Let's Study the Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon (December 30- January 5)
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may be paid for products you purchase through my links. See my full disclosure for more.
Let’s jump into studying the Book of Mormon with Come, Follow Me lesson Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” (December 30- January 5). You’ll notice I’ve rearranged the helps. I find the New Year is always a great time to reevaluate and see what is most useful. I based many of these changes off the survey I shared in our Come, Follow Me for Families private Facebook Group. If you aren’t a member yet, come and join!
My children are 8-15 years as of the beginning of 2020. These are generally the ages I think about when I make these helps including myself as an adult. However, many of these ideas can be adapted to Junior Primary classes. Use these helps for your youth Sunday School class, at home with your family, or even with your personal study.
Jump Ahead to the Part You Need
Don’t you love having the new Table of Contents for each post? These posts are often so long it helps to skip ahead to the part you need. Click on the link above to skip ahead.
I often overlook these introductory pages of the Book of Mormon then when I stop and study them again I’m always amazed at what I learn. This new section will include a brief overview of what key events or doctrine we are focusing on each week. This week you’ll notice the following themes:
The Testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses
The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon
This year I’m combining the articles and videos. I find a lot of the suggested videos are really General Conference talks so it helps to have everything in one place then you can choose to watch or read it.
How We Got the Book of Mormon (about 3 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
The Testimony of the Three Witnesses (about 3 minutes)- Clip from
Book of Mormon Introduction (about 2 1/2 minutes)- From Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
A Book of Mormon Story (about 5 1/2 minutes)
What is the Book of Mormon? (about 1 minute)
Mary Whitmer Sees the Gold Plates (about 1 1/2 minutes)
“A Bit of Old String: Mary Whitmer’s Unheralded Contributions”- from Church History
“Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon” by Elder Rubén V. Alliaud
“The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ” by President Boyd K. Packer
“There Is Power in the Book” by Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr.
“A Witness” by President Henry B. Eyring
“Four Women Were Witnesses to Book of Mormon Translation Process”- from Church News
“God’s Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon” by Brother Tad R. Callister
“A Treasured Testament” by President Russell M. Nelson
“‘By the Gift and Power of God’” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“Joseph the Seer” by the Church History Department
Go through my free Book of Mormon Timeline and give a brief overview of what you will be studying this year. You can put it up on your wall now or put up each book as you get to it in the scriptures. What parts are you looking forward to the most? What do you hope to get out of the Book of Mormon both individually and as a family? Read the last two paragraphs from the Book of Mormon Introduction and discuss some of the blessings you may receive as you study this great history and testimony.
As you discuss what history we will review this year, you may also want to go over what records and plates are included in the Book of Mormon. There is a great chart from BYU Studies or you can also refer to the one in the appendix of the Institute student manual for the Book of Mormon. To understand what specifically was on the Plates of Brass, see this BYU Studies Chart.
When you discuss how the Book of Mormon is the Keystone of Our Religion, you may want to use the chart from BYU Studies. You can cut out pieces or use blocks to build the arch and label with the key knowledge that we have when we know the Book of Mormon is true. What do you have because we have the Book of Mormon? What wouldn’t you have? How has the Book of Mormon blessed your life?
Hang up your Book of Mormon Reading Chart or glue them in your study journals (there are two sizes). Color in each leaf as you read the chapters! Make a family goal to read the scriptures every day. It can be for a certain amount of time, a specific number of pages, or just starting to read at a set time every day. Make your appointment with the Book of Mormon and keep it every day! P.S. You can have a sundae party too as you discuss your goals!
Make a Color Key Highlighting Sheet for how you intend to mark your Book of Mormon this year. For example, you could highlight all references to God and Jesus Christ with blue and all references to love in red. What is it that you want to get out of your study of the Book of Mormon this year?
Make your own replica of the gold plates out of clay or cardboard wrapped in foil (you can even spray paint them gold). Pretend to write in an ancient language and have some fun with them. You may want to read Emma Smith’s description of the plates as well as the witness accounts to understand how to build your replica.
Review the testimonies of the different witnesses at the front of the Book of Mormon. What other witnesses of the Book of Mormon do you know? Are you a witness? You can share the Mary Whitmer story and discuss why it is important that there is more than one witness of the gold plates and Book of Mormon. How can these testimonies strengthen your own? What is your testimony of the Book of Mormon right now? How do you hope to grow it as you study the Book of Mormon this year? What are you willing to do to make that happen?
Make your own Book of Mormon witness book. Print my two pages out and fold it into a book (fold into fours and staple the two together). Review some of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon and either draw your own pictures of these individuals or write down key details from each account. On the blank pages, you can add your own testimony of the Book of Mormon or add some other witnesses you know such as Emma Smith, the missionaries, your parents, etc.
If you would like to learn a little bit more about each of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, see the Appendix of the Institute student manual for the Book of Mormon. It includes their age when they were shown the plates, their occupation, membership in the Church, as well as birth and death dates.
Review or act out how the Book of Mormon was translated. You can read an overview of the translation process on the Church’s website. You could even make a replica of the Urim and Thummim with some clear stones and wire. You may also want to review the timeline for when the Book of Mormon was translated from BYU Studies. There are two charts- one from 1827-1828 and the other for 1829-1830.
Practice being a witness of the Book of Mormon with my sharing cards. Each card has a situation you might come across. First, decide how the Book of Mormon can help that person (look up scriptures using the index or another study help) then practice sharing those scriptures so when something like that does happen, you’ll be prepared.
Do the Book of Mormon Experiment! Turn to a random page in the Book of Mormon then highlight any reference to Jesus Christ or God. How much did you highlight? Discuss how the title page of the Book of Mormon also shares how it’s a testament of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon is constantly testifying of Jesus Christ. You can also watch videos of the experiment performed in several locations. If you don’t want to mark up your own scripture set, you can print out various pages at The Garden Tower.
Head back a couple of weeks and print out the LOVE puzzle of the Plan of Salvation in my Come, Follow Me lesson helps. Use the scriptures in the manual to see how the Book of Mormon outlines the plan. Use the blank space above the word LOVE to write down the other names the Book of Mormon refers to the Plan of Salvation. How do you think the Book of Mormon helps us understand God’s plan better? How does the Book of Mormon emphasize Christ’s role in the plan?
Review some of the promises we have been given if we study the Book of Mormon. You can refer to Ezra Taft Benson’s “A Witness and a Warning” or read the promises President Russell M. Nelson gave when he responded to President Thomas S. Monson’s invitation to read the Book of Mormon. Write these promises at the front of a family journal or notebook that you can keep with your scriptures. Throughout the year, record instances where you have seen these promises fulfilled in your individual and family’s lives. Why do you think we are commanded to study the Book of Mormon so often? How has your study of the Book of Mormon blessed you?
This week is also a great time to review what worked well for you this past year and what you want to change. Get feedback from your group and see what they liked and didn’t. Did they gain a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and God's love for them? Did they like the way you studied? What would they change? Make new goals and set clear expectations now.
As you study the introductory pages, highlight the purposes of this great book of scripture. What did Mormon say? Who is the Book of Mormon for? What can you gain by reading it?
- Looking for more fun ideas and helpful activities? Check out The Red Headed Hostess lesson packets. You'll find collectable cards, bedtime stories, glue-ins, and more.
- Also check out Love Pray Teach. You can play a fun game, put together an arch to discuss how the Book of Mormon is a keystone, and more.
- My Computer is My Canvas now has story boards and scenes to help you retell these stories in your family. These are great for young children!
Remember to follow me over on my Instagram or Facebook page too. I share additional quotes and insights as I study each day. It’s a great way to improve your personal study.
The planning sheet below includes the key points from the week plus room to plan out your studies this week.
