Why You Need to Know These Scriptures to Study Before a LDS Church History Tour
Planning to go on one of our LDS Church History tours? You are in for a remarkable journey. From the Sacred Grove in Palmyra to the bustling community of Nauvoo, these sacred sites tell the story of faith, revelation, sacrifice, and restoration. But to truly experience the spirit of the journey, you will want to do more than just pack your bags: you will want to prepare your heart and mind with the scriptures to study before a LDS Church History tour.
Scripture study is the bridge between history and revelation. It gives you context for the stories, deepens your spiritual insight, and allows the Lord to teach you personally as you walk the paths of early members of the Church. In this guide, we will walk you through what to study, why it matters, and how to align your study with your travel itinerary.
Why Scripture Study Enhances Your LDS Church History Tour
When you stand in Liberty Jail or kneel in the Sacred Grove, the experience is already divine and sacred. But, if you have studied the Lord’s words revealed in these places, the meaning runs even deeper.
Scripture study provides spiritual context: Why a revelation was given, and to whom. It provides emotional resonance: the fears, hopes and courage of individuals and members of the early Church. They also provide doctrinal depth: eternal principles behind very temporal events. And finally, scripture study provides personal relevance: how the Restoration applies to your life specifically.
That is why identifying the right scriptures to study before an LDS church history tour can turn a meaningful trip into a life-altering spiritual journey.
1. Doctrine and Covenants: The Backbone of the Restoration
Let’s start with the Doctrine and Covenants. Seemingly the obvious choice, this book is your tour map in spiritual form. Many of the revelations were given in the exact locations you will visit: Kirtland, Independence, Liberty, and Nauvoo.
Some of the most essential scriptures to study before an LDS church history tour from the Doctrine and Covenants include:
- D&C 1 – The Lord’s preface to the book: a declaration that His hand is in the Restoration.
- D&C 6, 8, 9 – Revelations to Oliver Cowdery that reveal how personal revelation works.
- D&C 10 – The Lord’s response to the lost 116 pages, a lesson in trust and divine foresight.
- D&C 20 – The Articles and Covenants of the Church, foundational to Church organization and doctrine.
- D&C 88 – The “Olive Leaf,” a profound revelation received in Kirtland focused on light, learning, and peace.
- D&C 109-110 – The Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer and Christ’s appearance to accept it.
- D&C 121-123 – Letters from Liberty Jail: deep doctrine on priesthood, adversity and agency.
Each of these revelations unlocks layers of meaning as you stand in the physical locations where they were received. As you read, imagine the voices, prayers, and struggles that shaped them.
2. Book of Mormon: The Foundation of Testimony
While the Book of Mormon doesn’t record Church history events, it is the cornerstone of the Restoration. The early Saints clung to it during persecutions, missionaries shared it across the globe, and it remains a vital source of strength today. Plus, following Joseph Smith’s First Vision, the existence and whereabouts of the Book of Mormon in its raw form (the gold plates) were the first thing revealed to Joseph Smith.
Here are a few Book of Mormon passages that make powerful scriptures to study before an LDS Church History tour:
- 2 Nephi 3 – Lehi prophesies of a future seer (Joseph Smith) from his own seed.
- 2 Nephi 27 – Speaks of the “book that is sealed,” a prophecy fulfilled by the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
- Mosiah 18 – Alma’s covenant community at the Waters of Mormon – an early example of organized Church life.
- Alma 37 – Alma entrusts sacred records to his son Helaman, emphasizing the preservation of truth.
- 3 Nephi 11 – The Savior’s personal appearance to the Nephites, the central message the LDS Church continues to share.
When you understand how much the Book of Mormon meant to the early Saints, it becomes more clear why they were willing to sacrifice homes, land and even their lives to share it.
3. The Bible: Ancient Prophecies, Modern Fulfillment
Early Church members found reassurance and power in the Bible’s prophecies about the Restoration. Studying these scriptures before your tour can help you recognize how Latter-day Saints saw themselves as fulfilling ancient promises. Among the best scriptures to study before an LDS Church History tour from the Bible are:
- James 1:5 – The scripture that launched the Restoration, prompting Joseph Smith to pray in the Sacred Grove.
- Isaiah 2:2-3 – A prophecy about the Lord’s house being established in the last days.
- Isaiah 29:11-14 – “A book that is sealed” and a “marvelous work and a wonder.”
- Ezekiel 37:15-17 – Malachi 4:5-6 – The turning of hearts, fulfilled through temple and family history work.
- Acts 3:19-21 – The promise of the “restitution of all things.” These verse show the Lord’s hand in moving across millennia to prepare for the Restoration: and our LDS Church History tour becomes a celebration of that divine orchestration.
4. Personal Revelation: Ask, Seek, and Receive
Your list of scriptures to study before an LDS Church History tour doesn’t have to stop with what others recommend. The most powerful study will come through personal revelation. Below are some tips to personalize your study:
- Pray Before: Ask the Lord what he wants you to learn.
- Keep a Study Journal: Record what stands out to you and how it applies to your life.
- Follow Spiritual Impressions: Don’t ignore detours; sometimes the most meaningful scriptures are not on the itinerary. They hit deep and real.
- Listen to Talks: Take the time to hear the witness and testimony of LDS Church leaders about these LDS Church History sites. Learn more about the Restoration, the faith of early Church members, and the divinely inspired appointments leading to our day.
Let the Lord guide your preparation so He can speak to you more clearly during your journey.
5. Pairing Scriptures with Sites
An alternative way to study is site by site that you will experience on tour. Here is a travel-aligned guide for match scriptures to study before an LDS Church History tour with the places you will visit:
Palmyra, NY
- Joseph Smith History 1:1-20
- James 1:5
- 2 Nephi 3
- D&C 2
Fayette, NY
- D&C 20 – Organization of the Church.
- D&C 21 – The Lord’s voice to Joseph Smith as a prophet.
Kirtland, OH
- D&C 88, 89, 93 – Revelations on light, the Word of Wisdom, and truth.
Nauvoo, IL
- D&C 124 – Command to build the Nauvoo Temple.
- D&C 127-128 – Teachings on baptisms for the dead and record-keeping.
Liberty Jail, MO
- D&C 121-123 – Leadership under fire, the refining power of adversity.
Independence, MO
- D&C 57 – Designation of the land Zion.
- D&C 58-59 – Principles of sacrifice and Sabbath worship.
Having these scriptures in your mind makes the spiritual history come alive as you stand in the places where revelation flowed.
6. Practical Study Plan
Want to make this more actionable? Try this simple study calendar:
4 Weeks Before Your LDS Church History Tour:
- Focus on Joseph Smith History and early sections of D&C (1-20)
- Include James 1:5 and 2 Nephi 3
3 Weeks Before Your LDS Church History Tour:
- Dive into Kirtland-era revelations (D&C 88,89, 109, 110)
- Study Acts 3:19-21 and Malachi 4
2 Weeks Before Your LDS Church History Tour:
- Read Liberty Jail D&C Sections (121-123)
- Ponder Mosiah 18 & Alma 36
1 Week Before Your LDS Church History Tour:
- Review Nauvoo Sections (D&C 124, 127, 128)
- Read 3 Nephi 11 and Isaiah 29
During the Tour:
- Keep your scriptures or Gospel Library app handy.
- Mark impressions and thoughts connected to each site in the margins or notes.
Final Thoughts
The Restoration is still unfolding, and as a modern disciple, you are part of that story. The best scriptures to study before an LDS Church History tour are those that connect your heart to God’s work and prepare you to receive personal revelation in sacred places.
This isn’t just a trip. It is an invitation to feel what the early Saints felt, to know what they knew, and to recommit yourself to building Zion today. As you open the scriptures before and during your tour, you will see how the Lord speaks across time and speaks to you.
