The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

Today we talked with our class about how we received the Book of Mormon. We started by telling them that long ago some fathers kept histories of their families, which they passed to their sons to continue writing their histories. Some of these fathers were prophets, like Mormon who gathered all the histories of his people and then copied the most important parts onto thin sheets of gold, which we now call gold plates.

We gave each of our class members an empty tin can and a nail and told them to write their initials on the bottom of the can so that they could get a feel for what the ancient prophets did. We told them to turn their cans upside down so that the sharp edges couldn't hurt them - This was a FUN activity.

Then we talked about Mormon giving the plates to his son, Moroni, who later built a stone box in which he buried the plates. This was becaue Heavenly Father knew that what was written on the gold plates would be important many years later, to US. We sang "The Golden Plates" and talked about why Mormon used gold plates. It's because he knew they would last a long time.
Next we told our class about Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith 3 times in the night, and once again the next day, to tell him about the gold plates. Each time Moroni gave Joseph Smith the same mesage. Why do you think Moroni appeared to him so many times?
It was becaue the message was so very important and he wanted Joseph to learn it and remember. We told about how Joseph was told to tell his father about all he had seen and heard, and how his father told him that he believed him and felt it was from God. Later that day Joseph went to the Hill Cumorah and recognized the spot where he had been told the plates were buried. Angel Moroni appeared to him again and told him to return each year for 4 years. Every time he did, he found Moroni waiting to teach him what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted him to know.

After 4 years he took the plates out of the stone box Moroni had buried them, and began to translate them. A special tool, called the Urim and Thummim (like special glasses that would help him understand what the writings meant in his language) was also in the stone box to help him. When the translation was completed, the book was printed and is called The Book of Mormon.

Here are some pictures you can color and cut out to tell the story to someone else:
Do you have a copy of this great book? Do you read it or have someone read it to you?
I know that the Book of Mormon contains the words of ancient prophets and that it is a true book. I know that when you read it you will feel how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. You will learn what you need to do to be happy.

I love you!