Scripture Study Skills: Lesson 168

Annotating Scriptures

Improving Our Study Through Marking, Adding Notes, and Linking Our Scriptures

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) taught:

When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures. (“Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 26–27)

The scriptures are filled with God’s messages for you. Although they are sometimes challenging, the effort to understand them is worthwhile.

Lesson Purpose: To learn how to annotate your scriptures in a way that can help you feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Learn How

Skill: Marking scriptures

Marking scriptures is a way to emphasize a word, phrase, or verse that you feel is important or meaningful.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about the importance of finding “a marking system that works for you” (1:56):

Read Psalm 116:1–8, and mark words or phrases that stand out to you. Don’t worry about making mistakes. Focus on finding words and phrases that help you feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Many readers find that using a variety of colors helps clarify their markings. In Gospel Library, you can change the color of a marked passage by tapping on the marking and selecting the Style icon.

Dig Deeper: President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explains his system for marking scriptures in the video “Marking Scriptures” (1:45).

Skill: Taking notes

Another type of annotating is taking notes.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about how and why we take notes:

Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction. (“Because We Have Them Before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 6–7)

As is the case with marking, there are many ways to make notes. The following questions can help you distinguish opportunities for different types of notes.

1. What questions do I have about this verse?

2. What principles or truths does this verse teach me?

3. How does this verse apply to my life?

Writing notes directly in your scriptures can help you remember what you learned each time you read a passage. However, since printed scriptures have limited space, some prefer writing notes in a notebook or journal. Either way, you can invite the Holy Ghost into your study by choosing to record the impressions you receive.

Return to Psalm 116:1–8. Use the ideas above or one of your own to make a note next to one of the verses.

Skill: Linking verses

Because scriptures can add understanding or support to other scriptures, it can be helpful to cross-reference or link those scriptures together. One way this can be done is by writing one scripture in the margin of another scripture. You can also use the Link function in Gospel Library.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 97:21 and look for how this verse relates to Moses 7:18. Why might it be helpful to link these two verses to one another?

Read Doctrine and Covenants 10:5, and identify what it teaches. Return to Psalm 116:1–9, and select a verse that you feel is supported by what you read in Doctrine and Covenants 10:5. Create a link by writing “D&C 10:5” next to the verse you chose or by using the Link feature in Gospel Library.

Skill: Tagging

Tagging is a great way to identify and organize truths while studying the scriptures.

You tag a passage by creating a label using a word or short phrase that summarizes what a passage teaches. The Tagging feature in Gospel Library allows you to view in the same place all the passages you tag with that word or phrase.

In paper scriptures, you can write your tag in the margins next to a verse or on a blank page at the back of your scriptures.

Learning tip. In some cases, tags will come from a word the author used in the verse. In other cases, you may want to summarize the verse with your own word. The best tags are the ones that make it easy for you to find the verse in the future. Consider asking, “If I were preparing a talk for church, what topic would make me want to find this verse?”

Return to Psalm 116:1–9, and tag at least one passage. You might consider using the tag “prayer,” or you can use your own tag.

Now what?

As you’ve seen in this lesson, there are many ways to annotate your scriptures effectively. Now that you’ve tried a few, ask someone you trust to show you how they annotate their scriptures. Look for methods they use that you may want to adopt into your approach.

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To learn how to annotate your scriptures in a way that can help you feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Share the following with your teacher or class:

• Your favorite of the annotations you made during the lesson and why it is your favorite.