Book of Mormon

Time Travelers

What you will need:

A time machine- we used the overflow in between the chapel and the cultural hall.
A CD or Tape player
Children’s Songbook CD/tape- I played ‘Book of Mormon Stories’ while we were traveling through time.
A Disco Ball Light (optional)- I thought it would be neat to have a disco ball light to simulate time travel.
Horn or Whistle- This will be used to tell the children when it is time to return to the time machine.
A Lab coat- for the Mad Scientist, the scientist will be the main character and narrator for the activity.
Glasses or goggles
Gold Plates
GAK Pictures: 300, 301, 302, 315
Swords
Bow and Arrows
Clubs
Costumes
Tree- for the Tree of Life
Iron Rod
Fog Machine- for the Mist of Darkness
Fruit- I just made caramel apples dipped in white chocolate, so that they would be white. You could use
strawberries too.
Crumpled up pieces of paper- will be used as stones

Opening: Have everyone gather in one area, we had them gather in the foyer, which is right by the overflow.
Once most of the children are there have an opening prayer.
-During this time, while waiting for all the children to arrive, we will be playing a ‘Who am I’ game. We will be
choosing 6-8 different people from the Book of Mormon that the children will have to guess who they are. We
will have clues to give 4-5 clues to give them.
Introduction:
The Scientist will come out of the Time Machine/Overflow, excited. She will tell the kids that she’s finally
finished and that it works. The Scientist then tells the kids about her time machine and asks if they would like to
come along on an amazing journey through time.
Then lead all of the children into the time machine and have them sit down.
The Scientist will tell the kids that before she came out of the time machine and talked to them, she went to a far
away land, and during a time that happened long ago. She’ll continue on telling them the story of Lehi.

Inside the Time Machine:

Lehi’s Family Goes into the Wilderness (3 minutes)
Show them GAK pictures 300 & 301 and then tell them the story of ‘Lehi Prophesying’ and ‘Lehi and his Family
Going into the Wilderness’. Remind the children that these are true stories that actually happened. Tell them how
Lehi and his family left everything behind because they wanted to be obedient. Wouldn’t that be hard to do?
Are you ready to begin our journey through time? Alright, let’s go! Let me just enter in the date and place. Now
get ready, and hold on!!! (Turn on the music (Book of Mormon Stories) and the disco ball light to simulate
traveling through time. Have this go for just a little bit and then turn everything off.

Scientist: I think we’re here. Let’s open the doors and see…
Stop
top 1: Nephi Gets the Brass Plates
Actors:
Lehi: Laman: 2-3 Servants/Guards:
Nephi: Lemuel: Laban:
Sam: Zoram: Angel:
(Lehi and Nephi on the stage (in front of the curtain) Lehi speaks to Nephi Saying…)
Lehi: “Behold I have dreamed a dream, which the Lord has commanded me that you and your brothers should
return to Jerusalem unto the house of Laban, and get the plates of brass.”
Nephi: “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”
Scientist: And Nephi, and his brothers went on their journey to the land of Jerusalem to get the plates of brass.
(Nephi and his brothers enter and set up camp. The curtain opens, this is where Laban will be. Laman
walks up the stairs to the stage to Laban’s House.)
Scientist: And Laman went unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him.
Laman: Laban, my Father has sent my brothers and I here to get the plates of brass from you.
Laban: (Laban becomes very angry) “Get out of my house, robber. If you ever come back, I’ll have my soldiers
kill you!”
(Laman leaves Laban’s House and runs to his brothers very frightened.)
Scientist: Laman ran back to where his brothers were and told them what had happened. And they became very
sad. And Nephi’s brothers were about to return to their father in the wilderness. But Behold Nephi said unto
them:
Nephi: “As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go back unto our Father in the wilderness until we have
accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us. Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of
the Lord.”
(Nephi and his brothers exi. There they will get there gold and silver, etc. and then enter into the cultural
hall and go to Laban’s House.)
Scientist: And after Nephi had spoken to his brothers, they went back to Jerusalem and gathered their Gold, and
their silver, and all their precious things and went unto the house of Laban. And it came to pass that they went
unto Laban and said:
Nephi: If you will give us our plates of brass, we will give you our gold, and our silver, and all our precious
things.
Scientist: And when Laban saw their gold and their silver he wanted it, so much that he threw them out of his
house, and sent his servants to kill them, so that he could get their gold, and silver and precious things. And it
came to pass that they ran from the servants of Laban.
(Nephi and his brothers run and hide. When Laban’s servants pass by Laman & Lemuel begin to get
angry.)
Laman: This is all your fault, Nephi, and Father’s, and his visions. He is crazy. Because of you we are going to
be killed, but you should be the one that is killed. (Laman picks up a stick/rod and begins hitting Nephi)
Scientist: And as they smote them with a rod, behold an angel of the Lord came and stood before them saying:
(Angel enters.)
Angel: “Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a
ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities. Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will
deliver Laban into your hands.
(The angel exits, and Laman and Lemuel begin murmuring again.)
Lemuel: “How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? He is a mighty man, he could kill
fifty; then why not us?”
Nephi: “Let us go again to Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for he is
mightier than all the earth.”
(Nephi’s brothers hide, and Nephi goes back to Laban’s House.)
Scientist: And when it was night, Nephi had his brothers hide, and Nephi crept into the city and went forth
towards Laban’s house. And Nephi was led by the spirit, not knowing the things which he should do. As he came
near the house of Laban he saw a man who had fallen to the ground.
(Laban is on the ground below the stage, by the steps.)
And when Nephi came to him he found that it was Laban. And he beheld his sword.
And it came to pass that Nephi was told by the Spirit that he should kill Laban; but Nephi said in his heart: Never
at any time have I shed the blood of man. And he was scared. And the Spirit said unto him again: Behold the
Lord hath delivered him into they hands Therefore Nephi did obey the voice of the Spirit, and killed Laban.
And after Nephi had killed Laban, he took his clothes and put them on. (Nephi puts on sword and robe)
And after he had done this, Nephi went forth unto the treasury of Laban (This will be in front of the kitchen).
Behold, as he went forth he saw the servants of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And Nephi commanded
the servant in the voice of Laban:
Nephi: I must take the plates of brass to my older brothers, who are outside the city walls.
Scientist: And since he thought that Nephi was Laban, he did give him the plates, and did follow Nephi.
(Nephi and Zoram start walking toward his brothers.)
And it came to pass, that when Laman saw Nephi he was very scared, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they ran
from Nephi, for they thought he was Laban. And Nephi called after them, and they did hear him, and stopped
running. And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban saw Nephi’s brothers he began to tremble, and was
about to run. But Nephi grabbed the servant and held him. And he spake unto him saying:
Nephi: If you listen to my words, we will spare your life. Do not be afraid. If you will go into the wilderness with
us, you will be a free man.
And it came to pass that Zoram did promise that he would go down into the wilderness, and that he would go
with them from then on. And it came to pass that they took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and
departed into the wilderness and journeyed back to the tent of our father.
(Nephi and his brother and Zoram exit.)

(A horn is blown to tell the kids to return to the time machine.)

Have everyone go in the time machine and sit down.

Inside the Time Machine:

Scientist: Wow, wasn’t that an amazing story. Wouldn’t it have been so hard to go and get the brass plates.
Nephi and his brothers could have been killed, but Nephi wanted to be obedient to Heavenly Father. And because
he obeyed he was blessed. Alright, where should we go next….(Look through the gold plates) Oh, I know. This
is one of my favorite Book of Mormon Stories. Let me just enter in the date and place. And we’re on our way!!

Stop 2:
2: The Tree of Life
Open the door to the time machine. In front of the door is the Rod, there is also a mist of darkness. Tell the
children to stay together and to follow you. Warn them that it is very foggy, but if we stay together we will be
okay. (You could have others at the rod.)
Split the children into groups. Have an adult/leader go with a group of children and help them hold to the rod
until they reach the Tree of Life.
As they reach the Tree, have them sit down and be reverent, have music playing in the background.
Lehi is standing by the tree. As the children come in, Lehi offers them the fruit from the tree. (If you don’t want
to give them an entire apple, cut them into slices before, and just give them a slice of an apple.)
When everyone is there, Lehi begins the story of the Tree of Life. (Have him holding the Gold Plates, and read
from them.)
Lehi: “Behold, I have dreamed a dream. And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white
robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and asked me to follow him.
And as I followed him I found myself in a dark and dreary place. And after I had traveled for many hours, I
began to pray unto the Lord. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious
field. And it came to pass that I saw a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that
I did go forth and partake of the fruit; and it was most sweet, above anything that I had ever tasted. And the fruit
was white, whiter than I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit, it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy;
wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also. And as I looked around, that I might
see my family, I saw a river of water near the tree. And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of
the river and led to the tree by which I stood. And I also saw a strait and narrow path, which came along beside
the rod of iron, and led to the tree by which I stood. And I saw many people pressing forward, that they might
obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness;
insomuch that they who had started on the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. And it
came to pass that I saw others pressing forward, and they came forth and held on to the end of the iron rod, and
they held on until they had reached the end and partook of the fruit.
Then we will explain what everything represents:
(4-5 minutes.) Have someone explain what the Tree, Fruit, Iron Rod, and the Mist of Darkness represent. They
will also talk about the people that came to the Tree and ate the fruit and then were ashamed. Then have the
person tell the children about the big and spacious building, and read…
“And after they ate of the fruit, they looked around as if they were ashamed. And I also looked around and saw
on the other side of the river, a great big building. And it was filled with many people. And they were mocking
and pointing fingers towards those who had come and partook of the fruit. And after they had come and eaten the
fruit they were ashamed, because of the people that were laughing at them, and they fell away into paths and were
lost.”
When they are finished explaining what everything represents blow the horn to let the children know it is
time to return to the time machine.

Back in the Time Machine:

Did everyone enjoy that Book of Mormon Story? Does anyone remember what the Iron Rod represented? How
about the Tree? Isn’t that an amazing vision that Lehi had?
Alright, let me see…where should we go next. I’ve got it! Let’s enter in the date and place.

Stop 3: The Liahona

O.K We’re here. Open the door to the time machine and on the ground is the Liahona. Oh, wow! What is
this?? Wait, I think I know what this is!
Explain to the children what the Liahona is, and how it works.
(You could show them the GAK picture that goes with this story.)
One morning Lehi went to the tent door and, to his amazement, found a strange round ball on the ground. The
ball was called the Liahona. The Liahona was made of fine brass, and inside the ball were two spindles. One of
the spindles pointed the direction Lehi and his family should travel. They followed the directions and were led
through ‘the more fertile parts of the wilderness.’ They found that the pointers worked according to their faith,
work, and obedience.
Just like Lehi and his family, we can be guided by the spirit when we have faith, work and are obedient. We may
not have this round ball of brass, but we have things that our Father in Heaven has given us to help us know
which way to go like: Scriptures, Latter-day Prophets, going to Church, etc.
Let’s find our next stop…ooohhh, I know you’ll like this one. This story is about a Book of Mormon Hero that
was very brave and very obedient. Let’s enter in our Date and Place…(Play music and turn on light for the
time machine.)
Are you ready for this??? Now, we must stay together, and out of the way. Let’s go. (Open the doors)

Stop 4:
4 Ammon defends King Lamoni’s Flocks
Actors:
Ammon: Robbers: Sheep:
Servants: King Lamoni:

(We had the 8-11 year old boys help us out as robbers, so they could pass it off and receive their badge for
helping with a quarterly activity. And the sheep were the 8-11 year old girls.)
(Ammon enters into the cultural hall through the doors and walks to the center of the gym. The guards
come through the stage curtain and capture Ammon and tie him up. Curtains open and King Lamoni is
sitting up on the stage. They take Ammon up on the stage to King Lamoni.)
Scientist: And, the Lamanites took Ammon to King Lamoni. And King Lamoni asked Ammon if he wanted to
stay in the land among the lamonites, and Ammon said unto him,
Ammon: “Yea, I desire to live among this people for a time; perhaps until the day I die.”
Scientist: And King Lamoni was very pleased and freed Ammon. Ammon told the king he wished to be his
servant, so King Lamoni sent him to tend his flocks.

(Close the curtains. Ammon and the servants enter with the sheep and go out into the cultural hall.)
And after he had been in the service of the king three days, behold a certain number of the Lamanites came and
scattered King Lamoni’s flocks.

(Robbers enter through the kitchen screaming and yelling. The sheep scatter. Then the robbers leave
through the kitchen. The servants sit down and are very upset.)

Servant: “Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the
wickedness of these men.”
(Begin to cry and be scared.)
Scientist: Now they wept because they were afraid of being killed. But Ammon realized this was an opportunity
to be a missionary. He invited the servants to help him find the sheep.

(Walk around the gym and gather the sheep.)

After Ammon and the others had gathered the animals, the robbers came again.

(Robbers enter)

Ammon: “Circle around the sheep, so they will not run away, and I will go and fight the robbers.”
Scientist: The robbers thought they could kill Ammon, but he had the Lord’s protection.
Ammon used his sling to throw stones at the robbers. The men were astonished. They tried to kill him with
stones, but could not hit him. Then they came at him with clubs. But every time a robber lifted a club, Ammon
cut off the man’s arm with his sword. The remaining robbers became scared and ran away.
After the robbers run away, the servants will exit through the door by the stage, Ammon exits also.
Curtains Open
King Lamoni is sitting on the stage. Servants enter and go to King Lamoni.
Scientist: When King Lamoni learned what had happened, he was amazed. He thought Ammon was the Great
Spirit.
King Lamoni: “Where is this man that has such great power?”
Servant: “Behold he is feeding thy horses, and preparing thy chariots.”
Scientist King Lamoni was even more astonished. The King was afraid to ask Ammon to come to him because
he thought Ammon was a god.
(Ammon enters onto the stage.)
When Ammon was finished with his work, he went to the king and asked what the king desired of him. But King
Lamoni did not know what to say. With the help of the Holy Ghost, Ammon knew what the king was thinking.
Ammon: “Is it because you have heard that I defended your servants and the flocks, and slew seven men in order
to defend thy flocks and thy servants; is it this that causeth thy marveling?”
King Lamoni: “Are you that Great Spirit who knows all things?”
Ammon: “I am not”
King Lamoni: “Then how do you know the thoughts of my heart? And also tell me by what power you slew all
those men? And if you tell me these things, I will give you whatever you desire.”
Ammon: “Will you hearken unto my words if I tell you by what power I do these things? This is the thing that I
desire of you.”
Scientist: And King Lamoni answered him and said yes, that he would believe all of Ammon’s words.
Ammon taught King Lamoni and his servants about Heavenly Father, the Creation of the earth, the scriptures,
and the plan of salvation. King Lamoni believed what Ammon taught him. And he prayed to the Lord to have
mercy upon him and his people.
Horn is blown to tell the children to return to the time machine.

Inside the Time Machine:

How’d you like that story? Wasn’t Ammon so brave and courageous to fight all of those men? But he was also a
very good missionary. He could have left when King Lamoni freed him, but he wanted to teach King Lamoni the
gospel, and decided to stay and serve him.
Alright, let me see…hmmm…do any of you know the story of Samuel the Lamanite? I think that’s our next
stop…..
When you get to your desination have to adults/helpers get your crumpled paper/stones, and pass one out to each
child as they exit the time machine. Tell the children to hold on to them. They will be using these to throw at
Samuel.

Stop 5: Samuel the Lamanite

Scientist: And it came to pass, that Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach
unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast
him out, and he was about to return to his own land.
(Have 2 people grab Samuel and take him into the kitchen.)
But behold, the voice of the Lord said unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people
whatsoever things should come into his heart.
And it came to pass that the people would not let him back into their city, so Samuel climbed on top of the city
wall.
(Have Samuel go up on the stage.)
Samuel: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, speaks the words of the Lord. Behold, he has put it into my heart to say
unto you that your nation will be destroyed. If you do not repent you will be destroyed by war, famine, and
pestilence. But if you repent and return unto the Lord your God he will turn away his Anger; yeah, those who
repent, blessed are they.
And behold, I give unto you a sign; for in five years the Son of God will come to redeem all those who believe in
his name. Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, where there will be no darkness. And a new
star will appear. And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

Scientist: Samuel also told them the signs of Jesus’ death. Following Jesus’ death, there would be total darkness
for three days, until Jesus was resurrected. There would also be thundering and lightning, violent earthquakes,
and tempests. Entire cities would be destroyed. After Christ’s Resurrection, many righteous dead would be
resurrected.
Many Nephites believe Samuel, but those who did not became very angry.
(Have some of the people begin to look angry and start saying mean things and throwing things at
Samuel.)
(This is where you can have the children throw their stones at Samuel.)
They began throwing stones and shot arrows at him as he stood on the wall, but they could not hit him. When
some of the people saw that they could not hit him, they realized the Spirit of the Lord was protecting him, and
they too believed.
Most Nephites, however, did not believe Samuel. When they saw the stones and arrows were not hitting him,
they tried to capture him.
(Have 2 people run up the stairs to the stage.)
Samuel jumped down from the wall and left the land. The Nephites never heard from him again.
Horn is blown to have us return to the Time Machine.

Inside the Time Machine:(3-4 min.)

That was amazing. Although the people were throwing rocks, and shooting arrows, they could not hit Samuel. Do
you know why? Yes, because the Lord was protecting him. If we do what we are asked to do we will be protected
and we will be blessed. (Look at your watch.)
Oh, No! We’re almost out of time. I think we have enough time for one more stop. Do you want to go? Alright
then. Now before we go, I am going to share something with you…
In the Book of Mormon we read about the final battle against the Nephites and the Lamanites. Mormon, did not
want the sacred records of his people to be destroyed, so he hid part of them in Hill Cumorah and gave the rest to
his son Moroni. Then the battle began. The fighting was fierce,a nd by the end the Lamanites had killed almost
all the Nephites. Mormon looked around at all who had been killed. He then wrote to the Lamanites of the latter
days, telling them to repent and to believe in Jesus Christ. He told them to stop waging war, to be baptized, and to
receive the Holy Ghost. He said if they would these things, they would be blessed in the Day of Judgment.
The Lamanites hunted and killed the rest of the Nephites, including Mormon. Only Moroni was left.
We are now going to go and visit Moroni who is hiding the Gold Plates, so that the Lamanites can not get them.
Is everyone ready? Then let’s go.

Stop 6: Moroni Hides the Plates in Hill Cumorah

Everyone exits the Time Machine and sits down. Moroni enters onto the stage and walks down the steps to
come and talk to us.
-Have Moroni talk to the children about all the many stories in the Book of Mormon and have him
encourage the children to read the Book of Mormon.
Moroni: My father, Mormon, was commanded by the Lord no to let the sacred records fall into the hands of the
Lamanites. He took most of the records that have been handed down from generation to generation and hid them
in Hill Cumorah. Then my Father, gave me, the rest of the plates so that I could finish the record.
After the final battle, the Lamanites killed all the Nephites, except me. I have been hiding from the Lamanites,
and while I hid, I abridged the history of the Jaredite people. I also wrote more upon the plates that my father had
given me.
I want you to do something for me. I want you to read the Book of Mormon. These stories that you have heard
today are in this amazing book, and there are many more. Read the teachings from this book, and then go to your
Heavenly Father in prayer, and ask him if it is true.
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the
name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in
Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
(After this Moroni walks back up to the stage and hides the gold plates in Hill Cumorah.)

We go back into the time machine to go back to the present day.

Once we are back in the present day, before we exit the time machine, I was going to share the story of
Jesus Christ Appearing to the Nephites, GAK 315. After we have talked about that we will exit the time
machine into the cultural hall.

While we’re in the time machine some of the adults will be setting up the tables and chairs for the
Testimony part of the activity.

The next part of our activity is on Testimonies. We are going to have the Missionaries come and talk to the
children about Testimonies. We are going to have them do the Testimony Glove. After they have talked about
what a Testimony is, each class, as a group, will write their Testimony on a piece of paper, and then we will be
gluing it into a Book of Mormon.

For a snack we will be serving Fruit Pizza.