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Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates

Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates. “Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History,  (1997), 42. To help the children desire to be witnesses of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Purpose. The golden plates lay hidden

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Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates

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  1. Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates “Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997),42

  2. To help the children desire to be witnesses of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Purpose

  3. The golden plates lay hidden Deep in the mountainside; Until God found one faithful, In whom he could confide, A record made by Nephi, Written in days of old; Now, in the Book of Mormon, The story is retold. Words: Rose Thomas Graham, 1875-1967, Music: J. Spencer Cornwall, 1888-1983. The Golden Plates

  4. (Enter Name Here) OUR OPENING PRAYER WILL BE GIVEN BY

  5. I have something special in this container. • Does everyone believe me? • I’d like to have some of you come up and look in the container. • This makes you a witness of what I brought to class today. Attention Activity

  6. For the witnesses that looked in the container, do you believe that I have something special with me today? • It’s easier to believe what you can’t see, when more than one person can testify of it’s existence. Attention Activity

  7. When Joseph Smith started to translate the gold plates, he was the only person who had actually seen the gold plates. Attention Activity

  8. Let’s read 2 Nephi 27:12 • 12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that athree bwitnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein. Attention Activity

  9. What did Heavenly Father promise he would do when the Book of Mormon came forth? • Heavenly Father promised to allow witnesses to see the gold plates so that these witnesses could tell other people that the plates did exist. Attention Activity

  10. Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates “Lesson 9: Witnesses See the Gold Plates,” Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, (1997),42

  11. Go to the Video Go to the Slides Discussion Time

  12. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery finished translating the Book of Mormon. • Jesus wanted people to read the book. • He also wanted them to know that Joseph had told the truth about the gold plates. Witnesses See the Gold Plates

  13. Jesus chose three other men to see the gold plates and be witnesses that they were real. • These men were Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer.

  14. Joseph took the three witnesses into the woods, where they prayed. • An angel came and showed them the gold plates. • Jesus told the three witnesses to tell people what they had seen.

  15. Joseph Smith was very happy. • The three witnesses would tell people about the gold plates, and more people would believe that Joseph had told the truth.

  16. Jesus told Joseph to show the plates to eight more witnesses. • The eight men held the gold plates in their hands and saw the writing on the plates.

  17. All the witnesses wrote about the gold plates. • They said they had seen the plates, and they testified that the plates were real. • The words of the witnesses are in the Book of Mormon.

  18. After Joseph Smith had translated the plates and the witnesses had seen them, Joseph did not need them any longer. • The angel Moroni appeared, and Joseph gave the gold plates back to him.

  19. After Joseph finished translating the Book of Mormon, he took it to a printer.

  20. Joseph did not have money to pay the printer

  21. Martin Harris had enough money, and in a revelation he was asked to share it to pay the printer.

  22. Satan did not want the Book of Mormon to be printed. • He did not want people to read it. Wicked men tried to stop the printer.

  23. One man went to the printing shop on Sundays and stole some pages of the Book of Mormon. • He printed the pages in a newspaper until other men made him stop stealing them.

  24. The people who tried to stop the printing did not succeed because those who are wicked cannot stop Jesus’ work. • After many months, the printing of the Book of Mormon was completed.

  25. Discussion Time

  26. What were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris told to do in order to be witnesses of the gold plates? • The Lord revealed that if these three men were humble, they would be allowed to be the three witnesses (see D&C 17).

  27. What happened when Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris went into the woods to pray about being witnesses?

  28. They knelt in prayer and each took a turn praying, but they received no answer. • They each prayed again, but still there was no answer.

  29. Martin Harris felt that they were not receiving an answer because of some things he had done, so he left the group.

  30. The others again knelt in prayer, and soon a light appeared above them and the angel Moroni stood before them.

  31. How were Joseph, Oliver, and David shown the gold plates? • Moroni held the gold plates in his hands and turned the plates one by one so the men could see the engravings on them

  32. What did Joseph Smith do to help Martin Harris? • He found Martin praying earnestly and joined him in prayer. • The vision that Joseph, Oliver, and David had seen was repeated for Martin Harris. • The Three Witnesses testified in writing about their experience (see “The Testimony of Three Witnesses

  33. Why do you think Martin was finally allowed to have the same vision as the other two witnesses • What impresses you most about the experience of the Three Witnesses?

  34. What were the Three Witnesses told to do about their experience? • They were told to bear record of what they saw and heard. • Who told them to testify that the gold plates were real? • The voice of the Lord.

  35. Why do you think Joseph Smith was glad to have other people see the gold plates? • He felt as if a big burden had been removed from him because up to now, he was the only one who witnessed the gold plates.

  36. How were the gold plates shown to the Eight Witnesses? • The eight men held the gold plates in their hands and saw the writing on the plates.

  37. How was the experience of the Eight Witnesses different from the experience of the Three Witnesses?

  38. Why was it necessary that witnesses see the gold plates? (Ether 5:4; 2 Nephi 27:12–14.) • How are the testimonies of the witnesses a blessing to us today?

  39. How can you be a witness of the Book of Mormon? • Study it, pray to know that it is true, live its teachings, and tell other people about it.

  40. How many of you read the Book of Mormon at home, by yourselves or with your family? • How can reading the Book of Mormon bless you and your family?

  41. ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES T

  42. Joseph Smith’s mother recorded what happened when he returned to the house after the Three Witnesses had been shown the gold plates. • Listen to the following account: Enrichment Activity 1

  43. “When they [Joseph and the Three Witnesses] returned to the house it was between three and four o’clock p.m. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith and myself, were sitting in a bedroom at the time. Enrichment Activity 1

  44. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, ‘Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. … They will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said … Enrichment Activity 1

  45. I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear’ ” Enrichment Activity 1

  46. Can you think of ways you can be a witness of the Book of Mormon and its teachings. • Can you show us what you could do to be a witness in a particular situation, such as when someone asks you what your church believes or what the Book of Mormon says. Enrichment Activity 2

  47. The witnesses were not chosen at random but were all men who helped in different ways to bring forth the Book of Mormon. • Listen to the following information about the Three Witnesses. Enrichment Activity 3

  48. Martin Harris • When Joseph Smith was suffering persecution in New York, Martin Harris gave him fifty dollars to help him move to Harmony, Pennsylvania. • Martin also pledged his farm so that the money could be raised to publish the Book of Mormon. Enrichment Activity 3

  49. A portion of his farm had to be sold at auction to pay the printing costs of the Book of Mormon. • He acted as a scribe for Joseph for a short time. Enrichment Activity 3

  50. Oliver Cowdery • Oliver Cowdery was a schoolteacher who heard about Joseph Smith’s vision and the gold plates while he was living with the Smith family. Enrichment Activity 3

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