Doctrinal Mastery: Assessment 1

Matthew 5:14–16 through John 17:3

During the first half of this course, students studied 11 doctrinal mastery passages found in Matthew, Luke, and John. This assessment is designed to assess students’ ability to locate these passages and use them in real-life situations. It will also assess their understanding of the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Administer this doctrinal mastery assessment anytime after all doctrinal mastery passages in Matthew, Luke, and John have been taught. It may be necessary to teach some of the doctrinal mastery lessons before they come up in the sequence of the scriptures so the assessment can be administered before the end of the semester.

If possible, administer this assessment in person so that students can correct the assessment as a class immediately after they complete it.

In addition to assessing students’ current knowledge, the experience of taking and correcting the assessment is meant to be a meaningful, testimony-building experience for students. While correcting questions 7–12, invite students to express why they chose the answer they did and to explain how the passage they chose could help in the situations described in the assessment. Help students understand any questions they may have answered incorrectly. Take time to answer any additional questions students may have.

New Testament Doctrinal Mastery: Assessment 1

Doctrinal mastery references

For questions 1–3, write the letter of the corresponding reference in the blank next to each phrase. Please do not use your scriptures for this portion of the assessment.

1. ____ “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”	a. Matthew 11:28–30
2. ____ Jesus Christ commanded, partake of the sacrament “in remembrance of me.”	b. Luke 2:10–12
3. ____ “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”	c. Luke 22:19–20
	d. John 3:5
	e. John 3:16

Key scripture phrases

For questions 4–6, fill in the missing words in the doctrinal mastery key scripture phrases. Please do not use your scriptures for this portion of the assessment.

4. Jesus said, “I will unto thee the of the ” (Matthew 16:15–19).

5. “For unto you is this day in the city of David a , which is Christ the ” (Luke 2:10–12).

6. “For a hath not and , as ye see me have” (Luke 24:36–39).

You may use your scriptures for the remainder of the assessment.

For questions 7–9, identify one or more doctrinal mastery passages that could help someone in the following situations.

7. You are with the missionaries when someone asks if they really need to be baptized or if they can simply accept Jesus Christ in their heart.

8. In Sunday School, a member of your ward asks how they can know that the doctrine taught in the Church is from God.

9. Someone is preparing a family home evening lesson about how we can become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

In questions 10–11, demonstrate your knowledge of and ability to use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

10. How would you explain the following three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to someone who is unfamiliar with them?

    • Act in faith.

    • Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective.

    • Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources.

11. You have a friend who has been struggling to believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love her and want a relationship with her. Answer the following questions:

    • What specific things would you invite her to do to act in faith?

    • How can you help her see her situation with an eternal perspective?

    • Doctrinal mastery passages are examples of divinely appointed sources. What doctrinal mastery passage(s) might you share with her? Why?

12. Of the 11 doctrinal mastery passages you have studied so far, which one has impacted you the most, and why? What does this passage teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Give students enough time to complete the assessment. After students have finished, review it as a class. As the teacher, decide whether it would be more useful for students to correct their own work or to pass it to a classmate for them to correct.

Answer key

1. d. John 3:5

2. c. Luke 22:19–20

3. a. Matthew 11:28–30

4. give; keys; kingdom

5. born; Saviour; Lord

6. spirit; flesh; bones

7. One possible answer is John 3:5, but students can receive credit for using any doctrinal mastery passage to help them explain the necessity of making and keeping covenants with God through proper priesthood authority.

8. One possible answer is John 7:17, but students can receive credit for using any doctrinal mastery passage to explain how to gain a testimony of true doctrine.

9. Many doctrinal mastery passages could help students explain how to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. Some of the passages students may have used include Matthew 5:14–16; Matthew 22:36–39; Luke 22:19–20; and John 17:3.

10. Students should be able to briefly explain the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Consider having them compare their answers with paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022).

11. Students should be able to explain actions related to acting in faith and examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective. They should also identify a doctrinal mastery passage that helps us understand God’s love and His desire for us to have a personal relationship with Him. Some of the passages students may have used include Matthew 11:28–30; John 3:16; and John 17:3.

12. As long as students answer this question sincerely and completely, they should be given credit. It is an open question and should be left to them.

To help students explain, share, and testify, invite them to discuss the doctrinal mastery passage they chose for question 12 and why they chose it. It may be effective to have as many students as possible share in the remaining time. Invite them to share what the passage they chose teaches them about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. As the teacher, consider sharing a meaningful doctrinal mastery passage as well.

Conclude the assessment by sharing testimony of the power of knowing the doctrine of Jesus Christ as found in His scriptures and being prepared to apply His teachings in real-life situations.