Moroni 10:1–7

Receiving Your Own Witness of the Book of Mormon

youth reading the Book of Mormon

Have you felt impressions or feelings from the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true? If so, what experiences and actions helped you obtain this? In some of his last writings, Moroni emphasized that God is the source of all truth. Through God, we can receive a personal witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, the reality of Jesus Christ, and “the truth of all things” “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:5). This lesson can help you know for yourself that the Book of Mormon is true.

Focus on converting principles. Help students discover doctrine and principles that can strengthen their relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Encourage students to analyze how these truths can deepen their conversion and help them act in faith.

Student preparation: Invite students to read Moroni 10:1–7, looking for any words or phrases that help them understand what it takes to know the truth about the Book of Mormon.

Possible Learning Activities

A testimony of the Book of Mormon

Think about which of the following statements you related to most when you first started studying the Book of Mormon:

• I am not sure if I know the Book of Mormon is true.

• I trust others who have told me the Book of Mormon is true.

• I have felt impressions from the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true.

Contemplate your testimony of the Book of Mormon now. As you study, think about the next steps the Lord would have you take to obtain, deepen, or remain firm in your witness.

Moroni’s exhortation

After recording some of the teachings of his father, Moroni taught how anyone can know for themselves that the Book of Mormon is true.

Read Moroni 10:3–5 and consider marking what Moroni said about how we can know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. You may consider also watching the video “Moroni Invites All to Come unto Christ” from time code 4:39 to 5:32, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Moroni 10:4–5 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.

Consider writing the following incomplete statement on the board and inviting students to complete it in their study journals. Then invite them to complete it as a class on the board.

• I can know the Book of Mormon is true by the power of the Holy Ghost as I …

The next activity is organized by the three phrases of Moroni’s counsel. Consider how you might help students deepen their understanding of these three phrases. You could divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the following study activities. Determine if it’s better to display the instructions for these activities or to provide each group with their own copy. After groups discuss their responses, they can share with the class. Students could also summarize their ideas next to the statement on the board.

Read the Book of Mormon

President Russell M. Nelson described some of the blessings we can receive by studying the Book of Mormon. Think about how you may have experienced these blessings as you have studied it.

President Russell M. Nelson

I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 62–63)

• Have you experienced any of the blessings that President Nelson has promised to those who study the Book of Mormon?

Invite willing students to share some of the ways that they have experienced these blessings. Be sure to not make any students feel embarrassed if they cannot think of any experiences. Assure them that they can still experience these blessings as they continue to study the Book of Mormon.

Recognizing blessings that come from reading the Book of Mormon can confirm that it is true and that it comes from God.

Ponder the Lord’s mercy

• What are some scriptural examples of people receiving the Lord’s mercy? You might look up a few, such as Nephi (2 Nephi 4:20–25), Alma the Younger (Alma 36:17–21), or the Nephites healed by the Savior during His visit (3 Nephi 17:6–9).

• What are some examples of the Lord’s mercy in your life or the life of someone you know?

• Why do you think pondering the Lord’s mercy can help you receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost?

Ask God with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ

• What do you think it means to ask God with a sincere heart? With real intent? With faith in Jesus Christ (Moroni 10:4)? If you need help answering this, read Joseph Smith—History 1:10–17, looking for how young Joseph Smith approached his prayer with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ. (Note: The phrase real intent means that once you received an answer to your prayers, you sincerely will act on the revelation you have received.)

• How can doing this help us receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Ghost?

My personal testimony of the Book of Mormon

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency shared his experience applying Moroni’s promise. Read the following statement or watch the video “A Living Testimony” from time code 13:51 to 14:31, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

President Henry B. Eyring

I hope that you all have proved that promise for yourself or that you will do it soon. The answer may not come in a single and powerful spiritual experience. For me it came quietly at first. But it comes ever more forcefully each time I have read and prayed over the Book of Mormon.

I do not depend on what has happened in the past. To keep my living testimony of the Book of Mormon secure, I receive the promise of Moroni often. I don’t take that blessing of a testimony for granted as a perpetual entitlement. (Henry B. Eyring, “A Living Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 127)

• How can President Eyring’s words apply to us no matter how many times we read the Book of Mormon?

• In what ways might the Holy Ghost testify to us of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon?

• How could a testimony of the Book of Mormon strengthen your relationship with and testimony of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ?

Invite students to share their witnesses of the Book of Mormon and how they have come to know it is true. You could share your own witness too.

The following can help students apply Moroni 10:3–5.

Write down in your study journal what you can do to apply the principles taught in Moroni 10:3–5. Think about how you can continue to study the Book of Mormon, ponder the Lord’s mercy, and ask God for a witness through the Holy Ghost. Where and when will you do these things? How might the Lord answer your prayers?

Commentary and Background Information

How have others come to know that the Book of Mormon is true?

The following resources can help you understand and learn from the experiences of others. All are available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

• “Receiving a Testimony of the Book of Mormon, Part 1” (1:30), by President Boyd K. Packer

• “How I Know the Book of Mormon is True” (1:11)

• “Found through the Power of the Book of Mormon,” by Elder Rubén V. Alliaud, from time code 1:21 to 4:39

• “Turn to Him and Answers Will Come” from time code 0:00 to 1:06, by Elder James B. Martino

• “If You Really Want to Know, You Will Know,” by Elder Walter F. González

Sister Zina Young and Sister Eliza R. Snow, early converts and leaders in the restored Church, received a testimony in different ways.

Sister Zina D.H. Young

Sister Eliza R. Snow

Zina said she first “saw the Book of Mormon, that strange, new book, lying on the window sill of our sitting-room” when she was 14 years old. As she picked up the book, a “sweet influence of the Holy Spirit accompanied it to such an extent that I pressed it to my bosom in a rapture of delight, murmuring as I did so, ‘This is the truth, truth, truth!’”

Conviction did not come as easily for Eliza. Her mother and sister joined the Church first. Eliza met Joseph Smith and thought he had “an honest face.” She heard two of the Three Witnesses—men who saw and handled the golden plates—talk about the book, and “such impressive testimonies” she had never heard before. Even so, she didn’t want to move too quickly and be deceived. Thinking that it all might be just a “flash in the pan,” it took her four years of studying scripture before her “heart was … fixed” and she decided to be baptized. (Janiece Johnson, “A Witness of One’s Own,” Ensign, Dec. 2020, 37)

How can having my own testimony bless me?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, taught:

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Some may say that the steps are too hard or that they are not worth the effort. But I suggest that this personal testimony of the gospel and the Church is the most important thing you can earn in this life. It will not only bless and guide you during this life, but it will also have a direct bearing on your life throughout eternity. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 22)

President Russell M. Nelson shared:

President Russell M. Nelson

You don’t have to wonder about what is true (Moroni 10:5). You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true. (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Sharing their witnesses of the Book of Mormon

To conclude the lesson, consider giving each student a copy of the Book of Mormon in which to write their testimonies. Students could give these copies of the Book of Mormon to someone they know who they feel is ready to receive it. Alternatively, students could give these copies of the Book of Mormon to the local missionaries to share in their proselyting efforts.

Create a visual to understand Moroni 10:3–5

To help them understand the words in Moroni 10:3–5, students could create a visual similar to those found in the “Line upon Line” section of the For the Strength of Youth magazine. See February 2021, February 2022, or more recent editions for examples.

Moroni 10. “Exhort”

Remind students that the word exhort means to strongly encourage or urge. Consider inviting students to look in Moroni 10 for the many times Moroni uses this word. What is Moroni inviting us to do? What are some specific ways we can follow these invitations?

The Holy Ghost can help us know the truth of all things

Students could read Moroni 10:5–7 looking for how the Holy Ghost can help them in all their learning. Discuss how knowing this can influence students’ gospel and secular learning. You could also discuss how the Holy Ghost can help us recognize truth from error.