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.

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.

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)

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.

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!

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.

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.
• Now the video can be viewed from iMovie.

1. Radio.lds.org is now mormonchannel.org ↩