As surprising as it might seem to us, accustomed as we are to Preach My Gospel and to the discussions many of us memorized as missionaries, there were no formal lessons or systems for teaching investigators for well over a century after the Church’s organization. Missionaries preached wherever they could get audiences, and discussed the gospel with friends and investigators, but there was no organized plan for teaching, no list of principles to be taught in any particular order, no formal summary of what should be taught about, say, the plan of salvation.

Some mission presidents devised such plans of their own, used within their own missions. B.H. Roberts held a sort of annual “college” for his elders in the Eastern States Mission early in the 20th century. LeGrand Richards wrote A Marvelous Work and a Wonder (first called The Message of Mormonism) for his elders in the Southern States Mission in the mid-1930s.

Other mission presidents, without plans of their own, eagerly adopted systems from other missions. Two of the most popular were the “Cottage Meeting Outline” of the Central Atlantic Mission, and the “Anderson Plan” of Richard Lloyd Anderson of the Northwestern States Mission, both written in the 1940s.

Finally, in 1952, the Church adopted the “Systematic Program for Teaching the Gospel,” the first Church-wide set of missionary lessons.

Lonn L, friend of Keepa, has his grandfather’s set of the Central Atlantic Mission’s “Cottage Meeting Outline,” (5th ed., 1951), and has shared them with me. The first discussion is posted today; other lessons will be posted from time to time.

I would love to hear your thoughts, together with comparisons to the discussions you taught as missionaries or were taught as investigators.

Discussion No. 1

Visit of Moroni and the

Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

Objective: To show that the Bible prophesies that the Book of Mormon was to come forth.

Moroni

1. Discuss visit in detail. Angel spoken of in Rev. 14:6-7.

2. Read the Prophet’s description of Moroni. (First pages of Book of Mormon.)

Monuments Built to His Memory

3. On Salt Lake Temple – ensign to the nations.

Hill Cumorah – depository of plates.

Washington, D.C. Chapel – among the embassies of the world.

Hawaiian Tabernacle – the islands of the sea.

Scripture Quoted by Moroni

4. Isa. 11; Mal. 4, 3:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 3:22-23. Moroni stated that these were about to be fulfilled.

Joseph’s Descendants

5. Tell story of Lehi and family coming from Jerusalem and of the Brass Plates. Gen. 49:1, 8, 10; Gen. 49:22-26; I Nephi 5:14-16, 6:2; I Nephi 3, 4, 5; Alma 10:1-2; Deut. 33:13-17.

Jerusalem was destroyed 558 B.C. People warned beforehand of its destruction, because of their wickedness, by prophets sent from God. No doubt Lehi was one of these. 2 Chron. 36:11, 19; Jer. 52; 2nd Kings 19:30-31.

There is the danger of burdening the contact with too many details so that he becomes confused. Make the essential ideas stand out clearly.

Joseph Smith was once asked why we call the Book of Mormon the stick of Ephraim while the book itself declared that lehi belonged to the tribe of Manasseh. He replied that “if we had the lost manuscript (part taken by Martin Harris) the mystery would disappear, since that record stated that Ishmael belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. It would seem that the blood of Ephraim predominated in the Nephites, while that of Manasseh predominated with the Lamanites.”

Out of the Dust

6. Isaiah 29:11-14 – marvelous work. Martin Harris’ statement of his visit to Professor Charles Anthon of Columbia University. Anthon acknowledged Harris’ visit in letters to E.D. Howe in 1834 and T.W. Coit in 1841. martin Harris mortgaged his farm to pay for printing of the Book of Mormon. Original characters in Joseph Smith’s handwriting still in existence. 2nd Nephi 27:9, 10.

Isaiah 29:15-24 – Book to come forth out of the dust at a time of confusion. Deaf shall hear, blind see, and meek rejoice and come to an understanding of the truth. It is also to confound false doctrine. Isa. 29:1-4.

7. Nephi foresaw his people destroyed, but would speak out of the dust. 2 Nephi 26:15-17; Mormon 8:26; Alma 45:10-11.

Two Sticks

8. Ezekiel 37:15-20 – Two sticks. Date 600 B.C. 2 Nephi 3:12; Mormon 7:8-9.

Ezekiel 37:18-21 – When the children of Israel are being gathered the two sticks “shall be in thine hand before their eyes.”

Savior Visits America

9. John 10:16 – He did not mean the Gentiles. Matt. 15:21-28; 3 Nephi 11:1-12; 3 Nephi 15:21-24.

Both records, being one in purpose, prophesy of Christ’s birth and ministry. Mosiah 3:5-8; 1 Nephi 11:14-21; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6.

If you did not have the Book of Mormon, would you know of the fulfillment of John’s prophecy? John 10:16.

Records to Be Translated

10. Explain how the Prophets kept records under the command of God. 1 Nephi 19:3. Moroni explained to Joseph that these records would be given to him and that he would be given power to translate the same. D. & C. 20:6-012. That the book containing such a translation should go to all nations, and that his name should be known for good and for evil among all nations, and show how fully this prediction has been fulfilled.

Jaredites from Babel

11. Tell their story briefly. Gen. 11:8-9; Ether 1:4-5.

Josephus, the Jewish historian, speaking of the time of the dispersion from the tower of Babel, says: “After this they were dispersed abroad, on account of their languages, and went out by colonies everywhere, and each colony took possession of the land they lit upon, and unto which God led them; so that the whole continent was filled with them, both the inland and the maritime countries. There were some of them who passed over the sea in ships, and inhabited the islands.” Works of Josephus, p. 40.

History of America

12. That the book is not only a history of the past, but it foretells the future destiny of this land and that it is choice above all other lands. 1 Nephi 13:12-13; 1 Nephi 2:20; 2 Nephi 10:10, 19; Ether 2:12.

Suggested Tracts:

Joseph Smith’s Own Story in Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price.

Why I Believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God – Morton.

Book of Mormon – Ray No. 8.

The Book of Mormon – Widtsoe No. 15.

Supplementary References:

Voice of Warning pp. 64-78.

Orson Pratt’s Works pp. 260-289.

Era, Sept.. 1948 – “An Angel from on High” – Crowley.

Cumorah’s Gold Bible – McGavin.