“Mosiah 7–8: The Lord’s Prophets as Seers,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)
“Mosiah 7–8,” Book of Mormon Student Manual
Mosiah 7–8
The Lord’s Prophets as Seers
Just as the Savior has titles that teach us about Him, the Lord’s servants have titles that help us understand their roles in Heavenly Father’s plan. When King Limhi asked for help with a task he did not know how to complete, a man named Ammon directed him to the prophet. Ammon also explained to the king important truths about the role of prophets, seers, and revelators. This lesson can help you understand the importance of prophets also being seers in Heavenly Father’s plan.
Questions about prophets
Imagine that someone you know has learned that you believe in modern-day prophets. They approach you and ask the following:
-
I heard your church has a prophet. What does he do?
-
Why do we even need a prophet today?
-
I read online that Joseph Smith translated an ancient book. Have any other ancient or modern-day prophets done that?
-
What do you believe about prophets?
The Book of Mormon contains many teachings about prophets, including how Heavenly Father uses them to help us. As you study, ponder the questions above and seek to strengthen your testimony of prophets. Also look for answers to additional questions you may have about prophets.
Three journeys
Three Nephite journeys are important to understand for this lesson and future lessons. Look at the following illustration, and read the explanation of the journeys depicted.
When King Benjamin’s father (Mosiah) was king, a man named Zeniff left Zarahemla with a group of people to reclaim the land of Nephi (see Mosiah 9:3–4). Zeniff’s group was not heard from for many years, so the next king, Mosiah (King Benjamin’s son), sent a group led by Ammon to search for them (see Mosiah 7:1–3). They found Zeniff’s people, who were being led by Zeniff’s grandson, King Limhi. Limhi’s people had been enslaved by the Lamanites “because of [their] iniquities” (Mosiah 7:20).
King Limhi told Ammon that he had sent a search party to find Zarahemla, but they had not been successful. They had instead brought back relics from the land northward, including a record written on 24 gold plates (see Mosiah 8:7–9). King Limhi hoped that Ammon could translate the record or knew someone who could (see Mosiah 8:6, 11–12).
Read Mosiah 8:13–14, looking for who Ammon said could translate the record and why.
It may be helpful to know that both Mosiah and Joseph Smith had special instruments called the Urim and Thummim prepared by God to help them translate ancient records. (See Mosiah 28:13–14; Joseph Smith—History 1:35. If you would like to know more, look up “Urim and Thummim” in Guide to the Scriptures or the Topical Guide.)
The role of a seer
Read Mosiah 8:15–18 to learn what seers are and why a loving Heavenly Father has provided seers for us.
-
What did you learn?
One truth this account illustrates is that the Lord provides prophets, seers, and revelators to benefit humankind. In your scriptures, you may want to mark words or phrases that teach this truth or write this truth near the verses that teach it.
The Guide to the Scriptures explains the role of a seer as follows:
A person authorized of God to see with spiritual eyes things that God has hidden from the world (Moses 6:35–38). He is a revelator and a prophet (Mosiah 8:13–16). In the Book of Mormon, Ammon taught that only a seer could use special interpreters, or a Urim and Thummim (Mosiah 8:13; 28:16). A seer knows the past, present, and future. Anciently, a prophet was often called a seer (1 Sam. 9:9; 2 Sam. 24:11).
Joseph Smith is the great seer of the latter days (D&C 21:1; 135:3). In addition, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. (Guide to the Scriptures, “Seer,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
-
Answer the following questions:
-
What did you learn about the prophet’s role as a seer?
-
Why do you think Heavenly Father would provide these abilities to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles?
-
How are prophets, seers, and revelators evidence of God’s love for you?
-
The value of seers in our day
-
Select and complete at least one of the following activities to help you more deeply understand the value of a seer.
-
Think of at least three situations in which knowing that Heavenly Father’s prophets are seers can help you stay faithful to the Lord. Record these situations.
-
Study a recent general conference talk from a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Record examples that illustrate that they are seers.
-
Invite students to read “Message from the First Presidency,” found in the front of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (booklet, 2022). Record how you think this message and the teachings in this pamphlet demonstrate that members of the First Presidency are seers.
-
Record benefits you or your family has experienced from following seers.
-
It may be helpful to know that King Mosiah did translate the records (see Mosiah 28:11–19). You will be able to read a portion of those records when you study the book of Ether.
Even before the records were translated, King Limhi was impacted by the knowledge that King Mosiah could translate. Read Mosiah 8:19–20, looking for how King Limhi reacted when he learned that God calls prophets, seers, and revelators.
-
How did gaining this knowledge impact Limhi?
Ponder how you feel about Heavenly Father providing prophets, seers, and revelators to guide us today. You might record your thoughts in your study journal.