Doctrinal Mastery: John 17:3

Coming to Know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

In the previous lesson, “John 17,” you learned that we can progress toward eternal life by coming to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This lesson can help you memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase for John 17:3, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge in a real-life situation.

Reverence for the names of Deity. Because the names of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are so significant, be sure to encourage and show reverence as Their names are used (see Doctrine and Covenants 63:61).

Student preparation: Invite students to identify someone they know who might know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ well. Invite students to ask that person what has helped them come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Possible Learning Activities

This doctrinal mastery passage lesson is designed to be taught after the lesson “John 17,” which is the contextual lesson for the doctrinal mastery passage  John 17:3. 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 the reference and key scripture phrase. The following activity is one way to help them do this.

Recite aloud several times the doctrinal mastery reference John 17:3 and its key scripture phrase: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ.”On a separate sheet of paper, write the reference John 17:3 and the first letters of each word in the verse: A t i l e t t m k t t o t G a J C. Using only the first letters of the verse, try to recite the reference and key scripture phrase. As you become more confident, try to recite the reference and phrase from memory.

To help you better understand the meaning of this scripture, explain the truths taught in John 17:3 in your own words. Include the following:

The meaning of the phrase “eternal life.”
Some ways we can come to “know” Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Invite a few students to share their explanations with the class. If students need help understanding the meaning of this passage, take time to discuss it before moving on with the lesson.

There are multiple statements in the “Commentary and Background Information” section of this lesson and of the previous lesson, “John 17,” that could be used to help students as needed.

Practice application

Consider how familiar students are with the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge when deciding how much time is needed for the following suggested review.

Review paragraphs 5–12 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022). Think about how you might explain each of these principles to someone who has never heard of them before.

If helpful, divide students into pairs and invite them to practice sharing their explanations of these principles aloud.

Read the following scenario:

After fast and testimony meeting, you notice that your friend Julia seems sad. As you walk home with her, she says that during the meeting today she realized she doesn’t know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as well as she wants to. She describes a feeling of loneliness and a longing for the kind of relationship with Them that she sensed in some of those who shared their testimonies. You decide to really think and pray over the next few days about how to help Julia.

Use the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the following questions and activities to help you consider what you might say and do to help Julia. You may want to write down what you learn and any impressions you receive as you prepare.

Consider inviting students to prepare their answers by working with a partner. Tell them that they will have the chance to share with other students what they learn.

Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective

Why do you think Heavenly Father wants us to come to know Him and His Son, Jesus Christ?
Why do you want to come to know Them as well as you can during this life?

Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources

How could studying the Savior’s prayer in John 17:3 help Julia with her desires?

Make a list of some good sources that might help Julia come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

How could Julia use available resources to help her come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ better? (For example, what key words could she search for in the Guide to the Scriptures, in the Topical Guide, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or on the Gospel Library app?)

Take a few minutes to study divinely appointed sources to learn more about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how to get to know Them better.

Invite students to share both what they learned and how they found the information. This can help other students learn how to better use available resources.

Act in faith

Invite students who followed the student preparation suggestion to share what they learned as they answer the following questions.

How is it an act of faith to make the effort to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What have you or someone you know done to come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ better that you could suggest to Julia?
What phrases do you find in paragraphs 5–7 of the “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” section of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022) that could help someone who has been doing the right things but still doesn’t feel as close to God as they would like to?

Invite each partnership to gather with a few other partnerships and share with each other what they found while applying the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

Doctrinal mastery review

At the beginning or end of an upcoming lesson, spend no more than 3 to 5 minutes reviewing the doctrinal mastery passage. Consider writing the scripture reference and key scripture phrase for John 17:3 on the board with the words in the wrong order. Then invite students to unscramble the words.

Commentary and Background Information

What is eternal life?

Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. … Eternal life, or exaltation, is to live in God’s presence and to continue as families (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4).

(Gospel Topics,“Eternal Life,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

How can we know the Father and the Son for ourselves?

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles answered this question.

By personal revelation. Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their presence.

(Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 87)

What should I do if I’m not sure I even believe in God?

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. …

… With your own testimony of God, you will be able to bless your family, your posterity, your friends, your own life—all those you love. Your personal knowledge of God is not only the greatest gift you will ever give, but it will bring you the greatest joy you will ever have.

… I promise that if you and those you love will seek Him in all humility, sincerity, and diligence, you will know with a surety too. Your witness will come.

(Robert D. Hales, “Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 32)