FHE Manual Insert

Lesson 38: Learning to Scry with Scry OS

Purpose

To help children understand why the golden plates were not used in translating the Book of Mormon.

Preparation

In this lesson your family will be using Scry OS.

You will need:

• A smartphone or tablet
• A hat
• A candle stick
• Pen and Paper
• Music player (optional)

In order to enable fullscreen-mode in Scry OS you will need to pin this URL to your homescreen. Instructions for pinning can be found below.

Android

Launch Chrome for Android and open Scry OS. Tap the menu button and tap Add to homescreen. You'll be able to enter a name for the shortcut and then Chrome will add it to your home screen.

iPhone, iPad, & iPod Touch

Launch the Safari browser on Apple's iOS and navigate to Scry OS. Tap the Share button on the browser's toolbar - that's the rectangle with an arrow pointing upward. It's on the bar at the top of the screen on an iPad, and on the bar at the bottom of the screen on an iPhone or iPod Touch. Tap the Add to Home Screen icon in the Share menu.

Opening Song

Suggested Hymn: "Praise to the Stone"

Closing Song

Suggested Hymn: "Don't Scry for me Argentina"

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

As with any form of scrying, you will be opening yourself to spirits. It is always a wise choice to ask for protection from angels and spirit guides before beginning. Surround yourself with protective amulets and say a prayer of protection before peeping.

Tell your family to keep their eyes closed even after the prayer has ended.

It is recommended that you play some scrying music in the background.

Have an adult light a candle stick, draw the shades, and turn off any electrical lights.  Note that open flames are not permitted in church buildings. Use an LED candle to scrying in the chapel.

Read the following quote from David Whitmer:

"I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. 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 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."

Tell your family to open their eyes.

Ask the children, "How was the Book of Mormon Translated?"

Explain to the children that while the plates have been returned to Moroni, it is still possible to translate them.

Invite a family member to scry and another to act as a scribe. Place a phone or tablet in the hat and boot up Scry OS. Have the scrier put his or her head all the way into the hat as to block out all other light. When the scrier sees a phrase on the rock have him or her read it aloud. The scribe should write down the phrase. To move on to the next phrase touch the rock or slightly shake the hat. Note that The scripture that appears on the stone is 2 Nephi 7-8 from the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon with the punctuation removed.

Resolving Concerns

• If you child complains about the difficulty of reading text so close to their face explain that with faith reading text only a few inches from one's face is possible.  Also point out that a magician's hat is typlically taller than a normal hat.
• If your child raises concerns that the seer stone is prodcuing an almost verbatim text from the 1611 King James Translation of the Book of Isaiah tell them to doubt their doubts. Explain that it just so happens that the 1611 King James version is the correct translation; errors and all; except for where Joseph changed the text later in the Joseph Smith Translation.
• If your child raises concerns that Lehi would not have had access to the text of Deutero Isaiah explain that that is just what someone who is looking to justify sins would say. Remind him that access to the plates was not necessary for Joseph to transition them. Likewsie Lehi wouldn't need physical access to the Deutero Isaiah either.
• If your child complains the revealed scripture is boring remind him or her of the destruction that is shortly to come to pass within this generation.
• If your child claims this was not always taught before, gaslight them. Print out this insert and tape it into an old FHE manual.  Then show them how we always taught that Joseph Smith used a Seer Stone for translation.
• If your child has further concerns refer them to the stone for answers.

Adapting for younger children

Children too young to read can participate in an alternate activity.  Hide one of the child's favorite toys then ask the child to use a seer stone to locate the hidden toy.

Summary

Scrying is a totally legit way to know the mind and will of God. Close with a profound thought deliver by use of the seer stone. 

Enrichment Activities

• Have the children dig a hole until they find a rock that they feel connected to.
• Use Scry OS to find your Jeta keys.
• Challenge your family to find and invite a nonmember friend to your next Scrying activity.
• Learn to use a divining rod.
• Return your smart phone to the store and make calls with an actual rock or crystal ball
• Explain that the Book of Abraham papyrus was not any more useful than the golden plates
• Take you family Tapir riding.
• Try the other Scrying OS mode.