Seminary
John 7

John 7

Do God’s Will to Know His Doctrine

Jesus Christ is teaching in the temple and being approached by the chief priests, elders and scribes who ask Him the source of his authority. Christ questions them whether the baptism of John the Baptist was of heaven or of man. Outtakes include closeups of people in the crowd and of Caiaphas.

During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, Jesus explained how anyone could know for themselves that the doctrine He taught was from Heavenly Father. This lesson will help you discover what you can do to know the truth of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s teachings.

Different beliefs about Jesus Christ

  • What are some beliefs people have about who Jesus Christ is?

  • Why is it important for you to know the truth about Jesus Christ no matter what others might think?

Take a minute to think about what has influenced your beliefs about Jesus Christ. Determine what sources you tend to turn to for truth, and ponder how they influence your beliefs. As you study today, look for what you can do to know the truth about Jesus Christ and His teachings.

Because there were many in Jerusalem who wanted to kill Jesus, He attended the Feast of Tabernacles in secret (see John 7:1, 10). As the Jews looked for Jesus, and throughout the feast, people shared different opinions with each other about who Jesus was.

To find out what people were saying about Jesus, choose two or three of the following references, and answer the questions that follow.

John 7:12, 40–41

What different ideas did people have about who Jesus was?

John 7:31

Why did some people believe in Jesus?

John 7:41–42, 52

Why did people discuss where Jesus was from?

John 7:45–46

What was it about Jesus that stood out to the officers who were asked to arrest Him?

John 7:47

How did the Pharisees describe anyone who believed in Jesus?

  • What reasons did people give for believing or not believing in Jesus Christ?

  • What are some opinions people have about Jesus Christ and His teachings today?

  • How can we know the truth about Jesus Christ and what He teaches?

Knowing the truth about Jesus Christ and His teachings

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus went to the temple to teach. He explained to the people there that both the doctrine He taught and He Himself were from Heavenly Father (see John 7:14, 16–18, 28–29)

Doctrinal Mastery icon (blue). Image is of an open book. John 7:17 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking it in a distinctive way so you can find it easily. You will learn more about this doctrinal mastery passage in the next lesson.

Read John 7:17, looking for what Jesus said the people could do to know that what Jesus taught was true and that He was sent from Heavenly Father.

One principle we can learn from this verse is that if we do Heavenly Father’s will, we can know His doctrine is true.

Doing Heavenly Father’s will means living as He wants us to live. The Savior Jesus Christ always lived by and taught Heavenly Father’s will.

  • What examples could you share of Jesus doing the Father’s will?

  • What can be difficult about living a principle that we do not yet know is true?

President Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President, gave the following counsel about coming to know truth:

Official portrait of Bonnie Lee Green Oscarson, Young Women general president, 2013. Sustained at the April 2013 general conference.

Sometimes we try to do it backward. For example, we may take this approach: I will be happy to live the law of tithing, but first I need to know that it’s true. Maybe we even pray to gain a testimony of the law of tithing and hope the Lord will bless us with that testimony before we have ever filled out a tithing slip. It just doesn’t work that way. The Lord expects us to exercise faith. We have to consistently pay a full and honest tithe in order to gain a testimony of tithing. This same pattern applies to all the principles of the gospel, whether it is the law of chastity, the principle of modesty, the Word of Wisdom, or the law of the fast.

(Bonnie L. Oscarson, “Be Ye Converted,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 77)

  • Why do you think Jesus Christ wants us to know that His doctrine comes from Heavenly Father and that it is true?

  • How can knowing Jesus Christ’s doctrine is true also help us come to know Him?

Choose one of the Lord’s teachings that you would like to strengthen your testimony of. For some ideas of His teachings, you could look up talks addressed to youth in a recent general conference. You could also look for ideas in the For the Strength of Youth (2011) booklet or in the For the Strength of Youth magazine. Invite the Spirit to help you choose one of the Lord’s teachings to focus on that would bless you most at this time in your life.

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

Write the teaching you chose on the top of a blank page in your study journal or on a blank piece of paper. Now think of a simple image or object that you could draw to represent this doctrine, and draw it in the center of your paper.

For example, you may have chosen to strengthen your testimony of the Book of Mormon as the word of God. You could draw a simple picture of the Book of Mormon.

To help you think through what it will take to receive a testimony of the teaching you chose, think of different actions Heavenly Father might want you to take related to the teaching. Write at least three actions around the picture you drew.

Think about how having a stronger testimony of this doctrine might influence your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil. 2. In the area below your drawing, answer the following questions:

  • What obstacles might prevent you from living this doctrine? How will you overcome these obstacles?

  • What is important to understand about the time and effort it might require to know that this doctrine is from God?

You may want to share your plans with a family member who could help you live the doctrine and come to know that it is from God.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

John 7:2. What is the Feast of Tabernacles?

The Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booths or Huts) began and ended on a Sabbath and so was eight days long. Part of this celebration included building temporary huts made from tree branches. People stayed in these huts during the feast to remind them that God blessed His people for 40 years while they lived in the wilderness of Sinai.

John 7:17. What is the value of seeking truth through obedience?

The Savior told His disciples that those who continue to live His teachings would come to know the truth and that this truth would give them freedom (see John 8:31–32).President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained why we would want to make the effort to receive a personal testimony of the truth.

Official portrait of Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 2006. Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency, 3 February 2008. Made official portrait in 2008 replacing portrait taken in 2004.

Some may say that the steps are too hard or that they are not worth the effort. But I suggest that this personal testimony of the gospel and the Church is the most important thing you can earn in this life. It will not only bless and guide you during this life, but it will also have a direct bearing on your life throughout eternity.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 22)

John 7:39. Why did John say that “the Holy Ghost was not yet given”?

John referred “only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught [Matthew 16:16–17; see also 1 Corinthians 12:3]” (Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost”).