Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Matthew 17:1–9; Mark 9:2–10; Luke 9:28–36
The Mount of Transfiguration
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Matthew 17:5
A climb to pray, a face that shone as the sun, two ancient prophets, a bright cloud and the Father’s voice. Climb the mountain, look closer, and hear Him.
Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain to pray. As He prayed, He was transfigured: His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and talked with Him about His coming death in Jerusalem. Peter, overwhelmed, offered to build three shelters.
Then a bright cloud covered them, and the Father’s voice said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” The disciples fell to the ground, terrified. Jesus came, touched them and said, “Arise, and be not afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus.
Who’s who
Jesus: praying on the mountain
Peter, James and John: three of the Twelve
Moses and Elijah: ancient prophets
Where and when
A high mountain, apart from the crowds.
Watch for the Savior
The Father pointed to His Son with three words: hear ye him.
Eight stops up the mountain and back down. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the climb, the glory, the cloud and the voice, and “Jesus only.” Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Matthew 17:2 “And was Meaning: changed in appearance, filled with glory. before them”
Matthew 17:2 “his Meaning: clothing. was white as the light”
Matthew 17:3 “Moses and Meaning: Elijah, the Old Testament prophet. talking with him”
Matthew 17:4 “let us make here three Meaning: tents, shelters.”
Matthew 17:5 “a bright cloud Meaning: covered, surrounded. them”
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Look closer
This is a true account, not a parable. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets and Church resources, and each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The mountain, three witnesses, prayer, the sun, white robes, the law and the prophets, three tents, the cloud and an ear to hear. Matthew 17:1–9
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Where are you on the mountain?
People on this mountain needed to go apart, felt afraid, heard too many voices, or came down after a spiritual high. Which feels most like you right now?
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Light the mountain
Tap each star to light it, and the words spoken there will fill in, in order. When every star is lit, the mountain fills with light.
“His face did shine as the sun.” Matthew 17:2
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Their world, their words
A little background helps us see why Moses and Elijah were there and what the Father’s words meant. Outside sources are labeled.
Apostle · Talmage
Strength for what was ahead
Elder Talmage: “Unto Christ the manifestation was strengthening and encouraging.” Moses and Elijah spoke “of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.”6
The cross was coming, and heaven strengthened Him.
Apostle · Talmage
Hear ye Him
Elder Talmage: “The apostles were to be guided neither by Moses nor Elijah, but by Him, their Lord, Jesus the Christ.”6
The law and the prophets point to Him.
Apostle · Talmage
Keys restored
Elder Talmage: in this dispensation Elias and Elijah “have appeared in person and have conferred their particular and separate authority upon latter-day bearers of the Holy Priesthood.”6
The same messengers came again.
Scripture
Peter remembered
Years later Peter wrote, “this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”4
Bible Hub: “To transform, to change form.”7Outside · lexicon
For a moment His outward appearance showed His glory: “his face did shine as the sun.”1
What the text does not say
The account doesn’t say the disciples understood everything they saw. Luke says Peter spoke “not knowing what he said,”2 and Elder Talmage writes that “what of actual communication passed in the conference of Jesus with Moses and Elijah is not of full record in the New Testament Gospels.”6
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Look to Him
For a moment, three friends saw His glory. Then He came down the mountain with them.
President Russell M. Nelson: “In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life.”
President Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” April 20205
“Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son.”
“And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” Luke 9:29
2 Peter
Eyewitnesses
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16
President Nelson: “To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel.”5 How will you hear Him this week?
Try it today
One way to hear Him a day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days of hearing Him. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
Read Matthew 17:1–8 slowly. Then sit in quiet and ask Heavenly Father what His Son wants you to hear today, and listen. Matthew 17:1–8
A verse to hold
Talk about it
Why do you think Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain?
What do you think it was like to see His face shine as the sun?
The Father said, “Hear ye him.” What are some ways we can hear Jesus today?
When they looked up, they saw “Jesus only.” What helps us keep our eyes on Him?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Prophet
President Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him” (2020)
How the Father introduces His Son with few words, what it means to hear and heed Him, and where we go to hear Him: scripture, the temple, the Spirit and prophets.5
The Mount of Transfiguration, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Mount of Transfiguration is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for April 5–11, 2027 (Matthew 15–17; Mark 7–9).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. This is a true account, not a parable; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
