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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Revelation 3:14–22

I Stand at the Door
and Knock

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” Revelation 3:20

To a rich, lukewarm church in Laodicea, Jesus gave hard counsel and a tender promise. He stands at the door and knocks, and whoever opens it will share supper with Him.

Walk to the door ↓ Read Revelation 3:14–22 first
Hand-drawn doodle map of a winding path: a hillside city with a long stone water channel, a person pushing away a cup of lukewarm water, a rich person counting coins in a grand house, a market stall with gold in a small fire, a white robe and a tiny jar of salve, a parent gently guiding a child, Jesus knocking at a cottage door with a lantern, Jesus at supper with a family, and a person kneeling before a throne of light.

Before you begin

The story in brief

To the church in Laodicea, “the Amen, the faithful and true witness” said, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.” They said, “I am rich … and have need of nothing,” not knowing they were “poor, and blind, and naked.” He counseled them to “buy of me gold tried in the fire,” “white raiment,” and “eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” To the one who overcomes, He promised a place “with me in my throne.”

Who’s who

  • Jesus Christ: the faithful and true witness
  • The Laodicean Saints: wealthy and lukewarm
  • John: who wrote the message down

Where and when

A letter to the church in Laodicea, a rich city in Asia Minor.

Watch for the Savior

Watch who knocks, and who has to open the door.

Read it yourself: Revelation 3:14–22

Part 1 of 7

The way, mapped

Eight stops from the faithful witness to the throne. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: the knock, a voice, the latch, and supper. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. Revelation 3:16“I will thee out of my mouth”
    2. Revelation 3:17“”
    3. Revelation 3:18“white ”
    4. Revelation 3:18“”
    5. Revelation 3:19“I rebuke and : be ”
    6. Revelation 3:20“will with him”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you?

    Too busy to hear, at the latch, opening up, or at the table. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Who opens the door?

    Walk through Laodicea with the Savior’s words. A light goes ahead of you. At the cottage door, you choose.

    “If any man hear my voice, and open the door.” Revelation 3:20

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background on Laodicea helps the Savior’s words come alive. Outside sources are labeled.

    Church resource · Student manual

    A wealthy city

    Laodicea was a “wealthy commercial and banking center,” and its “medical school produced an eye salve.”5

    Jesus spoke their language.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Lukewarm water

    “Hot springs at Hierapolis, a short distance north of Laodicea, sent steaming waters into the streams that flowed southward.”5

    Warm when it left, tepid when it arrived.

    Church resource · Student manual

    The Amen

    “In Hebrew and Greek the word ‘amen’ means truly, certainly, or faithfully.”5

    He is always faithful.

    Modern scripture · Doctrine and Covenants 76

    Not valiant

    Modern revelation describes some as those “who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.”3

    Lukewarm, in other words.

    Word study · Greek

    chliaros χλιαρός · “lukewarm” (Revelation 3:16)

    Bible Hub: “tepid, warm.”8 Outside · lexicon

    Not refreshing like cold water, not soothing like hot. Just halfway.5

    Word study · Greek

    thura θύρα · “door” (Revelation 3:20)

    Bible Hub: “a door,” “a portal or entrance.”7 Outside · lexicon

    Jesus also said, “I am the door.” He is the way in, and He comes in to us.2

    What the text does not say

    Jesus doesn’t say He will force the door, or that He knocks only once. He “stands” there, knocking, and promises that if we open, “I will come in.” The choice is ours, and His patience is long.1

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    He is the faithful and true witness. He corrects because He loves, and He waits at the door.

    “Will we open that door to the Lord, that we may receive the help He is so ready to provide?”

    President Thomas S. Monson4
    “With all the strength of my soul I testify that our Heavenly Father loves each one of us. He hears the prayers of humble hearts; He hears our cries for help.”
    President Thomas S. Monson4
    “Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground.”
    President Gordon B. Hinckley, quoted in the student manual5
    “The imagery in Revelation 3:20 suggests that we are the ones who must open the door to the Savior.”
    New Testament Student Manual5

    Jesus (Revelation 3)

    The one who overcomes

    “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:21

    The Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 76)

    Valiant

    Those in the terrestrial glory “are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” The Lord invites us to be all in. Doctrine and Covenants 76:79

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask in prayer

    Where is the Savior knocking in my life right now, and what would help me open the door? Revelation 3:20

    Listen for His voice in your thoughts and feelings. Then take one step to open the door a little wider.

    Try it today

    One way to open the door each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “I stand at the door, and knock.”

    Read Revelation 3:19–21 slowly. Picture the Savior knocking at the door of your heart. What would it feel like to open it wide? Revelation 3:19–21

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. Who is knocking at the door?
    2. Who has to open it?
    3. What does lukewarm mean?
    4. What does Jesus promise when we open the door?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Prophet

    President Thomas S. Monson, “Mrs. Patton—the Story Continues” (2007)

    A boyhood friend lost at sea, a grieving mother, and the Savior’s invitation to open the door.4

    Read the talk →
    Church resource

    New Testament Student Manual: Revelation 1–3

    The seven churches, the lukewarm waters of Laodicea, and the Savior at the door.5

    Read the chapter →
    Scripture

    Doctrine and Covenants 76:79: valiant in the testimony of Jesus

    What it means to be valiant, and why halfway isn’t enough.3

    Doctrine and Covenants 76:79 →
    Outside · art

    William Holman Hunt, The Light of the World

    The famous painting of Revelation 3:20, with a door that has no outside handle.6

    See the painting →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Why do you think the Savior knocks instead of opening the door Himself?
    • What are some signs that a person is becoming lukewarm?
    • How does it feel to know He corrects us because He loves us?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. Revelation 3:14–22: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.”
    2. John 10:9: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”
    3. Doctrine and Covenants 76:79: “These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. President Thomas S. Monson, “Mrs. Patton—the Story Continues”, general conference, October 2007.
    2. New Testament Student Manual, “Revelation 1–3”, Gospel Library (quoting President Gordon B. Hinckley).

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. “The Light of the World,” William Holman Hunt, Google Arts & Culture (St Paul’s Cathedral).
    2. Strong’s 2374, thura, Bible Hub lexicon.
    3. Strong’s 5513, chliaros, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 11, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “I stand at the door”

    He is knocking. Hear His voice, open the door, and let Him in to stay. Revelation 3:20

    Back to this week: November 29–December 5 Earlier: The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb Next story: The Woman and the Dragon All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock, ready to print $3.99

    Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.

    See the printable · $3.99All New Testament sketch notes

    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Revelation 3:14–22; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.