Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 11:11
Both Men and Women Are Essential in Heavenly Father’s Plan
In your study of 1 Corinthians 11, you learned about how God views the unique and divine roles of women and men. The intent of this lesson is to help you increase your mastery of these teachings as you memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 11:11, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to a real-life situation.
Student preparation: Invite students to read section 3 in the article “Men and Women in the Work of the Lord” by President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (New Era, April 2014, 2–5), looking for truths we need to understand about God’s doctrine about men and women.
Possible Learning Activities
This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “1 Corinthians 11,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Corinthians 11:11. If this doctrinal mastery passage lesson needs to be moved to a different week, be sure to teach the corresponding contextual lesson during that week as well.
Explain and memorize
The following observation about hands is adapted from Linda K. Burton’s address “We’ll Ascend Together” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 29–32).
Look at your hands. Observe how they are the same as each other and how they are different.
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If each hand can function individually, why do you think Heavenly Father designed His children with two hands?
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How do the differences in your hands help you accomplish tasks or use your talents?
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How might these observations about your hands relate to 1 Corinthians 11:11?
Give students an opportunity to memorize the reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 11:11. The following is one possible memorization activity. As appropriate, encourage students to use the Doctrinal Mastery app to review and memorize this passage.
The following activity can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference 1 Corinthians 11:11 and its key scripture phrase, “Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”
Write the key scripture phrase and scripture reference. Read or recite the phrase and reference multiple times, erasing or deleting words each time. Continue until you are comfortable repeating the key scripture phrase and reference without looking at the words.
Practice application
In your study journal, record the following principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge:
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Act in faith
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Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
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Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources
Describe each principle in two or three sentences. You may want to refer to paragraphs 5–12 in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022) to check your knowledge and add any important information you may have missed.
Encourage students to recall what they learned in their student preparation. As students discuss the following question, consider writing (or having students write) their answers on the board. Recording their ideas will help students relate to what they are learning.
In 1 Corinthians 11:11, you learned that in Heavenly Father’s plan, both women and men are essential.
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How has this truth been misunderstood or disregarded in society?
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What are some situations in your life where you might have the opportunity to teach or defend this truth?
To increase personal relevance, consider applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to students’ responses to the previous questions. As needed, use the scenarios provided in the lesson.
It may be helpful to display the following questions for discussion or provide students with the accompanying handout.
Consider how students might learn best from this activity. They could work alone, in small groups, or as a class. It may be helpful to reserve some time at the end of class to discuss their findings.
Select one of the following scenarios, and think about how applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help someone understand the truth from 1 Corinthians 11:11 about the roles of men and women in Heavenly Father’s plan.
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Kalee’s younger sister Elle heard some boys at school saying that men are more important than women. Elle asks Kalee, “Aren’t I worth just as much as boys are?”
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Reid is concerned because he hears some of his fellow quorum members talking disrespectfully about women.
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After watching a popular movie, a group of friends makes fun of the ridiculous actions of the father character. Several agree that the father wasn’t needed, and one friend states, “This is why you don’t need a man to raise a happy family.”
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Esteban and Clara are preparing to marry in the temple. Their parents suggest that they talk about how each will fulfill the different roles and responsibilities in their future family.
Act in faith
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What are ways that you or the individual in the scenario could act in faith in response to the issue that is raised?
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How can valuing the unique and essential roles of women and men help you follow Jesus Christ?
Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
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What do you know about Heavenly Father and His plan that could be helpful if you encountered a situation like this?
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What are some of the roles of men and women in Heavenly Father’s plan?
Seek further information through divinely appointed sources
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How could your understanding and testimony of the truths taught in 1 Corinthians 11:11 help you respond to this situation?
This may be an opportunity for students to share what they learned in their preparation for class.
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What other inspired teachings from the scriptures or Church leaders could help you faithfully respond?
Doctrinal mastery review
The following review activity should be used in a lesson that will be taught in the near future.
Write the key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 11:11 on the board, replacing key words with blanks to be filled in. Invite students to write or recite the key scripture passage and reference, correctly filling in the blanks. Ask students to repeat the reference and key scripture phrase multiple times.
Supplemental Learning Activities
Divinely appointed sources
Consider suggesting these or other divinely appointed sources as students respond to the scenarios:
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M. Russell Ballard, “Men and Women in the Work of the Lord,” New Era, April 2014, 2–5
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Linda K. Burton, “We’ll Ascend Together,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 29–32
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Jean B. Bingham, “United in Accomplishing God’s Work,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 60–63
Monika’s story
In a training broadcast for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, Brother Chad H Webb addressed how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge could be applied to a scenario about a young woman named Monika. After being confronted with an accusation that the Church does not value women, Monika is unsure how to respond.
It may be helpful for students to use Monika’s story to discuss the truths taught in 1 Corinthians 11:11–12 and practice applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Consider making portions of Brother Webb’s address available to students as a resource.
See Chad H Webb, “Doctrinal Mastery” (address given at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 14, 2016), broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Addressing same-sex marriage
As students discuss situations where the truths of 1 Corinthians 11:11 may need to be taught or defended, they may wish to address the topic of same-sex marriage. Be sure to address this topic with sensitivity, compassion, and love. Consider referring to “Same-Sex Marriage” at topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Including 1 Corinthians 11:8–9, 12 and paragraphs 2 and 7 of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) may also be helpful.
Remember that the purpose for these activities is not for the teacher to provide all of the answers but for students to practice using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Seek the guidance of the Spirit as you listen to students and are prompted to ask questions to help them process their concerns.
The following scenario could be used in place of the scenarios included in the lesson:
Olivia has a few friends who feel same-sex attraction. She says, “It is difficult for me to understand why the Church continues to teach that same-sex marriage is wrong. Why deny people the happiness that could come from a committed same-sex relationship?”