Linking Scriptures

Define

Explain that linking is connecting a scripture passage to a related scripture, quote from a Church leader, or other Church content. Linking or cross-referencing scriptures can deepen our understanding of God’s word and help us as we teach and share the gospel with others.

Point out that the footnotes in some versions of the scriptures already contain helpful links or cross-references to other scripture passages and study resources.

Model

Briefly model this skill by using the following example, or use one of your own:

Read Isaiah 53:3–5. Point out that verse 4 teaches that the Savior “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” Point out that Alma taught a similar truth with added clarification about the Savior’s Atonement. Read Alma 7:11–12. Show students how they could write Alma 7:11–12 next to Isaiah 53:4 in the margins of their scriptures. Or show them how to connect these scripture passages using the Link feature in Gospel Library.

You could invite students who know how to create links in Gospel Library to demonstrate this to their classmates.

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).”

Practice

Select a passage from this week’s scripture study. Give students a related scripture passage, a teaching from a Church leader, or other content from Gospel Library to link to. Or you could use one of the following examples to invite students to practice this skill:

• Read Job 19:25 as a class. Invite students to search “Redeemer” in the Guide to the Scriptures and find a scripture passage that teaches about Jesus Christ’s role as our Redeemer. Students could add a passage they found to the margins of their print scriptures next to Job 19:25 or create a link in their digital scriptures to connect the two passages.

• Invite students to read Matthew 5:48 or 3 Nephi 12:48 and highlight the word “perfect.” Then have them go to President Russell M. Nelson’s talk “Perfection Pending” (Ensign, Nov. 1995) and read the section “Eternal Perfection.” Invite students to select the paragraph or paragraphs they find most helpful and create a link.

• Invites students to review Luke 24:1–12 and then highlight the phrase “He is not here, but is risen” in verse 6. Then ask them to go to Easter Videos in Gospel Library and link one of the videos about the Resurrection to Luke 24:6.

Invite and Follow Up

Encourage students to create links as they study the scriptures. Follow up during the next class by inviting students to share how they used this skill during their personal study. They could share about a link they added to their scriptures and explain why they added it. Look for ways to continue reviewing and practicing this skill in class.