“Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon: ‘Translated … by the Gift and Power of God,’” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon
“Translated … by the Gift and Power of God”
© 1998 David Lindsley
How did the Book of Mormon come forth? How did Joseph Smith translate it from an unknown language into English? This lesson can help you better understand and explain how the Book of Mormon came forth “by the gift and power of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).
Knowing each learner’s name. Knowing and addressing each student by his or her name can help a student feel your love. Take time to learn students’ names. You might have picture rolls available or do activities in class that can help you and the students learn each other’s names.
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.
Possible Learning Activities
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon
Display the following images. Remind students of their preparation for class and invite them to arrange the images in correct chronological order. The correct order is D, C, B, A, E.
Adjust the activities in the lesson based on how well students understand these events.
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A.
ImagePrinting of the first Book of Mormon -
B.
ImageTranslating the Book of Mormon -
C.
ImageCumorah’s Hill -
D.
ImageMoroni appears to young Joseph Smith -
E.
ImageFirst-edition Book of Mormon
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How do you think Joseph Smith might have felt during each of these events? Why?
“By the gift and power of God”
Think of someone you know who could benefit from learning more about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. It could be someone who is not a member of the Church, or perhaps a member of the Church who is struggling with their faith. Briefly describe their circumstances in your study journal and identify why learning more about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon would benefit them.
As you study, seek for evidence of the truth that Joseph Smith brought forth the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God (see the title page of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).
Joseph Smith wrote about his experience during the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
Invite students to read “The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith” from the introductory pages of the Book of Mormon. One way to do this is to divide the reading and assign half the class to read paragraphs 1–14, about Moroni’s visit at night. The other half could read paragraphs 15–23, about what Joseph did after Moroni’s visit.
Another option is to summarize portions of the account and select paragraphs for students to read that would be most helpful to them. Students could also refer to Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 20–30.
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What statements did you find that indicate that the Book of Mormon was brought forth by the gift and power of God?
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Why do you think Joseph Smith was chosen to translate the Book of Mormon, rather than a distinguished scholar of this time period?
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What did you learn about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon that you would share with the person you thought of?
Historical details
After Joseph Smith received the plates, he translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. “Sometimes Joseph translated by looking through the interpreters [the Urim and Thummim] and reading in English the characters on the plates. Often he found a single seer stone to be more convenient. He would put the seer stone in his hat, place his face into the hat to block out the light, and peer at the stone. Light from the stone would shine in the darkness, revealing words that Joseph dictated” (Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 61). To learn more about the seer stone and the translation of the Book of Mormon, see the Gospel Topics Essay “Book of Mormon Translation.”
If students have additional questions about the seer stone, you could show the video about the seer stone in the “Commentary and Background Information” section below.
If available, watch “Days of Harmony” from time code 5:44 to 9:24, which can be found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
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Read the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency. You could also watch the video “Opposition in All Things” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org from time code 8:18 to 9:24.
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After Joseph Smith had completed translating the Book of Mormon, he still had to find a publisher. This was not easy. The complexity of this lengthy manuscript and the cost of printing and binding thousands of copies were intimidating. Joseph first approached E. B. Grandin, a Palmyra printer, who refused. He then sought another printer in Palmyra, who also turned him down. He traveled to Rochester, 25 miles (40 km) away, and approached the most prominent publisher in western New York, who also turned him down. Another Rochester publisher was willing, but circumstances made this alternative unacceptable.
Weeks had passed, and Joseph must have been bewildered at the opposition to accomplishing his divine mandate. The Lord did not make it easy, but He did make it possible. Joseph’s fifth attempt, a second approach to the Palmyra publisher Grandin, was successful. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Opposition in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 116)
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How do these historical details influence your personal feelings about the Book of Mormon?
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What does the coming forth of the Book of Mormon teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Explaining the coming forth of the Book of Mormon
Invite students to consider what they might share with the person they thought of earlier that would help that person better understand how the Book of Mormon came forth by the gift and power of God.
Place students in pairs. Invite them to each take a turn playing the part of a Church member explaining and answering questions and of a person who needs to learn more about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Move around the room and listen to the explanations to determine if further study on this topic is needed.
After students complete their explanations, consider sharing personal testimony of God’s power, gift, and love shown through the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Invite willing students to share their testimonies as well.