My Favorite [FREE] Resources for In-depth Scripture Study
We knew reading the entire Book of Mormon with our young family could quickly become a dreaded activity, if not doe well, so we decided to read one verse at dinner every night, when mouths are full and attention is high, hoping to keep them engaged and excited.
It was pretty smooth sailing at first, me reading while everyone ate, and then circling around the table for each person to pose a question for discussion. The kids were often too excited to stop after one verse, especially with some of the more thrilling introductory stories. But then Nephi and Jacob started quoting Isaiah and the glazed looks began, and not just for the kids. It became painfully obvious how little I understood, and that in order to teach my children, I would need to first understand Isaiah's words myself.
So each morning I began studying the one verse that we planned to read together that night at the dinner table. First I made a sticky note plan (my favorite way to plan) with a list of the resources that would be my guide in delving deep into Gods word. Then, with my Book of Mormon journaling edition by my side I began reading and note taking. I never thought I could be a scriptorian, but with these resources, I'm beginning to change my mind. I hope they are as helpful to you as they have been to me.
Book of Mormon Journaling Edition, Line Upon LineScripture Study Resources:
1. biblehub.com
Bible Hub has many wonderful tools for studying the scriptures, many of which I've yet to delve into, but my absolute favorite is the ability to search one verse of scripture and read it across multiple translations. My own scriptures are the King James Version, but when I don't understand the gist of a verse, I find the New International Version and the New Living Translation to be extremely helpful. These were priceless in studying Isaiah.
For example, let's look at Isaiah 11:3, which speaks of Christ:
King James Version:
"And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears"
New Living Translation:
"He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay."
New International Version:
"and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;"
Reading a few different translations fills in the gaps in my general understanding of the verse. Then I can delve even deeper.
2. The Dictionary
Even when I feel my own understanding of a word is sufficient, when my children ask me to explain a word, I often struggle to do so. So I've begun really taking any words I'm not completely sure about and defining them in my margins. It's been wonderful, and not just for my kids. I'm amazed at how many meanings there are for words I thought I completely understood.
3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "Come, Follow Me" Study Manual
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has published study manuals for:
I don't find these manuals to be heavy in verse-by-verse interpretation, but great for doctrine, links to further reading, and personal application questions.
This is an example of a study section based on 2 Nephi 23–24, which corresponds to Isaiah 13-14:
The kingdom of Babylon was a mighty political and military threat to ancient Israel. But to Nephi’s people—and to us today—the bigger threat is what Babylon represents: worldliness and sin. Consider how the warnings in 2 Nephi 23–24 might have affected people who feared or admired or trusted Babylon’s wealth and power (see, for example 23:6–9, 11, 19–22; 24:10–19). What are some similar things we might fear or admire or trust today? What do you feel the Savior’s message to you might be in these chapters? Think about how you can show that you “rejoice in [the Lord’s] highness” (2 Nephi 23:3).
I just love those personal application questions! The scriptures are meant to be applied to our own lives, not mearly understood as ancient texts.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Institute Student Manuals
For a more verse by verse interpretation, I rely on the institute student manuals (as well as #5 below). Phrases are dissected, historical context given, words defined, and interpretation by latter day prophets quoted. It is a literal treasure trove.
5. Follow Him Podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway
This Podcast is hosted by John Bytheway and Hank Smith, whom I find to be delightfully entertaining, and they interview scripture scholars on the current chapters of study in the Come Follow Me manual. All of their episodes are available however, and I just find whichever episode speaks to my own current chapters of study. The episodes are quite lengthy, but in the details a very useful minute by minute description of conversation is given which I use to zoom ahead to my verse of the day. I find this podcast extremely useful and will even sometimes play a clip at the dinner table for everyone to hear and discuss.
As I'm only studying a single verse each day, I have time to utilize each one of the resources every morning. After beginning my study with prayer, I honestly just go down this list, looking up my verse in each resource and taking notes in my own scriptures of what I've learned. Then I feel fully prepared for our family study over dinner. And it keeps me from avoiding scripture study because I "don't know what to study". It's all laid out for me on a little sticky note stuck to my scriptures.
I hope this helps you in your own study of God's word!
God bless you,
Elizabeth Erin
