Tagging Scriptures and Other Gospel Teachings

Define

Explain that tagging is a useful way to organize favorite scripture passages, teachings from Church leaders, and other Church content. Tagging allows us to create a personal, customized gospel topic library so that we can easily find favorite scripture passages and teachings when we need them. Searching our tags can help us when studying or sharing the gospel and when preparing a talk or lesson.

Model

Briefly model how to tag scriptures by inviting students who know how to tag scriptures in Gospel Library to demonstrate this skill to their classmates in small groups.

Note: You can find additional resources, tips, and videos in the “Help” section of the Gospel Library app, including the “Gospel Library User Guide (iOS)” and the “Gospel Library User Guide (Android).”

Ask students how someone who uses print scriptures could tag scripture passages by topic. Some of the ideas they share might include the following:

• Writing topics next to verses

• Highlighting or writing references in the Topical Guide

• Using a notebook (or blank pages in their scriptures) to categorize scriptures and quotes

• Placing small colored sticky notes or stickers (to represent certain topics) on the edges of their pages

Practice

Select a passage from this week’s scripture study or use one of the following ideas to invite students to practice this skill. Students could mark words, phrases, or truths that stand out to them and then create a tag for the scripture passage or add the passage to an existing tag. Students could share in pairs what they tagged and how they tagged it.

Additional ideas for practicing this skill:

• Invite students to imagine they have been asked to give a talk on repentance. Ask them to create a tag called “Repentance” and add at least two scriptures and one statement by a Church leader. Students could search “repentance” in the Topical Guide, index to the triple combination, the Guide to the Scriptures, or Gospel Library.

• Invite students to create a tag called “Names and Titles for Christ.” Give them a list of scripture passages that contain some of the names and titles for Jesus Christ (for example, Job 19:25; Isaiah 7:14; John 15:1; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 9:15; Revelation 1:8; Mosiah 3:8; and Doctrine and Covenants 93:8–9). Ask students to select four or five passages to read, and invite them to tag their favorite names and titles of Jesus. They could then share one of the names or titles they tagged and explain what that name or title can teach us about Him.

• Ask students to go to the most recent session of general conference in Gospel Library. Invite them to select a talk that interests them and to read a portion of it. Encourage them to tag any statements they find especially meaningful. They could share with someone in class what they tagged and why.

Invite and Follow Up

Encourage students to create tags during their personal scripture study and during class discussions. Remember to follow up in subsequent classes by inviting students to share scripture passages and teachings from Church leaders that they have tagged. You might also ask students to share ways they have used tagging in their personal study and in sharing or teaching the gospel. Look for ways to continue reviewing and practicing this skill in class.