Seminary
Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 15:40–42

Doctrinal Mastery: 1 Corinthians 15:40–42

In the Resurrection, There Are Three Degrees of Glory

illustration showing Salvation and Exaltation: Sun, Moon, and Stars

In a previous lesson, “1 Corinthians 15:32–54,” you learned about the three degrees of glory in the Resurrection. You also learned that our Father in Heaven will give the faithful celestial glory through Jesus Christ. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 15:40–42, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in real-life situations.

Helping students find answers to their questions. It is not a teacher’s responsibility to answer every question asked by a student. Help students apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge so that they can discover answers for themselves. Encourage students to faithfully turn to and trust in the Lord. It may be helpful to act as a guide by identifying divinely appointed sources that they could use to search for answers.

Student preparation: Invite students to read 1 Corinthians 15:40–42 and to come to class prepared to share a real-life scenario where the doctrine taught in this passage would be helpful.

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “1 Corinthians 15:32–54,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage 1 Corinthians 15:40–42. 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.

Memorize and explain

Help students memorize and explain the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for 1 Corinthians 15:40–42. The following activity is one way of doing this.

For this activity, consider allowing students to complete each step before providing the next step.

  1. Write “1 Corinthians 15:40–42: In the Resurrection, There Are Three Degrees of Glory” across the top of a piece of paper.

  2. Draw a sun beneath the phrase, a moon beneath the sun, and a star beneath the moon.

  3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:40–42, and label each of your drawings with the name of the glory that it represents. (Note that the Joseph Smith Translation of 1 Corinthians 15:40 adds a reference to telestial glory [in 1 Corinthians 15:40, footnote a].)

  4. Look at your drawing while repeating the scripture reference and key scripture phrase in your mind until you feel confident that you know them well.

  5. How would you explain the truths taught in this passage to someone who does not understand what happens after death in Heavenly Father’s plan? Write down your explanation in your own words.

Consider inviting students to move around the room and to share their explanations with at least three other students. If needed, model how these truths might be conveyed before students begin sharing with each other.

Encourage students to keep their drawings or to hand them in so they can be used to review this passage in a lesson in the near future.

Practice application

Applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help us with real-life situations and important questions we have.

Read the following scenarios, and choose one you would like to focus on for the next activity.

Invite students who completed the student preparation activity to share their scenarios. Consider replacing the following scenarios with student scenarios.

  1. Julia sincerely tries to do what’s right, but she often feels condemned because of her weaknesses. She believes that other people will go to the celestial kingdom but doubts that she will make it.

  2. Maria just heard a great talk about the gift of resurrection that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will give to everyone. She wonders, “Why should I repent or keep the commandments if everyone is going to be resurrected in a perfect immortal body anyway?”

Consider asking students to form groups of three with others who chose the same scenario. For the following activity, each student in the group could be asked to study and apply a different principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge. After sufficient time, invite them to report what they learned to their group.

It may be helpful to display or print copies of the following sections for students to refer to as they study.

In the previous lesson, you studied about the following truth taught in 1 Corinthians 15:40–42: in Heavenly Father’s plan, there are different degrees of glory for resurrected bodies. Use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the truth taught in 1 Corinthians 15:40–42 to help either Julia or Maria with her concerns or questions.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Read paragraph 8 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022). Consider marking the two questions at the end of that paragraph.

  • How would the answers to those two questions apply to Julia’s or Maria’s situation.

Paragraph 8 also states, “We seek the help of the Holy Ghost in order to see things as the Lord sees them.”

  • What might the Lord see in this situation that would be helpful to Julia or Maria? Why?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

Read paragraphs 11–12 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document.

  • Where would you advise Julia or Maria to look for the truths that they need in their life?

  • What experiences have you had that show the importance of carefully choosing where you search for spiritual truth?

Take a few minutes to search for specific scriptures or prophetic statements that you feel apply to Julia’s or Maria’s situation. (Some scripture passages from recent lessons that may be helpful include 1 Corinthians 15:40–42; Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–52, 62–64, 69–70, 71–76, 81–85; 88:21–24.)

  • What did you find that you might share? How have the truths you found made a difference in your life?

Walk around the room, and help students who are unsure how to find scripture passages or statements by Church leaders. Consider showing them how to find what they are looking for rather than simply giving them a scripture reference or a statement that could apply.

Act in faith

Review paragraphs 5–6 in the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Consider marking at least three different phrases or ideas that you think could help Julia or Maria.

  • What phrases did you choose? How could each of these phrases help Julia or Maria?

  • If you have had thoughts similar to Julia’s or Maria’s, what did you do to faithfully respond to those thoughts?

  • Why would each of these young women need to focus their faith on Jesus Christ as they work through their situation? Why not just do the best they can without focusing on Him?

Consider asking students to reflect on their own lives, attitudes, and questions. Encourage them to use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in their own situations outside of class. Bear testimony that these principles can help them come unto Christ to find truth and greater peace.

Doctrinal mastery review

At the beginning or end of an upcoming lesson, spend no more than three to five minutes reviewing the doctrinal mastery passage. For example, students could review their drawing of the three degrees of glory while repeating over and over the reference and key scripture phrase in their mind. Then invite them to show their drawing to a partner while repeating aloud by memory the reference and phrase.