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6 ways to accomplish the Study of Jesus Christ Topical Guide Challenge from President Nelson

6 easy ways to accomplish the Study of Jesus Christ Topical Guide Challenge from President Russell M. Nelson, Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints using your personal learning styles.
Have you ever been prompted several times to do something specific?

In 2017, I felt prompted to accept President Russell M. Nelson’s (then president of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles) challenge “to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works…to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become [my] personal core curriculum” (“Drawing on the Powers of Heaven”, April 2017 General Conference). After hearing this invitation, on four separate occasions, and feeling strongly prompted to accept the invitation, I finally found a way to accomplish my goal to study all the references of Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide (and the Index) in August 2017.

I was excited when I heard Elder Neil L. Andersen last week (in October 2020 General Conference), speaking of President Nelson’s experience and preparation to become our prophet said “If a renewed study of the Savior helped prepare President Nelson, could it not help prepare us as well?”

Why did it take me so long to start? I wasn’t sure how I wanted to document and track the things I was learning. I tend to overcomplicate things sometimes.

I am going to share 6 ways to complete this challenge in hopes that you can find a method that will work for you and your style of learning.

I am eager to accept this challenge once again. I hope you will join me on this journey. Who’s ready to become “a different man (or woman)”?

 

Each way to study Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide includes the learning styles that are incorporated in each study idea with their corresponding icons.

{DISCLAIMER:}  Affiliate Links may be used in this post of which I may receive a small commission. The price does not change for you. I only recommend products and tools I use or would use myself.

INKLINGS

On Instagram, there is a group called “Inklings-A Hint of Something More” @INKLINGS.INSTITUTE. They took all the entries in the Topical Guide about Jesus Christ and broke it down into small, daily readings so you finish by April 2021 General Conference. I love this! It makes the study manageable and doable and not so overwhelming!

They offer a free printout of the reading assignments. This printable is available by signing up for a newsletter at WWW.EMILYBELLEFREEMAN.COM/INKLINGS

I love the simple invitation to find Jesus in each story and to find Jesus in my own story. I love the invitation to recognize the character of God and Jesus Christ in my scripture study.

Once a month, there is a mini devotional on one of the subject headings from Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide you can watch on the Inklings IGTV account also

If you are short on time, here are two tips that were shared by @EMILYBELLEFREEMAN in the inkling videos over the past week that really spoke to me:
1. Read the phrases that summarize the scripture passage and not the whole scripture.
2. Pick just two or three verses from the reading each day to read.

I know as I take time to read about Jesus Christ everyday, I am more readily able to feel His love, to trust in His promises and feel His peace!

CHRIST STUDY JOURNAL

In 2017, I found this wonderful journal with additional note pages to record my thoughts and keep track of my readings as I completed the study of Jesus Christ using the Topical Guide. I wrote down any thoughts and impressions I had while reading (I did not record thoughts on everything—just when and if thoughts came). I also wrote the dates I studied each scriptures block (which is fun to go back and see what scriptures I read on a specific day—for example- August 21, 2017, the day of the solar eclipse, I read eight selections under Jesus Christ: Judge). I also bought a new set of scriptures just for this study. As I read, I would mark phrases which stood out to me along with any names of Christ.

This was the perfect way for me to complete this challenge to read all the references of Jesus Christ in the scriptures. My scriptures and journal are a treasure to me today! I know this study helped me to personally turn to my Savior and find peace during a very difficult time. I am so grateful for the things I learned and the relationship I fostered with my Savior during my study.

The pdf is available for free at HTTP://WWW.ANNIESPLACETOLEARN.COM/SCRIPTURE-STUDY.HTML
(Or a Printed journal is available on Amazon HERE. (Affiliate link)

JESUS CHRIST STUDY LABELS

This year, I decided to use these beautiful labels for my Study of Christ, reading all the references about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide. These labels are available for free from the creator of my favorite planner @LEAFYTREETOP_PLANNERS (the spiral-bound planner which I have used for years–this link will give you $5 off your purchase).

I printed the labels on white sticker paper and attached them at the top of a piece of lined paper. These labels could also be used in a special notebook dedicated to this study or on copy paper. As I read each section, I am recording what I learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their character. I am just starting and am loving the things I am learning.

A few things I learned from the summary of Christ’s life are that the Lord is always with us (Matthew 1:18-25), the Lord makes sure we are in the places He needs us to be (Luke 2: 1-7), Jesus can be found in the temple (Luke 2:22-38) and Jesus invites me into spiritual experiences with Him and “it is good for [me] to be there” (Mark 9:2-8).

So much goodness!

The pdf is available for free HERE.  

JESUS CHRIST TOPICAL GUIDE STUDY SHEETS

This year, I am also using these fun study sheets for my Study of Christ, reading all the references about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide. This printable was created by @HARDMANHOME and was available for free on the blog run by @SEEK.CHRIST.DAILY

I decided to print this in booklet style and am coloring each section as I read. I love to have a visual checklist that I can color as I read each scripture block.

I am not studying as quickly as I would like, but I am ok with it. Every little bit I do makes a difference.

A few things more things I learned from the summary of Christ’s life are that Jesus allows us to help Him with His work (Luke 10:1-24) and that Jesus is my King, He comes to save and He weeps (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; and John 12:12-19).

So good!

The pdf was available for free and appears the link is no longer working–I am looking for something similar to post. When I find it, I will link it here.

Happy studying!

"LEARN OF ME" BOOK

Stephanie Dibb Sorensen wrote this book which includes all of the scripture verses referenced in the Topical Guide. She has included the complete text (in most cases) of each verse, defined words, added quotes from General Authorities, provided additional questions to ponder, suggested hymns to study, and given space to record thoughts and feelings as you study. This book includes everything you would need to dig really deep into each topic about Jesus Christ. You could easily pick and choose how much you wanted to study and have everything included in one book. As I studied, I loved how I could underline phrases and include my personal thoughts all in one place.

I loved studying “Jesus Christ: Advocate” this week. I love the scripture in 3 Nephi 18:35 where Jesus says,

“And now I go unto the Father, because it is expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes.”

For my sake, Jesus goes to the Father to plead for me, to be a voice for me, to be an Advocate for me!

I love this quote by then President Uchtdorf from April 2013 General Conference. He taught , “Let us never lose sight of our Advocate and Redeemer as we walk toward Him, one imperfect step after another.”

This gives me great comfort because my steps are very imperfect but if I keep my eyes on my Advocate— things we all work out!

(This book is available at DESERET BOOK, and on AMAZON.) (affiliate links)

GOSPEL LIBRARY APP

Using the free Gospel Library App is a very easy way to read all of the references to Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide. If you have the app downloaded on your phone, chances are you can do this study anytime you have a few minutes.

I love using the Gospel Library App because with one quick click, you have the verses right there ready to read. I also love that I can us the “Notes” feature and make a quick note to record what I learned (I love adding the new date and time stamp to document my learning).

If you are driving or going for a walk, you can press the “Audio” button and you will hear everything written in the topical guide (which is just a small phrase that summarizes each scripture). This is the perfect way for auditory learners to complete this study and for those who enjoy a quick overview of each topic.

In my study under the heading “Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal”, I noticed the word “midst” in several verses. Jesus stood in the midst, right in the middle, so ALL could gather around Him.
To see Him.
To touch Him.
To know Him.

Happy studying!

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12 thoughts on “6 ways to accomplish the Study of Jesus Christ Topical Guide Challenge from President Nelson”

  1. Is there a different way we can get the tool you mentioned in tip 4? I was thinking about creating something exactly like that to color in as I went, but figured I’d google it first to see if I could find one. However, the link didn’t seem to be working anymore. I’d really love a copy though!

    1. Latisha–
      I have checked and it appears the website is no longer available for the printables. I will take the link off my post. Hopefully, you can find something similar–it is a great way to track the verses you have read.
      Enjoy your study!
      Love,
      Erin

  2. Thank you so much for doing this!! I’ve been wanting to do this challenge such a long time and I’ve always been too overwhelmed by it! Your suggestions are so helpful and make it seem much more manageable. Thank you for your time and putting this together!

    1. Chrissy-
      I am so glad this post was helpful to you. I would love to hear how you decided to study Jesus Christ from the Topical Guide. I noticed it was spoken about a few times in General Conference the past two days. Enjoy!

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