Mormon 8:1–26

A Record of Great Worth

What would you do if you were entrusted with something as valuable as the gold plates? When Moroni received the plates, he did all he could to protect them. He eventually buried them in the earth, trusting that they were “hid up unto the Lord” (title page of the Book of Mormon), to be brought forth one day “by the hand of the Lord” (Mormon 8:26). This lesson can help you feel the importance of the Book of Mormon in your life.

Creating an active learning environment. Consider using learning stations as an effective way to divide large amounts of content and allow students to take ownership of their learning. As they select and rotate between stations, watch for students who may need individual assistance.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how their recent efforts to study the Book of Mormon indicate how they value the Book of Mormon.

Possible Learning Activities

A precious gift

Imagine that someone gave you a bag full of diamonds and rubies as a gift.

• How would you respond? How might this gift bless your life?

President Russell M. Nelson gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to an African tribal king and explained how it is another testament of Jesus Christ. The king responded:

“You could have given me diamonds or rubies, but nothing is more precious to me than this additional knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 60–61)

• What are some reasons the king may have felt this way?

Give students time to evaluate their feelings about the Book of Mormon. You might display the following statement from President Nelson to help them ponder.

Think about how you would respond to the following questions President Nelson posed:

My brothers and sisters, how precious is the Book of Mormon to you? If you were offered diamonds or rubies or the Book of Mormon, which would you choose? Honestly, which is of greater worth to you? (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without it?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 61)

As you study Mormon 8, ponder your personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. Look for reasons why the witness of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon is most precious and how it could bless your life.

Discovering the value of the Book of Mormon

The following activity contains four parts to help students discover or reaffirm the value of the Book of Mormon. You could set up a station for each part, and students could rotate through the stations individually or in small groups.

In your study journal, create an outline of a treasure map. Each dot on the map is a place to record what you learn during your study of Mormon 8. Include discoveries about the value of the Book of Mormon from each of the following sections. Each thing you learn will bring you closer to the X on the treasure map. The X is where you will be able to record what the Book of Mormon means to you.

Part 1. A hidden treasure

After Mormon died in battle (see Mormon 8:3), Moroni kept and wrote more in the record his father had made on plates of gold.

Read Mormon 8:1–5 and the title page of the Book of Mormon, looking for why the Book of Mormon was written and preserved.

• What can we learn about the purpose of the Book of Mormon?

Write your answer by one of the dots on the map.

One truth we can learn is that the Book of Mormon was preserved for our day to convince us that Jesus is the Christ.

• How has the Book of Mormon influenced your desire to follow Jesus Christ?

Part 2. The record’s worth

To help students visualize and think about the gold plates, consider using information from Church History Topics, “Gold Plates,” history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Think about what you know about the gold plates and what you think they might be worth. Read what Joseph Smith experienced when he first received the gold plates from Moroni.

After Joseph brought the gold plates home, treasure seekers tried for weeks to steal them. To keep the record safe, he had to move it from place to place, hiding the plates under the hearth, beneath the floor of his father’s shop, and in piles of grain. He could never let his guard down. (Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 43)

• What stands out to you from this account?

Read Mormon 8:14, looking for what Moroni said about the plates.

• What do you think Moroni meant when he said the plates were “of no worth” but “the record thereof is of great worth”? What can we learn from this?

Write your answer by one of the dots on the map.

One truth we can learn is that the record of the Book of Mormon is of great worth.

List a few verses, teachings, or stories from the Book of Mormon that you feel are of great worth. Explain why these are valuable to you or others.

Part 3. A gift from God

Reflect on what you know about Joseph Smith as a young man. Can you think of reasons why God might have chosen Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon?

Read Mormon 8:15–16, 26, looking for what Moroni taught about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

• What truths can we learn about how the Book of Mormon came to light?

Write your answer by one of the dots on the map.

One truth we can learn is that God gave Joseph Smith the power to bring forth the Book of Mormon.

Write down one or two things you know about Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon. (See Church History Topics, “Book of Mormon Translation,” history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org or Gospel Topics, “Book of Mormon Translation,” history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

Part 4. What I value about the Book of Mormon

Based on your study of the Book of Mormon at home, at church, and in seminary, write down what you value most about the Book of Mormon. The following questions might help.

Write the answer to at least one of the following questions by the X on your map:

• Why are you grateful the Book of Mormon was preserved?

• What have you learned about the prophets the Lord called to bring us the Book of Mormon?

• What will you do to show the Lord how much you value the Book of Mormon?

After students have written their answers, consider inviting them to think of someone to whom they might give a copy of the Book of Mormon or a link to download it. You could encourage them to include their testimony when they share the book. Consider bearing your testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Commentary and Background Information

What is valuable about the Book of Mormon?

President Russell M. Nelson gave several examples. For a more detailed answer, see his full talk.

The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period.

The Book of Mormon both illuminates the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary. The Book of Mormon teaches true doctrine to dispel false religious traditions—such as the erroneous practice of performing infant baptisms. The Book of Mormon gives purpose to life by urging us to ponder the potential of eternal life and “never-ending happiness” [Mosiah 2:41; see also Alma 28:12]. The Book of Mormon shatters the false beliefs that happiness can be found in wickedness and that individual goodness is all that is required to return to the presence of God [special sacred ordinances and covenants are also required]. It abolishes forever the false concepts that revelation ended with the Bible and that the heavens are sealed today. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without it?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 62)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Mormon 8:1–5. What if Moroni had not been successful?

To help students understand the value of Moroni helping preserve the gold plates, consider showing the video “Scriptures Legacy” from time code 0:00 to 2:27 and 19:40 to 20:46. Discuss what would have happened if Moroni had been unsuccessful and how we are blessed because he succeeded.

Mormon 8:14–15. The true value of the gold plates

To help students understand how Joseph Smith needed to prepare himself so he could bring forth the Book of Mormon “with an eye single to [God’s] glory” (Mormon 8:15), share excerpts from pages 25–26 of Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth.

Mormon 8:22–26. Evidence that God keeps covenants

Invite students to list people who had something to do with giving us the Book of Mormon. Students could read what Moroni said in Mormon 8:22–26 about those who came before him and had great desires to bless future generations (see also Enos 1:15–18). Help students see that the Book of Mormon is evidence that the Lord makes and keeps covenants.

Students might benefit from making a list of additional covenants the Lord has made that we know He will fulfill.