Moroni Writing on Gold Plates, by Dale Kilborn

November 2–8

Mormon 7–9

“I Speak unto You as If Ye Were Present”

Review the impressions you recorded during your personal study of Mormon 7–9 this week. What passages from these chapters do you feel will be most meaningful to review with your class?

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

To give class members a chance to share something from their personal or family study, you could encourage them to scan Mormon 7–9 and share a sentence (or verse) that they are grateful Mormon or Moroni chose to include in the plates.

Teach the Doctrine

Mormon 7:8–10; 8:12–22; 9:31–37

The Book of Mormon is of great worth.

• One way to introduce a discussion about the great worth of the Book of Mormon is to talk about how we determine the value of an item. How does knowing the value of something change the way we use it? Class members could search Mormon 8:12–22 and share what Moroni said about the value of the Book of Mormon (“this record”). They could also share personal experiences that have shown them the value of the Book of Mormon. How can we show that we value the Book of Mormon?

  

  The Book of Mormon clarifies doctrine taught in the Bible.

• To help class members recognize how the Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other, you could invite them to read Mormon 7:8–10 and summarize Mormon’s description of the two records in their own words (“the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews” refers to the Bible). Consider drawing two overlapping circles on the board and labeling one the Bible and the other the Book of Mormon. Class members could list similarities between the two books of scripture in the overlapping section and differences in the other sections. (The video “Bible and Book of Mormon” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org provides insights.) Alternatively, consider listing several gospel truths on the board and inviting class members to look in the Guide to the Scriptures to find verses from the Book of Mormon and the Bible that help them understand the truths.

Mormon 8:1–11

We can be faithful even when we are alone.

• Some people in your class may feel alone in their efforts to live the gospel. What can they learn from the example of Moroni that could help them? Consider inviting class members to read Mormon 8:1–11 and think of questions they would like to ask Moroni to learn about how he remained faithful despite his difficult circumstances. What inspires them about his example? As they share their thoughts, encourage class members to share personal experiences when they or others they know remained faithful, even when they felt alone. How did the Lord help them?

Mormon 8:26–41; 9:1–30

The Book of Mormon was written for our day.

• As you are approaching the end of this year’s study of the Book of Mormon, perhaps class members could reflect on why they feel this book was written for our day. You could begin the discussion by reading the statement by President Ezra Taft Benson in “Additional Resources.” Class members could then apply President Benson’s questions to Mormon 8:26–41. Why did the Lord inspire Moroni to include these words in the record? How do they help us in our day?

• As taught in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, Mormon 9:1–30 contains Moroni’s message in response to the lack of belief in Jesus Christ in our day. Perhaps you could divide the class into three groups and invite each group to find counsel that is helpful to them in the following verses: 1–6 (the consequences of not believing in Christ), 7–20 (the importance of believing in a God of revelation and miracles), and 21–30 (Moroni’s counsel to us).

• Even though Mormon 9:1–6 was written to “those who do not believe in Christ,” it is helpful for all of us to imagine standing before God one day to be judged. Ask class members to review these verses, looking for words or phrases that describe how the wicked will feel on that day. What can we do to avoid these feelings? Class members may find helpful insights in the story told by President Boyd K. Packer in “Additional Resources.”

• Many people today believe that miracles have ceased. How can you use Moroni’s teachings to help your class members believe in a “God of miracles”? You might start by asking class members to review Mormon 9:7–26 and look for the miracles that Moroni urged us to believe in. What do we learn from these verses about God and His work in our day? What must we do in order for God to work miracles? (see Mormon 9:20–21). What miracles have we seen?

Encourage Learning at Home

Do members of your class ever wonder how they can increase their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? If so, invite them to search Ether 1–5 for ways to help their faith grow.

Additional Resources

The Book of Mormon was written for our day.

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

“The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. …

“Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations [see 2 Nephi 25:21; Jacob 1:3; Mormon 7:1; 8:34–35]. …

“If they saw our day, and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?’” (“The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6).

We can be spotless.

President Boyd K. Packer told of traveling for six days as a young man with a military crew in a hot, smoky freight train, with no way to bathe or change clothes. At a train stop, the hungry crew went to a restaurant.

“It was crowded, and so we joined a long line waiting to be seated. I was first, just behind some well-dressed women. Even without turning around, the stately woman in front of me soon became aware that we were there.

“She turned and looked at us. Then she turned and looked me over from head to toe. There I stood in that sweaty, dirty, sooty, wrinkled uniform. She said in a tone of disgust, ‘My, what untidy men!’ All eyes turned to us.

“No doubt she wished we were not there; I shared her wish. I felt as dirty as I was, uncomfortable, and ashamed.”

President Packer then quoted Mormon 9:4 and compared his experience to being spiritually unclean in the presence of God. Testifying that the Atonement of Jesus Christ was the only way he could become spiritually clean, he then said:

“Can you imagine how I felt when finally I could see that if I followed whatever conditions the Redeemer had set, I need never endure the agony of being spiritually unclean? Imagine the consoling, liberating, exalting feeling that will come to you when you see the reality of the Atonement and the practical everyday value of it to you individually” (“Washed Clean,” Ensign, May 1997, 9–10).

Improving Our Teaching

Pray for your class members. Is someone in your class struggling? Just as the Savior prayed for Peter (see Luke 22:31–32), you can pray for those you teach to be strengthened (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 6).