“Lesson 44: Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3—Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Old Testament Seminary Student Manual (2026)
Exodus 7–13: Lesson 44
Doctrinal Mastery Practice 3
Memorizing Key Phrases and Applying Principles of Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
Doctrinal mastery can help you build the foundation for your life upon Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson can help you memorize the key scripture phrases in doctrinal mastery passages. It can also help you apply the divine principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.
Memorize
Think about some benefits of having friends.
Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:
Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. (“The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6)
How do you think a memorized scripture phrase or passage could be like a friend?
Elder Scott continued:
It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change. (“The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6)
Respond to one or more of the following questions in your notebook:
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When has a scripture phrase or passage you have memorized been like a friend to you?
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What strategies could help you memorize scripture phrases or passages?
Review the doctrinal mastery passages you have studied so far.
|
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference |
Key Scripture Phrase |
|---|---|
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” |
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase “The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind.” |
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase The Lord promised Abraham that his seed would “bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations.” |
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase As spirits we “were organized before the world was.” |
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase “God created man in his own image.” |
Doctrinal Mastery Scripture Reference | Key Scripture Phrase “A man … shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one.” |
Now try following Elder Scott’s counsel by memorizing the references and key phrases for some of the doctrinal mastery scripture passages. You could also memorize an entire passage.
Choose one of the phrases or passages you memorized, and answer the following question in your notebook:
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How could this phrase or passage help in a time of need, give inspiration or comfort, or motivate you to change?
Learn and Apply
Take time to review the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge from the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document (2022).
Read the following scenario, and consider how the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge can help the person in this situation:
I have had lessons about the law of chastity. It seems like a lot of teenagers where I live are sexually active or at least do not plan to wait until marriage. I understand why Church leaders tell us to be sexually pure, but I sometimes wonder if it is worth it.
What assumptions about the law of chastity did you notice in this scenario? If you were trying to help this person, what principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge would you focus on first? Why?
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
Act in faith
Respond to the following questions in your notebook:
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In this situation, what do you think it would look like to act with faith in the Savior Jesus Christ?
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If you were in a similar situation, what could you do to invite the Savior’s help and power into your life?
Option B
Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective
Respond to the following questions in your notebook:
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How could understanding God’s feelings about sexual purity help the person in the scenario? (see Genesis 39:9; 1 Corinthians 6:18–19; Jacob 2:28).
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What choices do you think this person’s attitude could lead them to make?
Option C
Seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources
Respond to the following questions in your notebook:
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How might Genesis 39:9 and the example of Joseph of Egypt help with this situation?
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What other scriptures or statements from Church leaders might help?
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To help you memorize the key scripture phrases in doctrinal mastery passages, as well as to help you apply the principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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The doctrinal passage you chose to memorize and why it can be compared to a friend.
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What you wrote to help the person in the scenario.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?