Lesson 21

The Plan of Salvation (Part 1)

Introduction

The teaching materials for this doctrinal mastery topic are divided into four parts. In part 1, students will study paragraphs 2.1–2.19 of the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, working as a class, with a partner, and individually to overview the entire topic and identify truths that are important to them.

Note: You could teach the segments of this lesson in a single class session or over the course of several class sessions, dividing class time between Doctrinal Mastery and a regular sequential scripture lesson. If you choose to teach the segments over the course of several class sessions, you may need to briefly review with students what they learned in previous segments before you teach a new segment.

Help students learn how to find answers to questions

The intent of Doctrinal Mastery is not to answer all questions. Rather, it is meant to teach students “how to seek for truth, how to think about new information, and how to answer their own questions.” Instead of giving students answers to every question, you could consider which questions might help students practice the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and lead them through “the divinely appointed process of discovering truth” for themselves (see Chad H Webb, “Doctrinal Mastery” [address given at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 14, 2016], broadcasts.lds.org).

Suggestions for Teaching

Understanding the Doctrine

Segment 1 (10 minutes)

Before class, write the following questions on the board:

Why is life so hard sometimes?

Can I really see my loved ones again, even though they have died?

Does God care about me?

Is this life all there is?

What is my role in life and how can I live up to that role?

Invite several students to take turns reading the questions aloud. Ask class members to raise their hands if they have ever heard someone ask questions like these or if they themselves have thought about similar questions. Consider inviting one or two students to describe the circumstances that led them or those they know to ask these questions.

Invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency. Ask the class to listen for where true answers to these kinds of questions can be found. (You may want to explain that a pundit is a person who is considered to be an expert in his or her field of study.)

“I believe every human being carries in his or her heart some form of fundamental questions regarding life itself. Where did I come from? Why am I here? What will happen after I die?

“These kinds of questions have been asked by mortals since the dawn of time. Philosophers, scholars, and pundits have spent their lives and fortunes seeking for answers.

“I am grateful that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has answers to the most complex questions in life. These answers are taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are true, plain, straightforward, and easy to understand. They are inspired” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” Ensign, Nov. 2016, 21).

• According to President Uchtdorf, where can answers to life’s most important questions be found?

• Why do you think President Uchtdorf described the answers found in the restored gospel to life’s “complex questions” as “true, plain, straightforward, and easy to understand”?

Ask students to turn to doctrinal topic 2, “The Plan of Salvation,” in the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document. Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from paragraphs 2.1–2.3. Ask the class to follow along, looking for words and phrases that could help answer questions such as those listed on the board. Invite students to consider marking the words and phrases they find.

• What did you find that could help answer at least one of these questions?

• What other important truths stood out to you in these paragraphs?

• How can knowing that God has designed a plan for His children help you and others continue acting in faith when questions like those on the board arise?

Segment 2 (25 minutes)

Study doctrinal mastery resources

The following talks provide helpful information about Doctrinal Mastery. Taking time to study these doctrinal mastery resources can help you as you prepare to teach students.

M. Russell Ballard, “The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century” (evening with a General Authority, Feb. 26, 2016), broadcasts.lds.org.

Chad H Webb, “Doctrinal Mastery” (address given at the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion annual training broadcast, June 14, 2016), broadcasts.lds.org.

Kim B. Clark, “Doctrinal Mastery and Deep Learning” (evening with a General Authority, Feb. 17, 2017), broadcasts.lds.org.

Draw a line down the center of the board, creating two columns. Label the left-hand column What we learn about God’s plan and the right-hand column Why does this matter to me? Invite students to copy this chart onto a blank page in their class notebooks or study journals.

Invite students to follow along and to consider marking words and phrases that are meaningful to them as you read aloud paragraphs 2.4–2.5 under the heading “Premortal Life” in doctrinal topic 2.

When you have finished reading paragraphs 2.4–2.5, invite students to choose a phrase or sentence that stood out to them about the premortal life and to write this phrase or sentence in the left-hand column of their charts under “What we learn about God’s plan.” Then invite them to write their responses to “Why does this matter to me?” in the right-hand column. Invite one or two students to share what they learned about the premortal life and why this truth matters to them. Write their responses on the board in the appropriate columns and invite them to consider how the doctrine in these paragraphs can help them understand their divine identity and worth.

Divide the class into pairs, and invite students to read paragraphs 2.6–2.7 under the heading “The Creation” in their pairs and to consider marking words and phrases that are meaningful to them. Ask students to write in the left-hand column of their charts a phrase or sentence that stood out to them about the Creation and to write in the right-hand column of their charts their responses to “Why does this matter to me?” Invite students to share with their partners what they wrote. (As students are working together, listen for questions they may have as they read and discuss the assigned paragraphs, assisting them as needed.) After students have finished writing, invite them to consider how the doctrine in these paragraphs strengthens their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

After sufficient time, invite students to work with a different partner while reading paragraphs 2.8–2.12 under the heading “The Fall.” Ask them to write a phrase or sentence that stood out to them about the Fall and their responses to “Why does this matter to me?” in the appropriate columns of their charts. Invite students to share with their partners what they wrote.

Next, invite students to work on their own as they read paragraphs 2.13–2.14 under the heading “Mortal Life” and to write a phrase or sentence that stood out to them about mortal life and their responses to “Why does this matter to me?” in the appropriate columns of their charts.

After sufficient time, ask several students to take turns reading aloud paragraphs 2.15–2.19 under the heading “Life after Death.” As these students read, invite the class to follow along and to consider marking important words and phrases. Ask students to briefly record a phrase or sentence that stood out to them about life after death and their responses to “Why does this matter to me?” in the appropriate columns of their charts. Invite students to consider how understanding the truths in these paragraphs strengthens their love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Draw students’ attention to the chart on the board and the answers students listed previously regarding the premortal life. Invite students to share with the class truths that stood out to them in the other sections. As students share their responses, write them on the board in the appropriate columns.

Segment 3 (5 minutes)

Remind students that President Uchtdorf said that the answers to life’s “complex questions” are “true, plain, straightforward, … easy to understand[, and] inspired” (“O How Great the Plan of Our God!” 21). Ask students to refer to what they wrote on their charts during the previous activity.

• What are some teachings that you read today about the plan of salvation that are “true, plain, straightforward, … easy to understand[, and] inspired”? (List students’ responses on the board.)

• How can your confidence in these truths help you continue acting in faith when you are seeking answers to life’s “complex questions”?

Share your testimony of the truthfulness of our Heavenly Father’s plan, and encourage students to seek an opportunity to share with their families what they know and have learned about the plan of salvation.