In our day, the youth of the Church face many difficult questions and circumstances that could shake them from their faith in Jesus Christ. As you study and use the content in this article, it will provide you with tools to assist you in your efforts to help students accomplish the outcomes of doctrinal mastery.
Introduction
In our day, the youth of the Church face many difficult questions and circumstances that could shake them from their faith in Jesus Christ. Doctrinal mastery is one way students can prepare for these challenges. Doctrinal mastery “will focus on building and strengthening our students’ faith in Jesus Christ and fortifying them with increased ability to live and apply the gospel in their lives” (M. Russell Ballard, “The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 26, 2016], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
As you study and use the content in this article, it will provide you with tools to assist you in your efforts to help students accomplish the outcomes of doctrinal mastery. In this article, you will find previous and new resources that you can use in your efforts. As you use these resources, you will help your students build their foundation upon Jesus Christ (see Helaman 5:12). Building a foundation upon Jesus Christ—which includes coming to understand, believe, and live according to His doctrine—will deepen students' conversion and commitment as His disciples, protect them against the influences of the adversary, and help them bless the lives of others.
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1. What is the purpose of doctrinal mastery?
To see an overview of the purpose of doctrinal mastery, watch this video:
Doctrinal mastery focuses on two outcomes:
- Learn and apply divine principles for acquiring spiritual knowledge. These principles include acting in faith, examining concepts and questions with an eternal perspective, and seeking further understanding through divinely appointed sources.
- Master the doctrinal mastery scripture passages and doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they teach. Students do this as they understand, explain, and apply the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The seminary teacher manual is designed to assist teachers in their efforts to help students accomplish the outcomes of doctrinal mastery.
Watch this video to see how the curriculum does this:
To learn more about each type of doctrinal mastery lesson in the seminary curriculum, click on the corresponding links:
Life preparation doctrinal mastery lessons
Doctrinal mastery practice lessons
Doctrinal mastery passages taught in context
2. How does the seminary curriculum help students accomplish the outcomes of doctrinal mastery?
Just as a rock climber needs equipment to safely rappel down a steep canyon wall, these learning experiences help equip students with the skills to navigate challenging questions and circumstances with faith in Jesus Christ.
3. How can I help my students learn and review the doctrinal mastery scripture passages and key scripture phrases?
You could establish a routine where students spend three to five minutes during or immediately after a devotional studying doctrinal mastery scripture passages and key phrases. You could spend this short time helping students memorize the reference and key scripture phrase and understand, explain, and apply the doctrine of one of these 24 passages.
Click the image below to view the PDF
The Doctrinal Mastery Review Plan (18–Week) is an 18-week outline designed to help students do this.
Additionally, you could look for ways to encourage students to use doctrinal mastery passages in class. When students are doing a more topical study in class or addressing a scenario, these could be good times to ask a question like “Which doctrinal mastery passages from the Old Testament could be used to better understand this topic (or address this scenario)?”
4. How can I help my students regularly review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge?
Giving students regular opportunities to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help them remember and use these principles in times of need.
For more information on how to do this, see Doctrinal Mastery Training in the Seminary Curriculum Training
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 using the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, faithful responses to challenges will become natural and instinctive.
The Ideas for Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge is a list of learning activities, organized by principle, to help students apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge. The ideas could be used in any lesson to help students seek to learn and understand eternal truth and resolve questions or concerns.
Click the image below to view the PDF
5. How can I help my students regularly apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge?
Knowing and loving your students will increase your ability to receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost about when and how to make adaptations to doctrinal mastery practice lessons. Heavenly Father will inspire you to know what adaptations, if any, you might make to the lesson to better meet the needs and abilities of your students.
The following videos show how a seminary teacher made inspired adaptations to a doctrinal mastery lesson as he considered the needs and circumstances of his students.
For Teachers
6. How can I adapt doctrinal mastery practice lessons to better meet the needs of my students?
The first video is for teachers to watch as they consider how helping their students with develop doctrinal mastery can bless their students.
Discover how a doctrinal mastery practice in the seminary teacher manual, prepared for a student who seemed out of reach, became an unexpected answer to her prayers—and his.
For Students
The second video could be shown to students as they consider how doctrinal mastery can bless their lives.
A friend reached out with a simple invitation to come to seminary. A doctrinal mastery practice helped her find the answer she needed and renewed her faith in Jesus Christ.
For ideas on how to make appropriate adaptations to practice applications, consider watching one or more of the following videos.
“Adapting doctrinal mastery curriculum: inviting students to make the scenario more relevant”
“Adapting doctrinal mastery curriculum: adjusting scenarios to address specific needs”
“Adapting doctrinal mastery curriculum: helping students view themselves in the scenario”
“Adapting doctrinal mastery curriculum: creating activities to help students use all three principles”
7. How can I help students verbalize how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help in real-life situations?
After students review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge, share with them the scenario and invite them to verbalize in groups and later with the class which principles they feel might help with that scenario. Doing so can help students build their confidence in using these principles in their own lives.
For examples of how you could do this, you could watch the following videos:
For more information on how to do this, see Doctrinal Mastery Training in the Seminary Curriculum Training.
When students understand the purpose of a doctrinal mastery activity, it can motivate them to engage in it. It can also allow the Holy Ghost to teach them about the activity's importance. After you share the activity you are doing, you could share one or two reasons why you are doing the activity. You could also ask students to share why they think the activity could be helpful.
For examples of how you could do this, you could watch the follow videos:
“Sharing a reason for a doctrinal mastery activity”
“Helping students discover a reason for a doctrinal mastery activity”
“Helping students share reasons for a doctrinal mastery activity”
For more information on how to do this, see Doctrinal Mastery Training in the Seminary Curriculum Training.
8. How can I help students understand the purpose of a doctrinal mastery activity?
To see video examples of how to use the memorize, flashcards, and quiz features of the Doctrinal Mastery app, click on the images below.
9. How can I use the Doctrinal Mastery mobile app to help my students?
You can also use the Doctrinal Mastery app to import other scriptures or Gospel Library content. The images below show how you can do that.
To provide feedback to the seminary curriculum team, email us at ces-manuals@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
To access additional helpful resources, click on the images below.