Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge
This is the first core principle of acquiring spiritual knowledge, which requires us to act in faith rather than with doubt
Answer: What is act in faith?
Written by ancient and modern prophets, these books are our primary divinely appointed tool for studying the word of God.
Answer: What are the scriptures?
When we reframe a question, we change the premise from a worldly viewpoint to this Father's plan for us.
Answer: What is the Plan of Salvation?
This foundational outcome requires you to know, explain, remember, locate, and memorize these specific texts.
What are doctrinal mastery scripture passages?
A friend tells you they read something negative about Church history online. Your first practical step using ASK should be this action of faith.
Answer: What is pray for guidance and remember past spiritual experiences?
This second principle teaches us to look at hard questions or doubts through the lens of the Plan of Salvation rather than worldly viewpoints.
Answer: What is examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective?
God speaks to us today through these living leaders during events like General Conference.
Answer: Who are prophets and apostles?
Looking at a trial with an eternal perspective means remembering that our time on earth is this, compared to eternity.
Answer: What is temporary? (or a small moment).
Besides memorizing scripture passages, Doctrinal Mastery asks you to learn and apply these concise pieces of text.
What are key scripture phrases?
Before answering a difficult gospel question from a peer, you should take this step to make sure you understand the real concern behind their words.
Answer: What is listen carefully / try to understand their perspective?
This third principle instructs us to seek truth from resources that God has authorized, rather than unreliable internet forums.
Answer: What is seek further understanding through divinely appointed sources?
At home, these individuals are designated by God to help guide us and answer our spiritual questions.
Answer: Who are our parents?
This is the main difference between the world’s definition of truth and God's definition of truth.
Answer: What is that God's truth never changes? (Worldly truth changes/is relative).
To achieve doctrinal mastery, you must be able to clearly explain the doctrine using these matching resources.
What are the associated doctrinal mastery scripture passages?
If a command or policy doesn't make sense right away, an individual acting in faith will do this while waiting for further light.
Answer: What is continue to obey the commandment anyway?
When we seek further understanding, this person or member of the Godhead is the ultimate source of all eternal truth.
Answer: Who is the Holy Ghost?
According to the Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, these specific local leaders are authorized to help us find truth and hold keys to guide us.
Answer: Who are Bishops or Church leaders?
Instead of asking "Why does God let bad things happen?", an eternal perspective shifts the question to ask this about our growth.
Answer: What is "What can I learn from this?" (or "How can this help me grow?").
You actively demonstrate mastery of gospel doctrine and spiritual acquisition principles when you apply them to your daily choices and your responses to these four types of questions or issues.
What are doctrinal, personal, social, and historical issues/questions?
When evaluating an article about the Church, you check the author's intent and credentials to fulfill this specific ASK principle.
Answer: What is seeking further understanding through divinely appointed sources?
To fulfill the first principle completely, a person must not only believe but choose to do this when faced with trials or unanswered questions.
Answer: What is to hold fast to what you already know and stand strong?
This is the warning sign of an unapproved source, which often uses half-truths, breeds contention, or tears down faith.
What is an unreliable or anti-religious source?
To truly understand history or difficult doctrines, we must examine them in this context, recognizing the culture and knowledge available at the time.
Answer: What is historical context?
Isaiah 28:16 promises that the one who relies on the precious cornerstone laid in Zion will never be stricken with this emotional state.
What is panic (or dismay / haste / shaken)
If a prayer feels unanswered for months, a person utilizing ASK recognizes that God operates on this schedule.
Answer: What is His own time? (or Lord's timing).