Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

Overview

Joseph Smith called the Book of Mormon the keystone of our religion. It came forth “by the gift and power of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3), and multiple witnesses attested to its miraculous origin. These lessons can help you understand and explain the purposes of the Book of Mormon, increase your desire to study it daily, and reflect upon your own witness of its truthfulness.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Title Page

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students understand and explain the purposes of the Book of Mormon.

• Student preparation: Invite students to ponder why the Book of Mormon is emphasized and used so often in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• Content to display: A tool or picture of a tool that students may not be familiar with

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider dividing students into breakout rooms to discuss the purposes of the Book of Mormon. Students may be more comfortable sharing in pairs or small groups.

Introduction to the Book of Mormon

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help students increase their desire to study the Book of Mormon daily to strengthen their testimony of its truthfulness.

• Student preparation: Invite students to read or listen to Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s talk “Look to the Book, Look to the Lord” from the October 2016 general conference.

• Videos: “Book of Mormon Experiment Honolulu” (2:35); “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon” (17:12; watch from time code 12:03 to 14:12)

• Items to prepare: A copied page from the Book of Mormon for each student

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Invite willing students to share how they marked references to the Savior on their page of the Book of Mormon. They could hold up their scriptures or share a screenshot if using digital scriptures. They could also share in the chat a name for the Savior or a verse that stood out to them.

Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students better understand and explain how the Book of Mormon came forth “by the gift and power of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).

• Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share what they know about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and what questions they have about it.

• Content to display: The images at the beginning of the lesson (These can be displayed in the classroom, or copies can be printed and distributed to students to arrange in chronological order.)

• Video: “Days of Harmony” (25:01; watch from time code 5:44 to 9:24)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: This lesson provides multiple opportunities for online activities. For example, consider creating an online quiz using the images from the lesson and inviting students to take the quiz during class. It may also be helpful to use an anonymous online poll to allow students to submit their questions about the translation of the Book of Mormon.

The Testimonies of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students understand the importance of the multiple witnesses of the Book of Mormon and reflect upon their own witnesses.

• Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share experiences that helped them or others to know that the Book of Mormon is of God.

• Video: “A Day for the Eternities” (23:09; watch from time code 15:00 to 18:37)

• Handout: “The Testimony of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses”

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider inviting a few students to bring a family member or friend to the online class to share his or her witness of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. These people could share their witness shortly before the end of the lesson, when students are invited to write their own witness.

Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, Part 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson can help students examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective and see them more like the Savior does.

• Student preparation: Invite students to thank Heavenly Father in their personal prayers for the knowledge they have of the plan of salvation. Consider inviting them to also ask Him how they can use that knowledge for good.

• Video: “Examining Questions with an Eternal Perspective” (2:56)

• Videoconference teaching suggestion: As students watch the video “Examining Questions with an Eternal Perspective,” it may be helpful to pause at certain points to allow them to practice reframing Adry’s question. For instance, at time code 1:12, consider asking, “What might be some other assumptions or beliefs that led Adry to ask this question?” At time code 1:57, consider asking, “What truths do you know that could address the assumptions or beliefs behind Adry’s question?”