An Angel Came to Joseph Smith
 

Flipchart done by Jolly Jen (pdf file)
 

Before teaching this song, practice conducting the unique rhythm. Post the following wordstrips in random order—“Moroni,” “Hill Cumorah,” “Nephites,” and “Book of Mormon.” Tell the children that this song is about these four things, but none of these words is mentioned in the song. Ask them to help you put the wordstrips in the same order that the song is in. Sing the song for them and then ask which wordstrip comes first. Because the first phrase is “an angel came to Joseph Smith,” the correct wordstrip is “Moroni.” Have the children sing that phrase with you. Sing the song three more times, putting one wordstrip in place each time. Explain that Joseph Smith took the gold plates from Hill Cumorah, that the plates are a record of the Nephites, and that the precious, holy book is the Book of Mormon. Because the song is short, sing the entire song each time that you ask a question. Bear testimony that the story told in the song is true. (Idea taken from May 2007 Friend)
 

Because this song is about the Book of Mormon, I thought I could do something fun with clues. I could have the Seniors find the clues they would then have to "translate" so they could read what they said and explain how Joseph used the Urim and Thummim to translate the plates. For the Juniors, I thought we could have a treasure hunt where they use the clues to find the "treasure" which would be the gold plates. I am making some "gold plates" out of cardboard. I found that the cardboard used to hold bolts of fabric is perfect and so easy to make into pages. The people at the fabric store were glad to give me as many as I needed. I just used an exacto knife and cut them to be 7 1/2" x 6 1/4". I'll just spray paint them with gold paint (it's finally supposed to warm up next week here! :-) and have my husband make some metal rings out of a wire hanger. I think I'll put a picture to go with each verse on four different pages. I also thought I would write some "reformed Egyptian" on the front cover. I bought an inexpensive green, twin sheet at Wal-Mart and I plan to cut and sew a little flap on it. Then I can put the sheet over a chair to make it look like the Hill Cumorrah and put the "gold plates" on the chair under it (I might use a small stool on the chair to make the plates more accessible) and have the kids act out Joseph receiving the gold plates from the Angel Moroni--we have an angel costume in the Christmas costumes. I'll make an extra gold plate (for "a record made by Nephi") so we can also sing and act out "The Golden Plates". (maybe do that the second and/or third week) I think all the kids would enjoy acting out the different verses. (Idea shared by Nancy Wells / ga04212007)
 

(Idea from Erin Seymour / ga05052005)  Here is what I am doing...(some of the ideas come from the May 2007 Friend Magazine):

VERSE 1

Post the following word strips in random order—"Moroni," "Hill
Cumorah," "Nephites," and "Book of Mormon."

Tell the children that this song is about these four things, but none of these words is mentioned in the song.  Ask them to help you put the word strips in the same order that the song is in.  Sing the song for them and then ask which word strip comes first.
Because the first phrase is "an angel came to Joseph Smith," the correct wordstrip is "Moroni."

Have the children sing that phrase with you.
Clap the rhythm.
Sing that phrase again
Sing the song three more times, putting one wordstrip in place each time.
Explain that Joseph Smith took the gold plates from Hill Cumorah,
that the plates are a record of the Nephites, and
that the precious, holy book is the Book of Mormon.

Because the song is short, sing the entire song each time that you ask a question.  Bear testimony that the story told in the song is true.

Scriptures to include in between verses.

End of verse 1 …… JSH 1:59 (Plus tell some background)
Before verse 2 …… (find out what we will sing about next)1 Ne 18: 22-23
End of verse 3 …… (let's learn more about the peace they had when they
obeyed the Lord) 4 Ne 1:15-18
Before verse 4 …… (not only did the Angel Moroni compile the plates,
preserve (hide) the plates and deliver
them to Joseph, In them he made a promise to us ) Moroni 10:3

VISUAL

To save money I am going to take a black or yellow poster board and fold it in half. On the cover I will write "A Precious, Holy Book" or just the title of the song I haven't decided. Then I am going to put white poster board on the inside pages folded in half. They will be
held together with elastic around the "spine." I was going to enlarge Jolly Jenn's visuals but I am too cheap so I am just going to use my own Gospel Art Kit 8 ½ x11 size and print the words out separately then glue/tape it all to the poster board to make a book. Not my idea just my adaptation. Here are the GAK pictures I am using, also a lot the same as Jolly Jenn's:

Verse 1 – 406 & 320 (or 325)
Verse 2 – 302 & 304
Verse 3 – 313 & 316
Verse 4 – 617 & 606