Opening song and prayer
2 minSing An Angel Came to Joseph Smith (Children's Songbook 86), then invite a child to offer the opening prayer.
The Sealed Book
4 minWrap a book in several layers of paper and tape until no one can open it or read inside. Do not tell the class what book it is.
Hand it to one child and ask them to read a verse from it. They cannot. Hand it to another child who is a good reader. They still cannot. Ask the class why.
Explain that Isaiah saw this exact problem in a vision. A book would be sealed shut. Learned people could not read it. Then God would give it to someone humble, and the book would be opened. That book was the Book of Mormon.
- Could anyone in class read the wrapped book?No. It was sealed shut. The wrapping had to come off first.
- Did being a good reader help?No. The problem was not skill. The book was sealed.
- What did Isaiah say would happen to the sealed book?God would open it through someone He chose, and people would finally be able to read God's words.
- Have you ever held something important you could not open yet?Let children answer. A gift, a locked box, or waiting for permission. Sometimes we have to wait for the right person and the right time.
Isaiah saw a book nobody could read
6 minIsaiah 29 describes a vision that seemed strange even to the people who heard it. A book was sealed. A learned man tried to read it and could not. Then the book went to someone who said, 'I am not learned.'
Nephi, who lived long after Isaiah, wrote that this prophecy was about the Book of Mormon plates. Martin Harris took copies of the characters to a scholar named Charles Anthon, who could not translate them. The real translation came through Joseph Smith, by the power of God.
- What was wrong with the sealed book?Nobody could read it until God opened it. Human learning alone was not enough.
- Who finally brought the book forth?Joseph Smith, a young farm boy called by God.
- Why do we need the Book of Mormon if we already have the Bible?It confirms the Bible, teaches about Jesus Christ, and was written for our day.
- Have you read or heard a verse from the Book of Mormon this week?Let children answer. Family scripture study, Primary, or seminary for older kids.
Joseph Smith opened the book through God
6 minJoseph Smith was fourteen when he went into the Sacred Grove to pray. He was not a scholar. He was a boy with a question and faith enough to ask God.
Later, the angel Moroni showed him where gold plates were buried. Joseph translated them by the gift and power of God. The sealed book was opened, just as Isaiah said.
- How old was Joseph Smith when he saw the First Vision?Fourteen years old. God can use young people for important work.
- Why did Isaiah mention someone 'not learned'?To show that God's work does not depend on worldly education. It depends on faith and calling.
- What is one question you could ask Heavenly Father in prayer?Let children answer. Help with a problem, understanding a scripture, knowing if something is true.
- How can you treat the Book of Mormon with respect?Read it, keep it clean, carry it to church, and study it with your family.
The Restoration brought priesthood power back (optional)
optionalOpening the Book of Mormon was only part of the marvellous work. God also restored the priesthood, organized His church again, and sent prophets to lead us.
Isaiah called it a 'marvellous work and a wonder.' That means it is amazing and impossible without God.
- What does 'marvellous work and a wonder' mean?A great work that surprises people and shows God's power.
- What was restored besides the Book of Mormon?The priesthood, the true Church, prophets, and saving ordinances like baptism.
- Why are you grateful the gospel was restored?Let children answer. Baptism, the Holy Ghost, temples, prophets, or knowing the truth.
In the scriptures
5 minRead these together and talk about them.
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
- Why could the learned man not read the book?Because it was sealed. No amount of schooling could open it without God's help.
- Who in our history tried to get help from a learned scholar?Martin Harris took characters from the plates to Professor Charles Anthon.
- Does this mean education is bad?No. It means God's work requires His power, not just human knowledge.
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
- What did the unlearned person say?'I am not learned.' Joseph Smith humbly knew he needed God's help.
- How did Joseph Smith read the sealed plates?By the gift and power of God, using the Urim and Thummim and later a seer stone.
- Can God use you even if you feel unlearned or too young?Yes. God often chooses humble people who will trust Him.
Open the book
optionalCut open the wrapped book from the object lesson to reveal the Book of Mormon inside.
Give each child a sticky note to mark a favorite or new verse they want to read this week.
Challenge them to read one page of the Book of Mormon before next Sunday.
Latter-day Kids lesson bundle and coloring pages for this week