I loved it some much that I did the same for the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

I find these very useful. Using them, I can speak or teach at a moments notice. I was asked to teach Alma 5 (as Welch called it Alma’s sermon of 50 questions). The teenage class was actually enthralled. Perhaps because of my enthusiasm. I hope it was because I was teaching with the Spirit. Unfortunately, the BoM was 2 large binders, as is the D&C.

Now that Santa brought me an iPab, I’ll have to try using electronic methods. I teach early morning seminary and love using my iPad for scriptures.

Using the iPad, I should be able to carry all my extensively marked, commented, and annotated scriptures.

That meant I had to run a find-and-replace sequence for 1 through however many verses were in the longest chapter, but once I got into the rhythm it went rapidly.

Excuse my ignorance, but could you tell me how this operation is done? Is this a normal find and replace procedure or are you using a macro of some kind?

Thanks for this inspirational idea.

After continuing this project for a few more months, I can report that it is working well for me. Part of that, I think, is that I like to see those notes growing, so I put in extra effort not only reading, but in chasing down footnotes and in looking for other materials to connect with my scriptures. For example, I’ve been using the LDS Scripture Citation Index to search for ways in which the scripture blocks I’m studying have been used in General Conference. Most of the time they’re routine, with scriptures being cited as evidence for whatever point the speaker is making, which usually isn’t useful to my particular project. But other times a speaker will discuss the scripture itself, or relate a brief story of why that scripture has been important in the speaker’s life. I’ve been adding a lot of those to my notes — I think they will continue to be particularly useful as I teach lessons.

Anyway, this project *is* working; I was afraid it might turn out to be a lot of work at the front end and then not much use, but no, it’s working.

I agree that it’s impossible to get beyond a certain level without consulting scholars, since the scriptures mostly presume a contemporary audience with shared linguistic and cultural knowledge. If you don’t have it already, they’re not going to give it to you.

As TT has pointed out somewhere at FPR, the line between Church sources and scholars breaks down when you get down far enough- GA’s read non-LDS stuff, the Institute and other manuals cite non-LDS scholars (albeit very old, conservative or outdated ones!)

I don’t know how anybody (short of Joseph Smith, maybe) could really study the scriptures without making use of the work of scholars. I may not want to take my doctrine from non-Mormon scholars (and BRM, I think, equated commentaries with doctrinal studies, period), but I see nothing “muddying” (muddling?) in the work of scholars who have studied language and history and culture. I think it’s arrogant to think I wouldn’t benefit from their help.

(Not that I think you’d disagree; I’m just not sure how far BRM would approve what I’m doing!)

We are in a far better position if we are able to drink directly from the scriptural fountain without having the waters muddled by others whose insights are not as great as were those of the prophetic writers who first penned the passages found in the accepted canon of holy writ. I am not rejecting proper scriptural commentaries; I know and appreciate their value and have written volumes of them myself; I am simply saying that people with the ability to do it would be far better off to create their own commentaries. There is something sacred and solemn and saving about studying the scriptures themselves.

-Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “Guidelines to Gospel Study,” in Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989), 229. Emphasis mine.

For those of us who might be a bit less ambitious though no less admiring, I’m a scripture journal user. It doesn’t have the benefits Ardis mentioned of being able to re-format paragraphs, but it’s worked pretty well. Basically, it’s a companion to my reading where I write either prose of my own reflections, blurbs from or links to conference talks, explanatory items, etc. My next project is to “tag” via hyperlink the chapters and verses with subjects that will allow me to research a bit by subject as needed. It started in an actual notebook but has graduated to word processor.