Seminary
Matthew 15–17; Mark 7–9

Matthew 15–17; Mark 7–9

Overview

Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees who used tradition as an excuse to break the commandments of God. Peter bore his testimony of Jesus, which he received by revelation through the Holy Ghost. The Savior promised to give Peter priesthood keys, which He later gave to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus healed the son of a man who expressed his belief in the Savior.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Matthew 15:1–9

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students determine which of their traditions are helping them become more like Jesus Christ and which may be separating them from Him.

  • Student preparation: Ask students to think about their traditions, or their “beliefs and practices that are passed on from one generation to another” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Traditions,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and why they may do them. It may help students to include their families in this preparation activity.

  • Materials for students: Paper or study journals

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion:Consider using the whiteboard feature to have students evaluate different traditions together as a class rather than only in their journals. Allow students to write traditions on the whiteboard and to annotate and comment on this whiteboard throughout the lesson.

Matthew 16:13–18

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand and feel the importance of receiving a testimony of Jesus Christ from Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share how having a testimony of Jesus Christ can make a difference in someone’s life.

  • Materials for students: Paper; printed copies of Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s talk “Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 107–10) for students who choose to do activity C and do not have access to the talk on an electronic device

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider asking a student or two to invite a close friend or family member to attend a portion of class and share how they gained their testimony of Jesus Christ and why it is important to them.

Matthew 16:18–19; 17:1–7

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help you understand the meaning of priesthood keys and their importance in God’s plan of salvation.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think of a key they use and to come prepared to share what the key is for, why it is important, and what would happen if it were lost. If they would like, students can bring their keys to class.

  • Video: “Where Are the Keys?” (2:51; watch from time code 0:00 to 1:01 and from 1:01 to 2:51)

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion:Consider inviting students to bring at least one key or set of keys and to describe what they are used for and why they are important. This could be done at the beginning of the lesson to help students better understand priesthood keys.

Doctrinal Mastery: Matthew 16:15–19

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students the opportunity to increase their mastery of this doctrine as they memorize the reference and key scripture phrase, explain the doctrine, and apply principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to a realistic situation.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think about ways their lives are blessed by priesthood keys.

  • Handout: The handout with multiple keys. Consider providing scissors for students to cut them out, or cut the keys out ahead of time.

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting a local priesthood leader who holds priesthood keys to come and answer questions about priesthood keys and share experiences that can help students understand the importance of them. The priesthood leader could also help students do the practice application.

Mark 9:14–29

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students examine their faith in the Lord and seek revelation about how they can strengthen it.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to think about experiences that have strengthened their faith in Jesus Christ. They could also ask other people about their own faith-building experiences.

  • Video: “Lord, I Believe” (14:43; watch from time code 1:12 to 2:59 and, if desired, from time code 5:57 to 10:28)

  • Materials for students: Paper or study journals

  • Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider showing one or both of the videos mentioned under “Supplemental Learning Activities” in the teacher manual. It may be wise to download the videos beforehand.