Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

Title Page

The Purpose of the Book of Mormon

Why do we need the Book of Mormon when we already have God’s word in the Bible? On the title page of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni helps us understand why the Book of Mormon is so important. This lesson is intended to help you understand and explain the purposes of the Book of Mormon.

Applying the Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Remember that “our purpose is to help youth and young adults deepen their conversion to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven” (“The Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion” [2022], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

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.

Possible Learning Activities

The importance of knowing something’s purpose

Consider displaying pictures of tools that would be unfamiliar to students or bringing such tools to class for students to see and touch. The tool below is a cross-staff, which was used in ancient times for navigation.

Have you ever seen a tool like the one in the following picture? Imagine having to explain the purpose and value of an unfamiliar tool to someone else.

• Why does it help to know and understand the purpose or value of something before using it or sharing it with others?

  Consider displaying a copy of the Book of Mormon before the next question.

• How might this relate to understanding the purpose and value of the Book of Mormon?

Consider how confident you would feel explaining the purpose and value of the Book of Mormon to someone who had no knowledge of it. As you study this lesson, look for what helps you understand the purpose and value of the Book of Mormon and how you could share your understanding with others.

Understanding the Book of Mormon’s purpose and value

Consider writing the following incomplete sentence on the board and inviting students to complete the sentence with what they find.

The Book of Mormon was written to …

The title page contains the last words Moroni wrote on the final leaf of the gold plates. Read the title page and the first three paragraphs of the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Look for ways to complete the sentence above. The following questions may help you as you do this.

• Who was the Book of Mormon written to?

• Who is the Book of Mormon about?

• Why was the Book of Mormon written?

(For additional information, see “A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon” in the introductory pages.)

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the purposes of the Book of Mormon.

I testify that the Book of Mormon is God’s instrument to bring about the gathering of Israel in our day and to help people come to know His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ulisses Soares, “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 35)

• What have you learned from your own study and Elder Soares’s statement about the purposes of the Book of Mormon?

One truth you may have identified is that the Book of Mormon was written to help gather Israel and convince all people that Jesus is the Christ.

• What evidence do you see of this in the second paragraph of the title page?

The following two activities can help students deepen their understanding of the bolded truth above. These activities could be approached in a variety of ways. You might display each activity for students or provide them with copies of each. Students could choose to do one of them and then teach one another what they learned. They could also work in pairs or small groups to complete both activities.

Activity A: The Book of Mormon is intended to help gather Israel

The Book of Mormon refers often to the covenant that the Lord has made to gather Israel. Read the statement by President Russell M. Nelson and two or three of the scripture references below.

[In] the Book of Mormon, you will learn the doctrine of the gathering, truths about Jesus Christ, His Atonement, and the fulness of His gospel not found in the Bible. The Book of Mormon is central to the gathering of Israel. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur. (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018],” supplement to the New Era and Ensign, 13, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• 1 Nephi 15:14–18

• 1 Nephi 22:11–12

• 2 Nephi 29:14

• Mormon 9:36–37

• Moroni 10:31

• How do you think the Book of Mormon can help gather Israel?

Ponder how the Book of Mormon has helped you or others be gathered to the true Church of Jesus Christ. Consider recording the blessings that have come because of this gathering.

• How would your life be different without the Book of Mormon?

• Who can you share the Book of Mormon with?

Activity B: The Book of Mormon is intended to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ

Contemplate what you know about Jesus Christ and how the Book of Mormon has affected your relationship with Him. Then take a moment to list two or three scriptures from the Book of Mormon that teach you about Jesus Christ. If you need help, see “Jesus Christ” in the index to the triple combination or to the Book of Mormon.

• What do these verses help you understand about Jesus Christ?

The following activity could be adapted for students to role-play in pairs or small groups.

Imagine talking with a friend who either is unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon or doesn’t feel it is very useful. What might you share with this person about the Book of Mormon and its purpose? Consider including personal experiences, phrases from the title page and the introduction, or any references from the Book of Mormon that you feel may be helpful.

Consider concluding with a personal testimony of the purpose and value of the Book of Mormon. Students could also share their testimony or feelings about their past and future study of this sacred record.

Commentary and Background Information

What other resources can help me understand the Book of Mormon and its purposes?

The following videos, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, help explain the nature and purposes of the Book of Mormon.

• “The Title Page and Translation of the Book of Mormon” (6:04)

• “What Is the Book of Mormon? A 60-Second Overview” (1:13)

• “Moroni Preserves the Record for the Latter Days” (3:26)

What do some of the terms on the title page mean?

The following definitions can help you understand some of the terms from the title page of the Book of Mormon.

• House of Israel refers to descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In addition, the house of Israel includes those who are not actual descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but have accepted the message of the restored gospel and come into the restored Church through the necessary covenants and ordinances.

• Jews originally referred to anyone from the tribe of Judah (one of the twelve tribes of Israel). Writers in the Book of Mormon, however, often used this term to refer to all those who lived in the Southern Kingdom of Judah in Old Testament times (2 Nephi 30:4; 33:8), even though they may have been descendants of other tribes of Israel (Alma 10:3). It also refers to “people who practice the religion, lifestyles, and traditions of Judaism but may or may not be Jewish by birth” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Jews,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Gentiles means “the nations” (Bible Dictionary, “Gentile”). “Sometimes it designates people of non-Israelite lineage, sometimes people of non-Jewish lineage, and sometimes nations that are without the gospel, even though there may be some Israelite blood among the people. This latter usage is especially characteristic of the word as used in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Gentiles,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• An abridgment is a shortened version of something.

• A remnant is a remaining part.

Why is the Book of Mormon so important?

To understand the significant impact that the Book of Mormon has had on many people’s lives, consider studying President Russell M. Nelson’s message “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 60–63). Pay close attention to the section “President Nelson’s Book of Mormon Lists” at the end of the message.

What did the original title page of the Book of Mormon look like?

You can view an image of the title page in the printer’s manuscript here.

You can view an image of the title page in the first edition of the Book of Mormon here.

Supplemental Learning Activity

“A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon”

To help students understand what the Book of Mormon is and how it was compiled, consider bringing in books or boxes that represent the different plates as described in “A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon.” Invite students to read the paragraphs numbered 1–4 in the explanation and to prepare to explain how the Book of Mormon was derived from these various plates.