Introductory Pages

January 4–10

“Another Testament of Jesus Christ”

Preparing to Teach in Sunday School

Begin your preparation to teach by reading the introductory material in the Book of Mormon (the pages that precede 1 Nephi) before studying any supplemental material. Prepare your teaching plan, and record your thoughts and impressions. You might also use some of the ideas on the next page or in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families.

Encourage Sharing

• How can you encourage class members to share insights they had as they studied these scriptures individually and with their families?

• What experiences have class members had as they acted on what they learned?

Teach the Doctrine

• As you teach gospel principles from these scriptures, what verses, quotations, experiences, questions, and other materials might you share?

• How might you use these resources to help class members ponder the gospel principles?

• How can you encourage class members to record and act upon the impressions they receive?

Encourage Sharing and Learning at Home

• To inspire class members to study 1 Nephi 1–7 during the coming week, share one of your favorite verses from these chapters.

My Teaching Plan

Additional Ideas

Title Page. The Book of Mormon strengthens our faith in Jesus Christ.

• What did we learn about Jesus Christ from our study of the title page of the Book of Mormon?

• As we read the title page of the Book of Mormon, what answers do we find to the following questions: What is the Book of Mormon? Where did it come from? Why do we have it? How has the Book of Mormon “convinced” us that Jesus is the Christ?

• Class members could pair up and share passages or stories from the Book of Mormon that have increased their testimony that Jesus is the Christ.

• Class members could also look for and mark references to Jesus Christ that are meaningful to them as they study the Book of Mormon this year.

Introduction. The Book of Mormon helps us “get nearer to God.”

• Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon will help us “get nearer to God.” How has this promise been fulfilled in our lives?

• There are many ways in which the Book of Mormon helps us “get nearer to God.” President Gordon B. Hinckley gave this promise as he challenged all Church members to read the Book of Mormon: “Regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God” (“A Testimony Vibrant and True,” Ensign, Aug. 2005, 6). In what ways have we experienced these blessings? What additional promises in the introduction inspire us to study the Book of Mormon?

“The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” and “The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” We can be witnesses of the Book of Mormon.

• As we read the testimonies of Joseph Smith, the Three Witnesses, and the Eight Witnesses, what inspires us to share our testimonies? How do these statements strengthen our own testimonies of the Book of Mormon?

• We all have different experiences that shape our testimonies. How were the experiences of the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses different from each other? To identify the differences, some of the class could study “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” while others study “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.” Then they can compare what they learned. How do these accounts inspire us to be witnesses of the Book of Mormon? How can we share our witness of the Book of Mormon in our homes, families, and communities and on social media?

Optional Resources

Video: “Book of Mormon Introduction” (LDS.org)

Watch Elder Jeffrey R. Holland discuss and bear testimony of the Book of Mormon. According to Elder Holland, how can the Book of Mormon bless our lives? What parts of his message strengthen our testimonies?

Hymn: “An Angel from on High” (Hymns, no. 13)

Consider singing all four verses of this hymn and then discussing the following questions: What does this song teach about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon? How does it help us better understand what the introductory pages of the Book of Mormon teach?

Improving Our Teaching

Encourage class members to study the scriptures at home.

One way you can encourage scripture study at home is to provide time for class members to share discoveries and insights from their personal and family study. You can also spend time discussing different ways class members study the scriptures.