District Council Lesson on Book of Mormon

 April 26, 2025

Book of Mormon DC

Watch video… 

“Please do not take the Book of Mormon for granted. Pray for a vision of how the Book of Mormon can be used more effectively in your mission. I promise that as you do so, your mind will be enlightened with the direction that you should take.”

—Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Many people you teach either do not read the Book of Mormon or do not understand what they read. Those who do not read or understand the Book of Mormon will have difficulty receiving a witness that it is true.

President Ezra Taft Benson said that missionaries “need to show how [the Book of Mormon] answers the great questions of the soul”

How do we do this? 

Be a P•E•S•T

Pray • Explain • Share • Teach/Testify

1. PRAY before reading

• Pray for help as you select passages that address their concerns and problems

• Then pray AGAIN before you read with them. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley declared: “Those who have read [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, be they rich or poor, learned or unlearned, have grown under its power. … Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts … the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”

2. EXPLAIN what you read

• When you read with people, stop occasionally and explain what you read. Point out key messages or important doctrine to look for as you read with them.
• Explain the background and context of a passage. 
• Explain unfamiliar words and phrases.

3. SHARE personal experience

 (1 Nephi 19:23)

For example, you might say to a person:

“Nephi, like you, was faced with a difficult challenge. But as he exercised faith to ‘go and do’ what the Lord commanded him, he was able to succeed. (Read 1 Nephi 3:7.) I know that God will prepare a way for you to live the Word of Wisdom.”

“John, it is good that you want to be free from the guilt you feel. Just as the Savior promised the Nephites, if you repent, are baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost, you will be ‘guiltless before [the] Father.’” (Read 3 Nephi 27:16.)

4. TESTIFY