Doctrinal Mastery Practice Lessons

Doctrinal Mastery Practice lessons are scheduled periodically, about every four to six weeks. They provide students with opportunities to work toward accomplishing the outcomes of doctrinal mastery. Each doctrinal mastery practice lesson contains two sections:

1. Doctrinal Mastery Review

2. Learn and Apply Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

Doctrinal Mastery Review

In the Doctrinal Mastery Review section, students will practice understanding and explaining doctrine using the doctrinal mastery passages, locating the doctrinal mastery scripture passages and memorizing the key scripture phrases, and applying the doctrine taught in these passages. Although these reviews are important and should be a regular part of students’ learning experiences, manage class time effectively so the majority of time is given to the Learn and Apply Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge section.

Learn and Apply Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge

The Learn and Apply Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge section should take the majority of the time in the Doctrinal Mastery Practice lessons. This section provides students opportunities to practice applying the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge to real-life situations.

Each practice begins with an opportunity to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. Remember that even though one or two students know the principles well, others may still need more time and practice. Do your best to help all students become confident using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. “Reviewing Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge Ideas” includes suggestions for how to review these principles. This is located in the appendix of the seminary teacher manual.

Students will then be presented with a scenario that illustrates a question or situation where a correct understanding of true doctrine can help. To respond to the question or situation, students can practice using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge and the doctrine taught in doctrinal mastery passages, other scriptures, or Church leaders’ teachings that students have studied recently.

Providing students with many opportunities to practice is necessary for their success with doctrinal mastery. Think of how someone in defensive martial arts needs extensive practice to develop muscle memory. This prepares them to respond to a variety of different attacks. Similarly, students need extensive practice with doctrinal mastery. As students engage in regular practice, faithful responses to challenges will become natural and instinctive.