By Lindsey Iorg
For Latter-day Saints seeking help with church lessons, a new BYU Web site linking scriptures cited in General Conference talks to their speakers can aid with religious preparation.
'If you''re preparing a lesson and you find a scripture that holds meaning, there is now a possibility of tying together a theme over several General Conferences,' said Stephen Liddle, associate professor of accounting and information systems.
Liddle and Richard Galbraith, a professor of marriage, family and human development, created The LDS General Conference Scripture Citation Index, by compiling scriptures cited at the semi-annual conferences from 1942 to present.
Liddle said the purpose of the Web site is to link scriptures with modern revelation.
'The main idea is that we have a index that lets you see what speaker uses the same scriptures,' Liddle said. 'You get a global picture of how speakers are using the scriptures in their talks.'
The site allows users to see how many times speakers mentioned a particular scripture in conference addresses, or examine a scriptural pattern speakers tend to follow.
The Web site, free of charge, aids Latter-day Saints when preparing lessons or arranging talks by eliminating research time and adding depth to the material.
'If we can help someone in Kansas, Australia, New Zealand or Philippines - that''s our hope,' Galbraith said.
Galbraith began creating the hardcopy of the scripture index six months ago and presented the citations to Liddle, who constructed the site.
'I went through the Ensign magazines and the Improvement Era and pulled out scriptural references,' Galbraith said.
In addition to teaching full-time, Galbraith has researched the scriptures and LDS materials extensively over the last 15 years, citing thousands of scripture.
In his book, 'Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,' Galbraith identified over 11,000 scriptures alone.
Brandon Erickson, a senior from Sacramento, Calif., majoring in exercise science, teaches Sunday School at his BYU singles ward and said accessing the Web site would enhance the content of his lesson.
'The resource would help me find good quotes and application with the scriptures,' Erickson said.
Galbraith said the Web site can aid members with visiting or home teaching messages; in addition to church speakers and Sunday School teachers.
'Anyone who teaches with a scriptural theme now has support,' Galbraith said.
The Web site can be accessed online at scriptures.byu.edu or downloaded onto a personal computer.