your seminary class studied the doctrine of the Restoration in Ephesians 1. Your seminary teacher asks you to take a few minutes to summarize the most important teachings that you feel all students need to know and remember about the doctrine of the Restoration and the teachings from Ephesians 1:10.

1. Answer the following questions in your study journal:

• Which important truths about the Restoration of the gospel would you share? Why?

• How would you explain the teachings found in Ephesians 1:10 in your own words?

• How could understanding the Restoration influence someone’s understanding of and feelings towards Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

In your study journal or on your digital device, record the key scripture phrase and reference for the doctrinal mastery passage Ephesians 1:10 by dividing it into four parts as shown below:

• In the dispensation of the fulness of times

• He might gather together in one

• All things in Christ

• Ephesians 1:10

Cover up lines 2–4, and repeat line 1 in your mind until you memorize it. Move to the second line, and repeat the process. Do the same for lines 3 and 4. When you feel confident that you have memorized all four lines, write them all in your study journal without looking. Repeat the process if necessary until you can write the entire key scripture phrase and reference from memory.

Practice application

Consider reviewing paragraphs 5–12 in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022). Choose one of the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, and create an icon or simple visual representation to remind you of this principle and its concept. For example, for the principle “examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective,” you might consider making a visual like the following:

Read the following scenario to help you practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine taught in Ephesians 1:10 that during the dispensation of the fulness of times, all things will be gathered together in Christ. Then use this scenario, or create one of your own, to answer the questions that follow.

A friend of yours was baptized with her family and felt confident at the time that she was following the example of Jesus Christ by joining His Church. But in the past year since her baptism, she has often been tempted by other friends to break the commandments. She is beginning to wonder if this is really Christ’s Church and if it’s worth it to stay faithful to the gospel.

While there are several truths that could help your friend, consider how the doctrines of the Restoration and the dispensation of the fulness of times might strengthen and encourage her.

2. In your study journal, answer the questions under each of the following three principles:

Act in faith

• What steps might you encourage your friend to take so that she acts in faith?

• How might acting in faith help your friend with her questions and concerns?

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

• What do you know about the Savior’s teachings about the Restoration?

• How might maintaining an eternal perspective help both you and your friend in this situation?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

• How might the truths found in Ephesians 1:10 help in this situation?

• If you had additional time before responding to your friend, what might you review or study? What sources could you invite your friend to study on her own? Why?