Within the past few years I've fallen in love with the Relief Society Declaration Statement. It reminds me of who I am and my priority roles and purposes. Sometimes I start out my scripture study by reading through it.
This poster can be found here.
If you're looking for a picker-upper, something to help you settle or center yourself, or just a good reminder of who or whose you are, maybe try giving the Relief Society Declaration a nice, slow read.
I'd L-0-V-E to hear what helps some of you with your scripture study! What do you do, read, write, etc? I'd love your comments & ideas!
I'd L-0-V-E to hear what helps some of you with your scripture study! What do you do, read, write, etc? I'd love your comments & ideas!
This is more practical than personal - I love using the LDSScriptures.com apps. While pricey, I love the variety of annotation options. There's an option to display conference talk references next to each verse. I can include links to Mormon Messages, Evernote pages, and my own cross references. I also appreciate the ability to search my notes.
ReplyDeleteGeoff - do you ever look back on them? I've thought about doing this but then realized I rarely look back on anything I've marked. I kind of do it to learn in the moment, but I'm not sure if looking back is helpful or maybe just a waste. Thoughts?
DeleteYou're right HRH. I don't ever go back and specifically study my notes, but it does help me better remember what I learn in the moment. I think writing something or linking to something else is much more valuable than just marking. I love having my notes and references when circling back through studying the same scriptures, or in classes. Referencing a linked quote in Sunday School or finding a personal note in study I feel is very valuable. For example, in a recent meeting our Stake President the end of section 121. My Evernote link of his insights on those verses I'm confident will come up in the future. Having them "in" my scriptures is much more accessible than a scripture journal.
DeleteGeoff~ Thanks for sharing your techie tool! (You know I revel in things like that.) My mission president's wife loved using ldsscriptures.com and my Stake Relief Society President uses that too I think. Looking at the site, in one place it looks like it's $9.99 and in another it looks like it's $19.99. Any insights on that? Hearing that it syncs with Evernote is a huge persuasive point. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteHRH - One of my favorite blogs just published a summary of an article about effective learning. It mentions how highlighting (among other things) is a method of "low utility". Thought it was fitting and interesting. http://lifehacker.com/5975203/improve-your-learning-with-practice-tests-and-skip-less-effective-techniques-like-highlighting
DeleteAli - I don't want to lead you astray, it doesn't have integrated syncing with Evernote. I find it easy enough to copy an evernote link and put that in a note though.
There are desktop, tablet, and smartphone versions of the app. They require you to purchase them all separately (I shake my fist). I think you're looking at the desktop versions from the website ($9.99, version 1.2.9) and through the Mac App Store ($19.99 version 1.2.8). The images on the website look just like the version I got from the app store. I'm guessing they're charging a premium for app store convenience and to subsidize Apple's cut. I prefer using the iPad version the most (despite the sense that I may look like a tool when doing so in public).
I realized that I don't really read all of the standard works so in the last year and a half I have pretty much read everything cover to cover along with the seminary and institute manuals. It has been such a blessing to be that immersed in the scriptures and not just see snippets here and there. There more I read and spend in the scriptures really studying them the more I want to. I also get a more complete perspective reading them like a book, cover to cover over a short amount of time. But I wouldn't get half as much out of them without the manuals. I need them in order to "crack the code" sometimes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about manuals Jenni. I pulled mine out after reading what you said. I really like the response sections and activity ideas in the seminary manual especially. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteWhen I taught a couple years back, also liked using the instructional DVDs that the distribution center has. I think I'll give them a whirl again, this time with my personal study to help me "get into" Sunday School this year. Here's the link in case that kind of church resource might interest ya. https://www.lds.org/church/news/new-doctrine-and-covenants-visual-resource-dvds-available?lang=eng
I'm embarrassed to say I don't know that I knew this declaration existed. I'm thinking it is the perfect thing to help me plan a day...most important things should come first. If there's time for other stuff, great. I have no great ideas for you as far as scripture study. Except that I seem so much more awake and aware if I snack while studying...seriously. I'm basing my scripture reading off stuff from Preach My Gospel right now.
ReplyDeleteJess~ All I've got to say is Ice cream & Scriptures. Really, could there be a more "comforting" combo? :)
DeleteI like to take a chapter - I tend to read plain old chronologically - and pretend I'm going to teach it (like in Sunday School or Institute). I think of questions to ask, points to bring out, cross references, stories from my life to illustrate points, all that stuff. It makes each chapter more meaningful and I tend to think about the gospel more than if I were going for distance (like reading a certain amount of chapters/pages or in a certain amount of time). I just go until I got nothing more to think about the chapter.
ReplyDeleteHRH~ When you mentioned how you study, rather than "going for distance" it reminded me of this quote from Pres. Hunter.
Delete“There are some who read to a schedule of a number of pages or... chapters.... This may be perfectly justifiable and... enjoyable if one is reading for pleasure, but... It is better to have a set amount of time... than... chapters."
Thanks for the reminder!