"I Speak Unto You As If Ye Were Present"

George Edward Anderson (American, 1860-1928)
[Joseph Smith Monument] (1905)
Gelatin dry plate negative, 8.5 x 6.5 inches
Public domain, courtesy L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
George Edward Anderson Collection

Moroni was given to know what the future would be like when his record came forth, “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you” (Mormon 8:34). It is remarkable to imagine an ancient prophet seeing our day. Specifically, he foresaw Joseph’s early life. Even 100 years after Joseph’s birth, his historical landmarks were in danger of disappearing, however. A man named Junius Wells visited Vermont in 1894, and with his sights on the centenary of Joseph Smith’s birth, he interviewed longtime residents, investigated to discover the original site of the Smith home, and shepherded a proposal to the Church to purchase the land for a monument. The photograph above, by George Edward Anderson, captures the celebration of the Joseph Smith Monument on December 23, 1905. (To see more vintage photographs and learn about the history of the site, visit Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial.)

Discussion Questions:

1. Mormon explains that if one believes in the Bible, they will also believe in the Book of Mormon (Mormon 7:8-9).  How do these two sacred texts interrelate?  Why do you think Mormon had this confidence that belief in the Bible would correspondingly result in belief in the Book of Mormon

2. Mormon apologies for "imperfections" in the writing of the Book of Mormon and asks readers not to condemn the book based upon these flaws (Mormon 8:12).  He also references the "faults of a man" that may be in the book (Mormon 8:17).  How might these same 
   apologies apply to the members of your family (including your ward family)?

3. "God has not ceased to be a God of miracles," writes Mormon (Mormon 9:15).  What miracles have you seen in your life in the past week/month/year?

Questions for Youth & Children:

1. Mormon says that the righteous in the kingdom of God will "sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above ... in a state of happiness which hath no end" (Mormon 7:7).  What songs would you choose to sing in heaven?  What about these songs makes you happy?

2. "...God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing" (Mormon 9:9), and "I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God" (Mormon 9:19).  How can knowing that God is unchanging make you feel safe?

3. Art Project: Draw a picture of the result of a miracle that you have experienced in your life. Place a translucent or transparent piece of paper over the drawing of the miracle and on this piece draw as an overlay how the hand of the Lord made the miracle to happen.  "Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes?  Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?" (Mormon 9:16).