Mosiah 7-10
"In the strength of the Lord"
Materials: objects (or pictures) of a magnifying glass, microscope, binoculars, telescope; whiteboard and marker, scriptures, picture of Joseph Smith
Opening Song: "The Iron Rod" (Children's Songbook, 274)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Mosiah 8:16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.
Attention Activity:
Show the following objects (or pictures) a magnifying glass, microscope, binoculars, telescope. What do all of these things have in common? These are tools that help people to see things that are hard to see because they are either too far away or too small.
Lesson:
Read Moses 6:36. Seers are those chosen by God to see things that others do not. Seers see the things God wants them to see. On a whiteboard or piece of paper write "seer" on the board. Read Mosiah 8: 15-18 and make a list of what Ammon says a seer is and does.
Can you name an example of a seer from the latter-days? Joseph Smith was a prophet, seer, and revelator. He did all the things Ammon teaches about seers. Read Mosiah 8:13 and compare it to Joseph Smith History 1:35. Joseph used the Urim and Thummim described in Mosiah to translate the Book of Mormon.
David Whitmer described, "Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man." (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ (Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887), 12, available on Internet Archive, https://archive.org/stream/addresstoallbeli00whit#page/12/mode/2up.)
At the beginning of April, we sustained the First Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles as prophets seers and revelators. Why is it so important that we make the distinction that they are not just prophets but seers too? Ask your family what revelations have come to pass/are coming to pass since President Nelson became the leader of the church.
Bear your testimony of having a modern day prophet, seer, and revelator--President Russel M. Nelson.
Closing Song: "We Thank Thee, Oh God, For a Prophet" (Hymnal, 19)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment:
Make your own "seer stones" with this fun rock candy recipe found here.
