Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Doctrine and Covenants Lessons
- The Restoration Proclamation
- Doctrine and Covenants 1
- Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65
- Doctrine and Covenants 3–5
- Doctrine and Covenants 6–9
- Doctrine and Covenants 10–11
- Doctrine and Covenants 12–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 18
- Doctrine and Covenants 19
- Doctrine and Covenants 20–22
- Doctrine and Covenants 23–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 27–28
- Doctrine and Covenants 29
- Doctrine and Covenants 30–36
- Doctrine and Covenants 37–40
- Doctrine and Covenants 41–44
- Doctrine and Covenants 45
- Doctrine and Covenants 46–48
- Doctrine and Covenants 49–50
- Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
- Doctrine and Covenants 58–59
- Doctrine and Covenants 60–63
- Doctrine and Covenants 64–66
- Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
- Doctrine and Covenants 71–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 76
- Doctrine and Covenants 77–80
- Doctrine and Covenants 81–83
- Doctrine and Covenants 84
- Doctrine and Covenants 85–87
- Doctrine and Covenants 88
- Doctrine and Covenants 89–92
- Doctrine and Covenants 93
- Doctrine and Covenants 94–97
- Doctrine and Covenants 98–101
- Doctrine and Covenants 102–105
- Doctrine and Covenants 106–108
- Doctrine and Covenants 109–110
- Doctrine and Covenants 111–114
- Doctrine and Covenants 115–120
- Doctrine and Covenants 121–123
- Doctrine and Covenants 124
- Doctrine and Covenants 125–128
- Doctrine and Covenants 129–132
- Doctrine and Covenants 133–134
- Doctrine and Covenants 135–136
- Doctrine and Covenants 137–138
- The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- The Living Christ
Life Preparation Lessons
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
- Building Self-Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Succeeding in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders
Appendix

Lesson 18—The Translation of the Book of Mormon: The Gift and Power of God

“Lesson 18—The Translation of the Book of Mormon: The Gift and Power of God,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“The Translation of the Book of Mormon,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 18: Doctrine and Covenants 6-9

The Translation of the Book of Mormon

“The Gift and Power of God”

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translating the Book of Mormon

With Oliver Cowdery serving as his scribe, Joseph Smith made miraculous progress on the translation of the Book of Mormon during the spring of 1829. While we don’t know specific details about how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, we do know he did it by the gift and power of God. This lesson is intended to help students strengthen their testimony that God provided means and power for Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon for us.

Possible Learning Activities

Origin of the Book of Mormon

Consider beginning class by sharing the following scenario. You could give students an opportunity to role-play with a partner or in front of the class.

Imagine one day you shared with one of your good friends your belief that the Book of Mormon is scripture like the Bible. Your friend seems a little surprised and says she was taught that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon from his imagination.

What are some ways you might respond in this situation?

Explain that this lesson will help students learn about some of the details related to Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon. Invite students to look for truths as they study that can help them in situations like this and strengthen their testimony that the Book of Mormon is from God.

Oliver Cowdery assists in the translation

Consider asking the students what they remember about the circumstances related to Oliver Cowdery assisting Joseph Smith with the translation of the Book of Mormon. If needed, refer to the “Doctrine and Covenants 6” lesson or Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 58–60.

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Oliver Cowdery

Within two days of coming to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to meet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery started working as Joseph’s scribe. Joseph and Oliver soon made miraculous progress on the translation of the Book of Mormon. It is estimated that, with Oliver as his scribe, Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon in approximately 65 working days (see Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61).

Joseph Smith’s descriptions of the translation

Consider asking students what they know about how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon in such a miraculous way.

The following excerpt from the Gospel Topics essay titled “Book of Mormon Translation” can help students understand what Joseph Smith wanted the world to know about the translation.

In the preface to the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith wrote: “I would inform you that I translated [the book], by the gift and power of God.” When pressed for specifics about the process of translation, Joseph repeated on several occasions that it had been done “by the gift and power of God” and once added, “It was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon.” (Gospel Topics Essays, “Book of Mormon Translation,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

What truths can we learn from Joseph Smith’s statement about the translation of the Book of Mormon?

Help students identify the truth that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.
Why is it important to know the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God rather than by Joseph Smith?

Translation instruments

The following can help students understand a little about the instruments God made available to Joseph Smith to help in his efforts to translate the Book of Mormon.

When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in 1823, he gave instructions to the Prophet about how the Book of Mormon would come forth.

Read Joseph Smith—History 1:34–35 and look for what instruments God had prepared for the translation of the Book of Mormon.

If desired, you could also invite students to read Mormon 9:34 and Ether 3:23–24 to help them understand that Book of Mormon prophets understood that God would prepare a way for their words to be translated.

In what ways did the Lord prepare the Book of Mormon for translation?

Later historical accounts indicate that in addition to using the Urim and Thummim (sometimes called the Nephite interpreters or spectacles) to translate the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith used another instrument called a seer stone. The Prophet had discovered this instrument several years before he obtained the gold plates.

We do not know many details about how Joseph used these instruments God had prepared. But witnesses said Joseph would sometimes place either the Urim and Thummim or the seer stone into a hat to block out light, which allowed him to better see the words that appeared on the physical instruments (see Gospel Topics Essays, “Book of Mormon Translation,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Help students understand that while we know some details related to Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon, there is much we do not know about the translation process. The most important truth is that God’s power enabled His word to be brought to His children.

Consider using one or more of the following resources to help students feel that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God.

The “Voices of the Restoration” section of “Doctrine and Covenants 6–9: This Is the Spirit of Revelation,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
“Days of Harmony” from time code 7:18 to 11:33
Oliver Cowdery’s description of the translation process as recorded in Joseph Smith—History (found in the first paragraph following verse 75)

You may want to invite students to discuss the following questions in small groups or pairs before inviting them to share their responses with the class.
What words or phrases from Emma or Oliver support Joseph Smith’s testimony that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God?
What do you learn or feel about God after learning how Joseph Smith was an instrument in His hands to translate the Book of Mormon?

The power of the Book of Mormon in your life

Explain that one of the best ways we can know the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God is by studying it and experiencing God’s power through living its teachings.

Give students time to find a verse or story from the Book of Mormon that has impacted their lives. If students struggle to find something, consider providing help or guidance, such as inviting them to study some of the Book of Mormon doctrinal mastery passages. You could also suggest a few verses they might study.

What is a verse or story from the Book of Mormon that has impacted your life?
How has this verse or story influenced your feelings toward Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Consider testifying to students that the strength they can receive from studying the Book of Mormon is confirmation of God’s power in bringing about the Book of Mormon.

Additional Resources

Why do we know so little about how the translation happened?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Why do we not have more disclosure concerning the process of translation of the Book of Mormon? Perhaps the full process was not disclosed because we would not be ready to understand it, even if given. Perhaps, too, the Lord wanted to leave the Book of Mormon in the realm of faith, though it is drenched with intrinsic evidence. After all, Christ instructed Mormon, who was reviewing the Savior’s own teachings among the Nephites, not to record all of them on the plates because “I will try the faith of my people” (3 Ne. 26:11). Perhaps the details of translation are withheld also because we are intended to immerse ourselves in the substance of the book rather than becoming unduly concerned with the process by which we received it. (Neal A. Maxwell, “By the Gift and Power of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 41)

How was Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon a miracle?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

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President Russell M. Nelson

Think of the short time Joseph took to translate the Book of Mormon. Working from April to June of 1828, Joseph translated the 116 pages that Martin Harris later lost. Joseph began translating again on Tuesday, April 7, 1829, with Oliver Cowdery as scribe. The manuscript was completed eighty-five days later, on June 30 of that year. Of course, not all of that time was spent working on the translation. … Conservatively estimated, this left sixty-five or fewer working days on which the prophet and his scribes translated this book, which contains 531 pages in its current edition. (See John W. Welch, Ensign, Jan. 1988, pp. 46–47.) That calculates to an average of eight pages per day. Consider this when you translate a book, or as you schedule your own reading of the Book of Mormon. (Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61–62)

How can the Book of Mormon be a revelatory experience for me?

Elder Kim B. Clark, emeritus General Authority Seventy, taught:

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Elder Kim B. Clark

The Book of Mormon can be a revelatory experience for you, just like it was for Joseph.

The prophets who wrote the Book of Mormon saw our day. They wrote to us. Their words speak to our times, our needs, and our purposes. If your heart is open as you read and pray about the Book of Mormon, the Holy Ghost will “manifest the truth of it unto you” [Moroni 10:4]. (Kim B. Clark, “Thou Art Joseph” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 7, 2017], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Focusing on what is most important

Before inviting students to share verses or stories from the Book of Mormon that have impacted their lives, you could show the video “How Did Joseph Smith Translate the Book of Mormon?” (8:06). In this video, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Kate Holbrook (1972–2022), a former Church historian, shared how their testimonies of the Book of Mormon were more important than their knowledge of details about the translation process.

Learning more about instruments God provided

As you discuss Joseph Smith’s use of physical instruments to translate the Book of Mormon, consider asking students if they know of other instances when God used instruments or objects to manifest His power. The following statement from the Gospel Topics essay on Book of Mormon translation could be used as part of this discussion:

“In addition to the Urim and Thummim, the Bible mentions other physical instruments used to access God’s power: the rod of Aaron, a brass serpent, holy anointing oils, the Ark of the Covenant, and even dirt from the ground mixed with saliva to heal the eyes of a blind man” (Gospel Topics Essays, “Book of Mormon Translation,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

You could also invite students to study the entries for “Urim and Thummim” in the Bible Dictionary or the Guide to the Scriptures to learn more about these instruments and about other times when they have been used in history. You could then invite a volunteer or two to summarize what they learned.