Since the Book of Mormon videos were released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September 2019, Johanna Borela of Pasay Philippines Stake has used the videos to supplement their gospel study at home.
With the Book of Mormon as the main focus of this year’s Come, Follow Me gospel curriculum, the videos have proven even more useful. Johanna said that she used the videos as visual supplements when they teach their young daughter.
Johanna also added that they have made watching the Book of Mormon videos a part of their Come, Follow Me Sunday lessons where her in-laws are present. She explained that it became easier and more interesting to her in-laws who are not members of the Church to learn stories from the Book of Mormon each time they watch the videos.
Book of Mormon Videos Weekly
To make the Book of Mormon videos readily accessible to Latter-day Saints in the Philippines and to those who are interested to learn more about the stories in the sacred scripture, the Church in the Philippines will be hosting Book of Mormon watch parties on their Facebook page weekly at three different schedules:
- English – Every Tuesday at 6:00 pm
- Tagalog – Every Thursday at 6:00 pm
- Cebuano – Every Saturday at 6:00 pm
For the English versions, the videos will follow the Come, Follow Me lesson schedule for the week. The Tagalog and Cebuano versions will start in the first chapters of Nephi and onwards, providing an opportunity for members of the Church to watch the reruns in case they have missed them.
Moreover, the watch parties will also be available on the Church’s News & Inspiration Philippines Facebook group on the same schedules.
Book of Mormon Characters Come to Life
Like Johanna, Marjorie Teh of Davao Philippines Stake appreciated the videos. A mother to a son with Attention Deficit Disorder, Marjorie shared that watching the videos helped his son feel and understand more about during their scripture study. “Personally, I appreciated the stories more as they give us a more thorough background about what we were reading and studying,” she said.
Furthermore, Eda Brojan-Calimlim from Legazpi Philippines Stake shared that since the videos were released last year, they have been using them in their personal and family studies as well as during their Sunday Schools classes before Church services were suspended.
“They provide additional perspective into the words since the people and the settings come alive,” Eda shared. “The visual and audio details help us gain a deeper insight into what the people (like the prophets) must have felt and experienced and how the word of the Lord plays out in their lives.”
Antoniette A. Nuñez of Cebu City Philippines Stake, a mother of three kids, said that they find the videos a good supplement because they “keep the stories alive to the kids.”
Book of Mormon Videos for Effective Learning
The release of the videos came at a time to enhance member’s study of the 2020 Come, Follow Me curriculum.
“It is our hope that these videos will lead to increased study and understanding of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. The videos should support but not replace the personal study of the Book of Mormon,” said the First Presidency in a letter addressed to all Church leaders in September 2019.
“We invite all to use the videos and images at home and at church. They may also be used in introducing others to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. As we use and share this video series, our faith in the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be strengthened, and we will find ourselves participating more fully in the gathering of Israel promised in and through the Book of Mormon.”
Latter-day Saints are encouraged to invite their friends and family to watch the videos together during screen times as well as to engage in friendly, gospel-oriented, and faith-promoting discussions while watching them.