Scripture Notes Tutorial Day 1: Your Director

Welcome to Scripture Notes and your first tutorial using the program. You can watch the video above or go through the steps below. Show, or tell. :)

Actually, I recommend watching the video, then jumping to the “Two Spindles” section below which is not in the video.

Today’s tutorial will show you how to use the search feature to create collection notes. A collection note is like creating a scripture chain but better.

You create a collection of related verses, and then a master note to go along with the topic. Sort of like your own topical guide with the ability to write and save your thoughts about the topic.

The title of the collection note will then appear next to each of the verses that are part of the collection like this (Green eye notifies you there is a collection, and turns blue when clicked):

Getting started

Lets get started. Make sure you are logged into Scripture Notes in another browser tab so you can follow this tutorial and jump quickly to the app.

In this tutorial we are going to examine a word that stood out to me one day regarding the Liahona. The word used to identify it was “director,” which is appropriate since it directed Nephi’s family on their journey. If you aren’t familiar with the story, check out 1 Nephi 16 where this curious ball first makes its appearance.

Now, click on the search icon on the left menu bar.

Do a search for

director*

(with an asterisk at the end) and Scripture Notes will find you 5 verses. The asterisk is a wildcard so it finds all variations after what you type. It is a very powerful feature. You’ll use it again at the end of this tutorial. Without the wildcard here, you would have only found 4 verses.

Now lets create a collection note by clicking “Create CN” at the top.

When the collection note pane opens, click the arrow pointing right to expand it so you can view the verse notes.

Read the 5 verses and note the use of the word “director” in each verse.  See if you can find what’s unique about these 5 verses before I share what I saw below.

As you read type your questions and thoughts into the “basic verse note” field on the right.

To read a verse in context you can:

1. Click the up or down pointing triangle to add the previous or next verse. You can also remove verses by clicking on the delete (minus) button in-between them.
2. Click the verse reference link and open the chapter in a reading pane to the right of the pane you’re working in. (You won’t lose your place.)

Now, did you notice anything unique about these verses? Taken as a whole, record your thoughts in the master box at the top of the collection note screen. Did you see anything different about the world director in these verses?

In 4 of the verses we see the director is clearly talking about the Liahona, but in Doctrine & Covenants 3:15, it’s talking about Jesus Christ being our director. Think about that. The only uses of this word in scripture is to mention the Liahona, except one is Jesus Christ calling himself our director.

This is fascinating because the Lord expects us to search the scriptures, not just read them. When he calls himself a director, the only thing we have in scripture to compare that word to is the Liahona. He’s telling us that he IS the Liahona.

In my master collection note I recorded this:

Here is the text if you want to copy/paste it into your own note.

Of the five verses in scripture that use the word ‘director,’ four are references to the Liahona, and one (D&C 3:15) is a reference to the Lord being the director. Just as Lehi’s family was led in the wilderness by the Liahona when they were faithful, the Lord is our director in our wilderness (mortality) when we are faithful. The Liahona is a symbol of the Lord. I also like that D&C 17:1 calls the Liahona “miraculous” because God is a God of miracles.

See Marion G. Romney’s talk for a description of three phases of light. The light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the more sure word of prophecy.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/1977/04/the-light-of-christ?lang=en

At the top, I titled my collection note: “The Lord is the Liahona in our Wilderness”.

I then tag this note with the following topics: Liahona; Director; Jesus Christ:Symbols of (Press Enter on your keyboard after each one to lock them in).

These tags are searchable later so use relevant keywords you might search for in the future. Note on the last tag, I use a colon to create a subcategory of Jesus Christ. On my tag tree it will appear slightly indented.

Unlike the basic verse notes that save when you click outside them, the collection note must be manually saved. You need to click the “Save” or “Update” button under the master note area. Save it used the first time and update after that.

What else should be added?

Now there are some other verses that should be added to this collection note that don’t use the word “director” but refer to the Liahona as the ball.

In a search pane do a search for:

ball

Add all the verses that mention the Liahona as a ball by dragging and dropping them into the note verse area of the collection note.

Or even better, click the bulk move button at the top, and check all the boxes that open up by the scriptures, then drag one bulk move button into the verse area of the collection note.

When you drag the verses into that zone, it will turn blue so you can drop it and know you’ve hit the target. A green circle check mark will appear notifying you that your verse was successfully added to the collection.

When you are adding the verses in 1 Nephi 16, notice how verse 28 and 30 are in the list, but 29 is missing? Once you drag them in, just click the previous or next verse button on one of those verses to add in verse 29. Click save or update to lock in all your changes.

Two Spindles

Lets take a closer look at this Liahona device. Feel free to start marking up your scriptures while you study. Just highlight text and the toolbar will appear.

1 Nephi 16

10 …And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.

26 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.

27 And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.

28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.

The Light of Christ and Gift of the Holy Ghost

The Lord always has a purpose in the things he does. We know there are two spindles and one points the way they should travel. What is the other one for? It appears that the other one may be more of an instruction transmitter. Verse 29 indicates a plural “them” as having writing upon them, but perhaps that second spindle is primarily for instruction.

President Marion G. Romney gave a great talk in April 1977 General Conference titled, “The Light of Christ”. In it he points out that there is a magnitude difference, or phases, between the light of Christ, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the more sure word of prophecy. I encourage you to read it at this link:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/1977/04/the-light-of-christ?lang=eng

It seems to me that the first spindle represents the light of Christ in our lives, which is our conscience. It’s the first level of instruction which says “do this” and “don’t do that.” It’s a direct instruction implanted in us by Jesus Christ and all mankind have this gift unless they so harden themselves against it that they lose it (Moroni 8:28).

The second spindle would then represent the gift of the Holy Ghost which expands, instructs, testifies, and elaborates on truth.

Following their directions leads us to the more sure word of prophecy, Jesus Christ.

You may want to add President Romney’s talk link into your master collection note which is what I did above.

That’s the end of the first tutorial example but not the end of your exploring this topic. If you want to continue your study of this topic, you can do the following.

Bonus Study Topic Material

1) Keep your collection note open and open a new search pane. Do a search for “direct*” (with the * wildcard on the end to pick up all the variations). This will find 68 verses (and include the ones we found above). Add appropriate references to the Collection Note where it teaches that Jesus Christ is our director. Just drag and drop the verses or utilize the bulk move option.

For example, look at Ether chapter 2, verses 5 and 6. Note the use of the word “directions” and “directed”. All through the scriptures the Lord is directing us. He is truly the Liahona in our personal wilderness. We just have to pray for direction and he’s always there.

Also Proverbs 3:6 says “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

You might add more tags to the note like “Direction”, “Directed”, etc… It’s up to you.

Look for other synonyms of direct like guide and lead.

2) Now look up compass* and you’ll find that compass is the root of compassion. Is there a relationship? Does compassion tie into compass? Click the link icon by a verse with these words, select Blue Letter Bible, click “Strong’s” at the top, then click the Hebrew word numbers to look up the meanings of those words. Ponder it.

3) Consider adding the remaining verses of Alma 37:38-46 to your collection note where Alma explains more about the Liahona. Just find one of the verses in your collection note and use the + buttons to add the verses.

4) President Monson also called Patriarchal Blessings a Liahona in our lives because it’s a personal guide. You might reference this talk in your collection note. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/10/your-patriarchal-blessing-a-liahona-of-light?lang=eng)

Keep Going!

As you read the scriptures, look for words that stand out to you and open a new search pane next to your reading pane. Examine the search results and see what treasures you discover.

That’s it for this tutorial. I’ll see you in a couple days to cover the next tutorial. Till then, search the scriptures and save some collections. Start to experience the power Scripture Notes puts at your fingertips.