Coming this Fall, you will be able to interact with the Gospel Library by using your voice on your iPhone and iPad, and use a mouse with your iPad. This is a brief introduction to these two new features.
Apple announced they are creating two separate operating systems (OS) – iOS 13 for the phone, and IOS 13 for the iPad. The purpose is to address the individual needs of each device.
However, there are several features they will have in common. One of them is Voice Control. This enables you to use your device without having to touch the screen. While this will be a great benefit to those with special needs, it may prove to be a benefit to every user, and time will tell if it catches on with the general public.
Currently, iPadOS 13 is in beta, and I downloaded it to my iPad to get familiar with the new OS and to try out Voice Control with the Gospel Library, and I was very impressed.
Once I turned on Voice Control, I said, “open library” and the Gospel Library opened. Then I gave the command, “tap on bookmarks,” and my Bookmarks opened. This was followed by “tap on personal study,” and my personal study Bookmark opened.
I was also able to open and close Footnotes, Notes, Tags along with scrolling up and down
One problem I had was selecting text. I was able to choose one word but not the entire verse. At this point, I am not sure if the problem was with the beta, or I was not providing the right command.
Despite the glitch, one thing is sure, I am very excited by the possibilities Voice Control offers those with special needs, but also for the public in general.
Apple has been the leader in offering accessibility to everyone, and Voice Control becomes an powerful arrow in Apple’s quiver.
As mentioned above it will be interesting to see if the general public will make use of Voice Control. And if it does catch on will Apple make further improvements in its use.
Another new feature for the iPad is the ability to add a mouse. This feature is well hidden in the Accessibility in settings and requires that you turn on AssistiveTouch.
You can use a mouse connected by cable or wirelessly. Depending on the iPad you have if you use a mouse connected by cable you may need an adapter.
I used an Apple wireless mouse and was very pleased with the results even though it lacks a few options normally found with a mouse such has right click to bring up a sub menu.
As pointed out above the mouse capability was added to help those that have physical challenges, but this feature will be a game changer for everyone even with some of its limitations.
Voice Control and using a mouse are just two of the many new features that are coming with iOS 13 for your phone and iPadOS 13 for your iPad.
September will be an exciting month when both OS will be made available to the public.
However, they are only tools, and of little value without the Spirit’s guiding hand. Their purpose is to provide a way for us study it out in our minds, to ponder, and to know of what we need to inquire of the Lord so that the Spirit can work within us.
One potent tool is outlining. Creating an outline of verses, or a chapter provides clarity, reveals new insights, and brings forth further questions.
In the early 1960’s a new way of outlining was introduced by Tony Buzan, a graduate of the University of British Columbia in psychology, English, Mathematics and General Sciences, and inventor of Mind Mapping.
What is Mind Mapping
According to Mind/Maps Unleashed, “mind mapping is a powerful graphic technique that increases your creativity and productivity because it’s an excellent tool to let you generate more ideas, identify relationships among the different data and information, and effectively improve your memory and retention.”
Buzan’s concept of mind mapping started with colored pencils and paper, but has evolved in the digital age to powerful and fun applications. A list of popular mind mapping apps is at the end of this post.
How Mind Mapping Helps Me
For me, the Title Page of the Book of Mormon is a difficult read because of the grammatical structure. After creating a mind map, its purpose becomes much clearer. I began to see the relationship of the Book Mormon to the Gentiles, Jews, and the House of Israel. The map helped me put all of the pieces together.
One thing to keep in mind is mind mapping is more comfortable using a large screen such as your desktop computer, or tablet. While you can create mind maps on your smartphone, it is not something you will want to do for an extended period. However, the smartphone is great for quickly adding a thought or two to your mind map while on the go.
While this article is about mind mapping the scriptures, mind maps are useful in other ways. For example, this article was created using the mind mapping app MindNode.
Connecting Your Mind Map to the Gospel Library
When I create a mind map related to the material in the Gospel Library, I copy the link of the mind map and paste it in a Note in the Gospel Library. This is not always an easy task. Below, are the steps using MindNode as an example.
First, create a mind map, and get a copy of the URL by doing the following:
In MindNode
Tap on the Share icon
Tap on myMindNode
Tap on “Upload Document” or “Replace Document”
Tap on Share URL
Tap on Copy (swipe to the left if you do not see the command)
In the Gospel Library:
Select a verse or chapter
Tap on Note
In the Title field, add some information, e.g., “A mind map of the vision.”
Now the next time you are reading that chapter, or perhaps teaching a class, and you want to view or share it, just tap on the link.
However, there is a problem. Notice that the link starts with https:// indicating the link is to a website. To view the mind map you will need wifi access. Currently, the Gospel Library only works with website links.
Many apps today use x-callbacks that allow one app to link temporarily with another app. The most common use is to launch an application from within an application. However, there are applications like the Gospel Library that have not implemented them. Here is an example of a callback:
mindnode://open?name=D&C%206.mindnode
This callback would open the D&C 6 file in the MindNode app.
Until the Gospel Library allows callbacks, here is a workaround using Evernote. If you do not have Evernote download the app before continuing. Evernote works on all platforms, and they have various plans. The free version is all you need to do the following.
Solution
Open MindNode
Create a mind map in MindNode
Tap on the Share icon
Tap on “Export Type”
Tap on “Image”
Tap on “Send to App…”
Find and tap on “Evernote” (you may have to swipe to the left to find it)
Type a title or subject of the mind map
As an option, you can tap on the Notebook field to send it to a Notebook of your choice, and/or tap on the Tag field to create a tag, e.g., “Mind Map.”
At this point, you should be really puzzled. The link above is a link to the Evernote website, so how does this solve the problem of working without wifi access? An excellent question, and here is the answer.
Simple Explanation
When a website link to a document is triggered some apps, for example Evernote, reasons, “Hey, that is a link to the document on the internet, but I have my application right here on this tablet, so I am going open the document in the application instead of the internet.”
Presently MindNode does not have that function, so we used Evernote in its place.
As a side note, the Gospel Library does have the same function as Evernote. Tap on a link to the Gospel Library website version and, if you have the Gospel Library on your device, the link will open in your mobile Gospel Library
So that you can get a better idea of using mind maps in scripture study below are links to other maps I have created.
As an Apple user I prefer MindNode. Because of the following:
Quick start feature – this important to quickly capture an idea
Fast – I like to get my ideas down in a free flowing easy manner
Node color is automatically created by Mindnode which saves me time
External displays can show the whole map while on the iPad I can zoom in
As a side note, all of the mind map apps can communicate with each other via the Freemind or OPML format options. This is important for two reasons.
First, you may start with one app then later discover you prefer another one. For example, I used iThoughts many years until reading a review of MindNode and found that it was easier to use.
Second, you may need to send your mind map to someone who is using a different mind map app. When transferring between various apps, keep in mind that formatting is not always perfect, so you may have to do a little tweaking on the receiving end.
It is essential to understand the meaning of a word. In the Gospel Library, you can select a word, then tap on “Define” and a dictionary with the definition of will appear.
Sometimes, a quick read of the definition will suffice, but there are times that you will want to place that definition in a “Note” for future reference.
The “Copy” command does not work within the popup definition. Thus, requiring you to remember the definition, and then type it into a “Note.”
This is not a problem if the definition is simple. However, if the definition has several meanings then you are left with having to go outside of the Library, open a dictionary, find the definition and then copy it, go back to the Library, select the word again, tap on “Note,” tap on the body of the “Note,” then tap on paste.
Here is an easier and quicker way. In this example, I am using the app Drafts. It has a free version which will serve our purposes for this exercise. You can also use Apple’s built-in app “Note,” however, Drafts is far superior. (see my note about Drafts at the end of this post).
Here are the steps:
Open Drafts.
Create a split screen with the Library on one side and Drafts on the other.
Select the word you want to be defined.
Hold your finger on the definition until it appears to lift off the page.
Keeping your finger on the definition drag it into Drafts, then lift your finger.
Close the dictionary.
There are now two options:
Step 1
In the Library, tap on “Note.”
Select the text in Drafts and drag the text into the “Note.”
Step 2
In Drafts tap on the Actions menu, in the upper right-hand corner.
Tap on the Action “Copy.”
In the Library tap on “Note,” then tap on the body of the “Note.”
Tap on Paste.
The above becomes even easier if you place Drafts into your “Dock,” then you can drag Drafts into the right or left of the screen to create a split-screen.
Note:
Everyone that has an iPhone or iPad should download Drafts. It is an award-winning, indispensable, and powerful app (did I add enough adjectives?) that will simplify your digital life. Click here to learn more.
I often get questions about downloading church videos and where to find it once it has downloaded; this is an easy question to answer.
However, the purpose of downloading a video is to share with a small group on a large screen; this leads to the next question of how to connect to a large screen. The answer to this is more complicated.
The purpose of this article is to answer these questions; to provide you the information you will need to use videos in your teaching successfully.
Information on cables and connections is first, then how to download and view videos from the four church apps.
Cable Connections
Viewing videos on your smartphone are great if you are the only one viewing the video, or perhaps sharing with one other person.
A tablet, is a step up from your smartphone, and could be viewable by 4 or 5 people if they are sitting close together.
However, the best option, when working with a group of people, is to connect your mobile device to a large screen.
However, this can be problematic, because it depends on what mobile device you have, which version of the operating system it uses, and the age of the large screen.
It is easier if you always teach in the same building because of the consistency. Once you have figured how to make the connection, there are no further worries.
However, if you are a missionary and always in different locations such as church buildings and homes, then connecting to a screen becomes an ongoing challenge. The positive side is over time, you will become a pro, and solve the problem regardless what is thrown before you.
In this section, I am going to cover, the most likely connections that you will face, and how to be prepared for any situation. There are two types of connections – cable and wireless and I will cover both.
Connections
Flat Screen
The most common connection is HDMI. Older devices will use VGA.
HDMI
VGA
Apple (iOS)
Older iPhones and iPads used a 30-pin connection. Newer devices, since the iPhone 5 and iPad 4th generation, use the lightning connection.
30 Pin
Lightning
Android
Older phones use the Micro-USB and the newer phones use USB C. Defining what are older and newer phones is beyond the scope of this article, because there are 15 different Android operating systems and a countless number of phones. (fig1 – micro USB, fig2 – USB C)
Micro USB
USB C
Summation
At the most basic level you need a cable that can connect to your mobile device on one end, and the other end to a large screen. Let’s look at the most common situations you will face.
Connecting
iOS
If you have an iPhone or iPad making a connection is really easy.
Purchase, depending on the age of your phone, either a lightning to HMDI dongle, or a 30-pin to HMDI dongle. Be sure to get the dongle that allows you to charge you phone while you are connected to the large screen.
For older large screens you will need a dongle that will connect via a VGA connection.
Lightning to HDMI with Charging Port
If the screen is connected to Apple TV then you will not need a cable. How do you know if there is an Apple TV connection? Look for the small Apple TV box, which is usually on a table below the screen. Don’t see it? ask!
Apple TV
To connect to Apple TV turn on the TV and open the Control Center on your phone. To open the Control Center Swipe up from the bottom edge of your phone. If you have a iPhone X or later or iPad with iOS 12 or later, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the phone. Now, tap on “Screen Mirroring.” and pick the name of the TV you want to connect to. You will see names like “Living Room,” or “Family Room,” if you are not sure which is the right one, then ask someone. Now the TV will show a four digit number. Enter that number on your device and you are connected.
Apple will also work with wireless connections Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV, The connection does not work as smoothly as Apple TV so it will require some practice. To know how to make the connection google for instructions. Roku and MiraScreen will not connect to Apple devices.
Chromecast
Amazon Stick
Roku
MiraScreen
Android
From personal experience connecting an Android to a large screen is problematic. As mentioned above it is strictly dependent on which phone you have, the operating system and the screen.
If you feel that figuring it out on your own is beyond your capabilities, my best advice is to get help from the local electronic store, a friend or family member who is a geek.
Going to an electronic store is not without trial and error. Sometimes you will end up with a connection that doesn’t work because the sales person is not knowledgeable of all the different types of Android devices (something that I can fully understand). Make sure you can return the item if it does not work.
Android can also make a wireless connection through Roku, Miracast and Chromecast to name a few. Some new TV’s even have Android mirroring built-in. In general, using an Android to work with the above is easy. For instructions google for instructions.
Tips
Practice, practice, practice. Practice at home and then go to the building where you will be presenting for further practice. Ask a few friends to allow you to connect to their screens.
Make sure your charge cords are long enough. I find that 10 feet is the minimum. Personal experience has taught me the frustration of trying to charge my device and the cord is to short.
Do not depend on the Ward or Stake having the correct dongle and/or cables. Bring your own. It will take just one time to find that the building’s dongle is defective, missing or being used by someone else that you will see the wisdom in purchasing your own. Yes, they are expensive, but well worth the peace of mind.
Video Sizes and Quality
When you download a video from the internet or apps, you often have to choose the kind of resolution you want to download. So what is the resolution? Answer? That depends.
The larger the number, the better the video will look, but it also takes more storage space. This section will give you the knowledge you need to make the right decision.
A screen (smartphone, tablet, computer, or TV) are made up of a series of dots called pixels. The screen resolution is determined by the number of vertical pixels in the screen.
In general, the more pixels, the better the picture, but the actual size of the screen tempers this. For example, a lower amount of pixels would look good on a small screen but not on a large one.
Since 2010 the standard resolutions are 360p, 720p and 1080p. The p means “progressive scan.” A progressive scan creates an image on a TV screen, where the lines are drawn in one at a time in sequential order. I know, BORING, but hang in there.
Below gives you an ideal of how much storage and what size of screen is best for the following number of pixels.
360p (37.6MB) 640×360
720p (102.1 MB) 1280Sx720
1080p (322.7 MB) 1920×1080
Some of the latest TV’s are at 4k, and there is talk of achieving 8k. One question that comes to mind when seeing these numbers is, can the human eye tell the difference.
Research has shown that the difference between 1080p and 4k it is virtually impossible to see. One would have to get very close to the screen to see any difference.
On smaller screens under 15 inches, it is hard to see the difference between 720p and 1080p.
Now here are some of the latest resolutions on smartphones.
IPhone X 2436 x 1125 (458ppi) (pixels per inch)
iPhone 6 1334 x 750 (326ppi)
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 2960 x 1440 (514ppi)
Samsung Galaxy s9 2220 x 1080 (570ppi)
Another factor is the aspect ratio of the screen. The standard is 16:9 and is what Apple has held to. Samsung for their Galaxy s9 is 18.5:9.
The most popular TV size is around 50 inches, and a 1080p resolution will be just fine.
So now you have the answer to which is the best to download. Consider the size of the screen you will view the video and pick the appropriate resolution; the smaller the screen, the lower resolution you need.
Closed Captioning (CC)
You should always be aware of the needs of your audience. Hearing loss is widespread, particularly with senior citizens. Providing CC with your videos will enable those that have trouble hearing or are deaf to read what is being spoken.
The problem is that not all of the church sites provide CC, and some videos were produced before CC was standard.
First, make sure that your mobile device has CC turned on.
For iOS go to Settings/General/Accessibility/Subtitles & Captioning.
For Android, go to Settings/Accessibility/Hearing Enhancements/Subtitles. Keep in mind the Android you have may differ. If that is the case, then google for information regarding your particular device.
Do not assume that because you have your settings set to CC that it will work in every case, even when CC is available for a particular video.
For example, the video, “Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation” provides captioning on my iOS devices but not for my Android. But when I download the video on my iOS device and play the video, the CC is lost.
If you are having trouble with captioning, go to YouTube and see if the video is available. All YouTube videos offer CC. The problem is unless you have YouTube Premium, you cannot download the video, which depending on your location and strength of the wifi could be a problem.
In considering those who are hard-of-hearing or deaf, do the best you can. If you are unable to offer CC, take the time to explain why. Perhaps you can offer them a print-out of the transcript.
Gospel Library
The Gospel Library has the following categories of videos available:
Inspirational Messages
Bible Videos
Old Testament Videos
New Testament Videos
Book of Mormon videos
Doctrine and Covenants Videos
Church videos
Films
TV Ads
Holiday Videos
Basic Beliefs
Introduction to the Church
Videos from 2010-2013
Many of these videos can also be found in Gospel Media.
Downloading
Open the video, tap on the large download icon on the screen and the video will quickly download. Tap on the play icon to watch the video.
Viewing
Tap on the play icon.
Gospel Media
iOS and Android
This is a companion to the Gospel Library app and provides full access to the media library on the church website. It contains videos, images, and music, which can be downloaded for an offline presentation.
There are three key advantages to using the app. First, you can organize your downloads into presentations enabling you to put the material in the order you need for a specific lesson.
Second, you can add notes to videos, images, and music in your presentation. Then when you play the presentation on a large screen such as a TV, you will be able to see your notes on your device, while the audience will see the video or image.
Third, you can trim the videos and music. Trimming allows you to decide where you want the video or music to begin and end.
Fourth, an excellent “Search” feature.
Other benefits are sharing individual material and playlists with others, and labeling a specific video, music, or images as a favorite for quick retrieval.
An excellent “User Guide” is available by tapping on the Settings icon in the lower right-hand corner, then tap on “User Guide.”
Be mindful that user guides may not keep up with the app updates. Therefore, something mentioned in the user guide may no longer be available, or not suggest a new function.
Downloading
Tap on the download icon in the upper right-hand corner and the video will quickly download, the download icon is replaced with a trashcan icon.
Viewing
Tap on the play icon.
Using the Media Library Online
Interactive Video
The following is from the church regarding “interactive video.”
“The Media Library now has interactive transcripts available for select videos. Interactive transcripts are displayed below the video source and allow the user to interact with the video in different ways. Each word is clickable, and the user can search for a specific word and navigate to that exact point in the video by clicking the word. As the user watches the video, the transcript highlights each word as it is spoken, allowing the user to follow along with the audio.
Interactive transcripts also allow the user to clip a specific part of the video by selecting that portion of the text. The user can then share that clip with a shortened link or on social media. The shared link includes the entire video but will start and stop playing where clipped. Viewers can watch the whole video from the shortened link.”
Go here for instructions on how to use “interactive Video.”
Mormon Channel App
An Internet 24/7 radio station that provides live broadcast of:
Music
Talk
According to the Church Magazines, “Mormon Channel, the official Church radio station, was launched in May 2009 at Radio.lds.org1The new station originates from Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, broadcasting new programs created specifically for Mormon Channel as well as content from the Church’s archives and programming from partner organizations such as Deseret Book, Bonneville International, the Deseret News, LDS Business College, and the campuses of Brigham Young University.” Official Church Radio Channel Launches Online by Kimberly Bowen, Church Magazines
The site has:
Radio
Podcasts
Video
Kids
Daily Quote
The MormonChannel app also adds memes.
Downloading
Tap on the download icon in the upper right-hand corner and the video will quickly download, the download icon is replaced with a trashcan icon.
Viewing
Tap on “Watch.” To see a list of the videos you have downloaded tap on the “Downloads” menu bar at the bottom of the screen.
YouTube
It is illegal to download a YouTube video using a third-party program or interface.
The only legal option is to subscribe to YouTube’s “YouTube Premium” service. The service includes YouTube originals and ad-free YouTube music.
The monthly cost:
Single $11.99
Family $22.99 (for six members)
Student $6.99
Internet
If the video you want to view is not in one of the church apps, then google it. Not all videos will be downloaded.
The following requires you to have a Dropbox account. If you do not have an account go to the Dropbox site and signup for a free account. By the way, everyone should have a Dropbox account; it is convenient in so many different ways. If you are new to Dropbox here is a short overview.
Downloading
Find the video you want to download.
Tap on the download icon.
Tap on the size of the video you want. The video will start playing, tap on the Pause icon.
Tap on the share icon
In the second row (gray icons) tap on “Save to Dropbox.” If you do not see Dropbox, then slide your finger to the left until Dropbox appears. If you get to the end and do not see Dropbox, then tap on the ellipsis which will open a list of available actions. Find Dropbox and make it available by sliding the on and off icon to the right, then tap on “Done.”
Now find “Save to Dropbox” and tap on it.
Now the file name will appear. I would suggest you change the name of the file so it will be easier to locate.
In the Save Location section, choose the folder where you want to save the file.
Tap on Save.
Viewing the Video
Now open the Dropbox app.
Locate the video and tap on the video.
Tap on the share icon.
Tap on Save Video.
On your device, go to Photos/Videos.
Tap on the video, then tap on Play.
Editing the Video
Open the Dropbox app.
Locate the video and tap on the video.
Tap on the share icon.
In the top row of icons (colored) find “Copy to iMovie” then tap on it. If the action is not there go to the end and tap on the ellipsis, find the action and make it available by sliding the on and off icon to the right, then tap on “Done.”
Now find and tap on the action “Copy to iMovie.
The video will now open in iMovie.
Complete any editing.
Tap on Done.
Tap on the title iMovie assigned the video (the title from Dropbox does not carry over) then type the title you want.
While at the RootsTech convention in Salt Lake City I saw an interesting interactive display. People were encouraged to take a skein of yarn provided in bins located at the left of the exhibit, then tie and connect all the data points that apply to them. The purpose was to show how all of us are interconnected.
As I looked at the exhibit, I thought of how it is an excellent example of the Tag function in the Gospel Library. Tags create personal connections to the principles, concepts, and messages found in the Gospel Library. The relationships are unique to my life experiences, circumstance, and knowledge of the gospel.
A frequent question I receive is regarding tags in the Gospel Library. The issues vary, but the most common are “What are tags?” and “How Do I use them?”
The term “tags” comes from the social media use of hashtags, which derived its name because of the use of a “#” before a word. A hashtag serves the same purpose as an index in the back of a book; the aim is to point to information found in the book. An index is arranged in alphabetical order and shows the page or pages where the data can be found.
Here is a partial list from an index in the book “The Sketchnote Handbook” by Mike Rohde. (an interesting book I recently finished reading).
A
About this book, xiv
Active listening, 46
B
Backup supplies, 58, 79
Balara, Matt, 91
C
Caching ideas, 25, 46, 48
The “Index to the Triple Combination” found in the Gospel Library and hard copies of the Triple Combination replaces pages numbers with scriptural references and often additional information. For example, in the hard copy of the scriptures the first entry is:
Aaron – brother of Moses (see also Bishop; Priesthood, Aaronic: BD)
D&C 8:6-9 gift of A.
The same information is found in the “Index to the Triple Combination” in the Gospel Library but is set up a little differently. You first locate the keyword, then tap on it for the information.
The index in the Gospel Library is far superior to the one in the hard copy of the scriptures because of the links. In the hard copy, under Aaron, it recommends also seeing the entry for Bishop. In the Gospel Library “Bishop” is a link, so instead of flipping through pages, one can quickly be taken to the entry “Bishop;” this is indeed a time-saver. This is why I recommend for those that prefer to use a hard copy of the scriptures for their study, to also use the Gospel Library in conjunction with their hard copy.
Now, back to Tags. Tags provide a way for you to build your own personal index to the scriptures (along with any other material found in the Gospel Library).
Here is a list of the first page of my Tags. Tapping on the first entry “Aaronic Priesthood” brings me to the next page.
Tags in the Gospel Library can be listed alphabetically, or by Count or Most Recent. Here are my tags sorted by Count. Notice I have 127 items that have been tagged with Prayer.
To create a Tag, select a word or some text, tap on Tag and give the Tag a name. Unlike hashtags in social media, the Tag in the Gospel Library can be more than one word. For example, in social media a hashtag would look like this “#baptismsforthedead,” in the Gospel Library it can be “Baptisms for the Dead.” (without the quotes)
You can have multiple Tags for the text you selected. For example, I have Helaman 3:35 tagged with Fasting, Humility, Prayer, and Sanctification.
You can create Tags for any material in the Gospel Library including, Conference talks, Come, Follow Me material, videos and etc.
Hopefully, this has cleared the air for those that question the use of Tags in the Gospel Library. So start tagging.
Evil is spreading. Please read this article about the legalization of pedophilia, and its enclosed links, and then spread the word. We must not be silent on this issue.
Multi-screens provides me quick and easy access to those items that I will be using while studying “Come, Follow Me.”
I thought it would be helpful to share with you what I have included in my Multi-screens and the order they are arranged:
Come, Follow Me lesson
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Bible Maps
Bible Maps Index
Important to note that Multi-screens are not synced across devices, so you will need to set up the Multi-screens for each device you use.
More About Notes
In “Come, Follow Me,” for February 4-10, there is a chart comparing Jesus Christ to you.
If you are using a smartphone in the portrait position, the chart does not look very much like a chart. If you turn your phone to the landscape position you will see the actual chart. In either position the results will be the same when following the instructions below.
The first column of the chart asks a question about Jesus Christ, followed by the answer.
The second column are questions about you and allows space for you to answer the questions.
This chart can be copied and pasted in a Note in the Gospel Library. The actual chart format is not retained, however, the text is kept intact, and in the order shown in the chart. Once copied, you can type in the answers to your questions. Here is a comparison between the chart and the Note.
From “Come, Follow Me.”
Phone
Notice in the Note to make it easier to read, I have bolded the questions and italicized the answers.
As always, I hope that you find the information of help in your study of the scriptures, and encourage you to share what works the best for you.
One my of my readers notified me this week that she is having a problem with the instructions regarding Multi-screens on page 110. The first set of instructions are:
Tap on Lessons.
Tap on Sunday School.
Tap on Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine. If it has not been downloaded, you will have to tap again to open it.
Tap on Lesson 1.
My reader said that she does not have a Collection called “Lessons” and therefore unable to find “Sunday School,” and “Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine.”
I informed her that it is because the Gospel Library has changed to conform with the “Come, Follow Me” curriculum, which came after the book went to the printer.
The introduction of my book in “How To Use This Book” on page xviii, I state the following, “Since technology changes at a blinding speed, a book on using technology or a how-to book on using an application is temporary at best. As technology changes, so do the applications that operate within the confines of the technology. New options become available, and often the placement of the options within the application are moved, combined, or deleted.
In addition, the hardware will also change to take advantage of the advanced technology. For example, the smartphones we use today will likely be very different than what we will be using in five years.”
I then explain that the book is designed to be principle-based; I suggest reading Section Five on UI Awareness to help understand the principles of using a digital device.
The recent change in the church curriculum is an example of the above statement.
As to the confusion regarding the Multi-screen example in the book. It is possible that you will not have a problem because you haven’t updated your Gospel Library software and therefore, you still have the old Collection structure.
However, if you find that you are having trouble with the Multi-screen instructions because the folders in the directions no longer exist, then substitute any folders and manuals you want. For example, Come, Follow Me/Sunday School/Come, Follow Me–For Sunday School/February/Matthew 4:Luke 4-5.
The purpose of the exercise in the book is to demonstrate how to create Multi-screens, though it would be nice to have the correlation, it is not important if what you are creating are not related.
Please remember, I am here to help with any questions you have. You can reach me by email, or leave a comment on my website. I will always respond and do whatever is necessary to help you. For example, once I sent a short video on how to perform a particular operation.
At the beginning of each weeks lesson it encourages you to “record your impressions.” There are several ways in which that can be accomplished.
Write, using a pen and paper, in a journal
Write, using a pen and paper, in a journal, then scanning it to a digital format
Write in the built-in Note app in your digital device
Write in a digital journal
Write a note attached to the scripture in the Gospel Library
As I have mentioned in previous posts, the critical issue is retrieving the information in the future, so option one is not an option because of the difficulty searching through volume of notes.
Option 2 and 3 are workable but separate the impressions from the scripture.
Options 4 and 5 are the best options, if option 4 is a journal created in a Notebook in the Gospel Library.
For example, while reading Luke 4:14 you receive an impression about the “power of the spirit” and how it applies to your life. You select the verse, then create a Note and record your impression. Before saving the Note you also, tap on the “Add to Notebook” icon, and create a Notebook on “ The Spirit,” then save the Note.
Now you have your insight attached to the scripture and have created a Notebook about the Spirit, which will reference the scripture and the note you created.
To make this method even better. You can copy the impression recorded in the Notebook into your digital journal. The journal would be an excellent way, to pass on to your posterity, your insights, and provide an excellent backup. As in previous post I have mentioned that I highly recommend the Day One journal.
For you use iOS and have the Day One app, the copy and pasting process can be automated.
Tap on the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner (the three horizontal dots), tap on “Share,” tap on Day One (you may have to swipe to the left to find it). If you have more than one journal, you will need to pick the journal you want the note sent to. You can also add tags at this point, then tap on Save.
To make the above process even faster, I have created a shortcut which will avoid having to pick the journal you want to send the Note to, and will add any tags you use.
You can download the shortcut here. Remember to download the shortcut you must be using your iPhone or iPad.
Now, in the future, when you want to review your impressions on the “spirit,” you can either do a search in the Gospel Library or go directly to your Notebook on the subject.
As always, I am very interested in your feedback and other methods that you use to record your impression.
There are two things that you can do to set up your Gospel Library so that you can easily access the lesson material for the week.
First, make sure to create a Bookmark for the “Come, Follow Me” manual. Go to the manual and open the lesson for the week. Tap on the Bookmark icon. For iOS it is at the bottom right of the screen, and for Android at the top right of the screen. Tap on the Plus sign and you now have a bookmark. In the future open the Bookmarks and tap on the Bookmark to go directly to the manual.
Second, setup your device so that it is easy to move among the three books that the lesson entails – Matthew 3, Mark 1 and Luke 3.
To do this use the Multi-screen feature in your Gospel Library. For iOS it is the 2nd icon from the right at the bottom right corner of the screen. For Android it is the the 2nd icon from the right at the top right corner of the screen. With Android, after tapping on the Multi-screen icon, make sure you then tap on Screen at the top of the screen.
To create a Multi-screen on either device tap on the Multi-screen icon, then the Plus sign, open the book and chapter you want, and you are done. Repeat the process for each book and chapter.
To open the books. Tap on the Multi-screen icon, then tap on the book you want to open.
The scriptures for this week are about John the Baptist and the baptism of our Savior. Go to Scriptures in the Library and then tap on Maps, then tap on map 11 and find “Bethabara” (If using a smartphone tap on the map so you can enlarge it). In the legend it is number 12. Notice the location of the place on the map. You could have also searched for “Bethabara” in the search function.
Now, open up map number 1. A look at the elevation of Jerusalem and then the elevation of the Dead Sea, then notice the area where Bethabara is located.
Now, do you see a connection between the elevation of the place the Savior was baptized and the scripture, “…he descended below all things?”
