Book of Mormon Study Idea

If you’re looking for a Book of Mormon study idea to deepen  your understanding and love of the Book of Mormon, we’re sharing an idea you may like (or adapt).

In our ideas for Jiffy Lesson Prep, one of the things I wrote was that if you do it right, your whole life is preparation. That got me thinking about my own preparation, which led me to this Book of Mormon study idea.

I grew up in a different faith, and my knowledge of the Bible has always been more secure than that of the Book of Mormon. I decided to change that.

I found a free pdf file of the Book of Mormon that Brad Jackman shared. It is laid out so that there are super wide margins all around the text. This lets you write lots more in the margins that a typical version does.

I had it printed out (double-sided) and spiral bound at an office supply store. If I’d had a better printer or access to one, I could have done the printing myself and saved myself a lot of money. I added some of my favorite quotes about the Book of Mormon from prophets and apostles for inspiration.

My favorite?

I have noted within the Church the difference in discernment, in insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not.  That book is a great sifter.  — President Ezra Taft Benson

I’ve got those quotes for you, too, if you’d like to print them out.

I stocked up on colored pens, washi tape, and small sticky notes, and then I began to study.

I’ve been using Kelly Ogden’s Book of Mormon Verse by Verse (I have the Kindle Edition) to help me study. I have taught Seminary before, so I have already used the Seminary and Institute manuals. If you haven’t, that’s where I’d start.

I print out quotes that resonate with me or feel connected to the idea shared in the scripture. I use my markers to help guide me in topics. At the bottom of every page, I put a little flag and write a phrase about what happened on that page.

I watched some YouTube videos on hand lettering like this one:

and this one (start about 1:30):

I practiced drawing stick figures with videos like this one:

I got inspiration for lettering elements and accents to add by looking at pictures like this

and this free printable from Dawn Nicole for drawing leaves and vines and flowers (because there are a lot of references to these in the scriptures).

and then copying them myself to practice.

The artistic part is optional, but when I slow down to write, it really helps me focus longer on the scripture.

And I kept studying.

It’s been slow.

It’s taken months to get to 2 Nephi 9, where I am now, but it’s also been worth it.

I’ve gained testimony, understanding, better ability to apply the scriptures to my life, and developed a stronger habit of scripture study, not just scripture reading.
If you’re looking for an idea to supercharge your own scripture study, this may be an idea that would work for you, too.

If you have tried this or other ideas, please share!