Scripture Memorization Tool

[SavedByGrace3]

I am in the process of developing graphic tools to assist in memorizing scripture. I may collect said graphics into a book form.
The concept of graphic memorization tools began, to the best of my knowledge, when Jerry Lucas wrote a book back in the 75: "Remember the Word: Vol. 1, The Gospels: A Bible Memorization System." Lucas got a graphic artist to create pictographs that would assit the reader to memorize scritpure books, chapters, passages, and verses. The pictures use the association principle to lock subject matter into the memory of the student.
Here is one picture that I have created using Gemini AI.
The image is simple, silly, and should be easy to memorize. Silly is the key phrase here.
In the sky, there is the word "THe".
Below is a "JeeP".
Also in the jeep is a anthropomorphic "LoG."
Kamala Harris is driving = "VP". (Kamala was the VP when I first created this concept.)

So the motion of the picture (as displayed at the bottom) is "THe JeeP LoG VP".
Note the capitalization. This is just to remind you of a key principle. We do not use vowels in this memory tool.

So the functional letters would only be consonants:

TH
JP
LG
VP

In this case, each letter is the first letter in our memory verse:
True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Good report
Virtue
Praise.

You can probably guess the verse:

Philippians 4:8 KJV
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are True, whatsoever things are Honest, whatsoever things are Just, whatsoever things are Pure, whatsoever things are Lovely, whatsoever things are of Good report; if there be any Virtue, and if there be any Praise, think on these things.

Study the picture until you have it in your memory. Then, remember to only use the consonants of the words. Associate the letters with the words in the verse, and you will have the framework for memorizing this scripture.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Another versionof the image:

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Link to the book from 50 years ago! If you decide to purchase the book, be sure it includes the images which are on separte cards. 1 card per chapter. The book is useless without the cards.

Amazon.com

 

[KevinT]

I work with medical students, and they tell me that they use similar techniques to learn obscure facts all the time. For example, they will use this site: Make Learning Microbiology Unforgettable with Sketchy Micro. There are other topics also in the "Sketchy" website.

This type of learning technique is called Mnemonic memorization. And here is a good page that discusses it: 10 Mnemonic Techniques to Slay at Memorizing [Tutorial] - Cognition Today . When I was in graduate school, I would spend a lot of time condensing a group of facts into a picture, and I'd draw that in the margins of my class syllabus. My wife, taking the same classes with me, would look at my pictures for about 2 seconds and say, "OK, I got it." It seemed unfair with the difference in time between my creation and her absorption -- but I was happy to share.

In the first week of school, the institution we attended provided a lecturer who specialized in learning come and talk to us. He told us that in the next five minutes, he was going to teach us every state in the the USA, in the order in which they joined the Union, and that we would be able to say it backwards just as easily. No way, was my thought. But then he told us a story where we were walking along the deck of a ship and encountering various features that appeared in some logical order. I can't recall the details right now (the lecture was 30 some years ago), but it was easy to remember at the time. Each feature naturally mapped to the name of a state. At the end of the story, he then had us all follow him in our minds, as we turned around and walked backwards on that ship deck. And he would have us all call out the features we were going to encounter, now in reverse order. It was natural and easy.

So I applaud you for applying this powerful tool to scriptures. There needs to be much more of this!

If I were to work on such a project, I would try to link images directly to concepts. Linking an image to a letter, and then that letter to a concept is an extra mental step. So if trying to remember the sequence: True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely, Good report, Virtue, Praise, I would have images to directly demonstrate each point.

I have started working on this with ChatGPT making the images. But it is taking MUCH longer than I thought it would. The AI is impressive, but has a long way to go in terms of following instructions. Ha!

I'll post a followup if I am successful.
Best wishes,
Kevin T

 

[SavedByGrace3]

This script generated this image:

cartoon-style draw picture
Clear sky.
Add anthropomorphic willys jeep speeding.
Add anthropomorphic log in passenger seat with scared face.
Add large Kamala Harris in seat with giddy face.
Add image 'TH' + 'e' in the sky.
Add image 'TH' + 'e ' on the ground.
Add image 'JeeP LoG VP'.

 

[KevinT]

Well, here is my attempt. It took way longer than I thought it would. And now that it is done, I realize that it is overly complicated and not a one-image-says-all. But it's the best I could come up with. I hope it helps someone in the future.

Best wishes,
Kevin T

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Very nice. What generator did you use? I like the path concept from one thought/image to the next. That would be good for a progressive story or a chapter of the Bible.
I am a little frustrated with the couple AI generators I use because they seem to generate different images each time using the same script.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I work with medical students, and they tell me that they use similar techniques to learn obscure facts all the time. For example, they will use this site: Make Learning Microbiology Unforgettable with Sketchy Micro. There are other topics also in the "Sketchy" website.

This type of learning technique is called Mnemonic memorization. And here is a good page that discusses it: 10 Mnemonic Techniques to Slay at Memorizing [Tutorial] - Cognition Today . When I was in graduate school, I would spend a lot of time condensing a group of facts into a picture, and I'd draw that in the margins of my class syllabus. My wife, taking the same classes with me, would look at my pictures for about 2 seconds and say, "OK, I got it." It seemed unfair with the difference in time between my creation and her absorption -- but I was happy to share.

In the first week of school, the institution we attended provided a lecturer who specialized in learning come and talk to us. He told us that in the next five minutes, he was going to teach us every state in the the USA, in the order in which they joined the Union, and that we would be able to say it backwards just as easily. No way, was my thought. But then he told us a story where we were walking along the deck of a ship and encountering various features that appeared in some logical order. I can't recall the details right now (the lecture was 30 some years ago), but it was easy to remember at the time. Each feature naturally mapped to the name of a state. At the end of the story, he then had us all follow him in our minds, as we turned around and walked backwards on that ship deck. And he would have us all call out the features we were going to encounter, now in reverse order. It was natural and easy.

So I applaud you for applying this powerful tool to scriptures. There needs to be much more of this!

If I were to work on such a project, I would try to link images directly to concepts. Linking an image to a letter, and then that letter to a concept is an extra mental step. So if trying to remember the sequence: True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely, Good report, Virtue, Praise, I would have images to directly demonstrate each point.

I have started working on this with ChatGPT making the images. But it is taking MUCH longer than I thought it would. The AI is impressive, but has a long way to go in terms of following instructions. Ha!

I'll post a followup if I am successful.
Best wishes,
Kevin T

I used memory mnemonics throughout college. The method worked very well for classes that involved rote memorization. I graduated Suma Cum Laude (4.0) with a degree in Computer Programming and Analysis. It's not as tough as the medical subjects, but I imagine you could apply the system easily.

 

[KevinT]

I used memory mnemonics throughout college. The method worked very well for classes that involved rote memorization. I graduated Suma Cum Laude (4.0) with a degree in Computer Programming and Analysis. It's not as tough as the medical subjects, but I imagine you could apply the system easily.

...Very nice. What generator did you use? I like the path concept from one thought/image to the next. That would be good for a progressive story or a chapter of the Bible. I am a little frustrated with the couple AI generators I use because they seem to generate different images each time using the same script.

I am paying for ChatGPT plus. And that is what I used as AI generator for the art. Within the one chat, it was able to keep one generation scheme pretty well. It then gave me the key words to include when I started a new thread to keep the photos looking the same. Plus I uploaded pictures too that it could reference for style. I had a big headache with that footpath you noticed. I kept telling it over and over to exit the frame on the RIGHT side. And it would keep a path disappearing straight ahead into the horizon, and then add a path that veered to the right, and then curved back to the horizon. For some of the pictures, I just downloaded them and fixed them myself with Gimp (like photoshop).

Regarding your education, Suma Cum Laude is very impressive indeed! Regarding "toughness", I would say that it depends on what one likes and what one's abilities are suited for. If I had to earn a degree in Literature, it would be very difficult for me indeed. There is a joke that among medical students, they say, "this isn't rocket science", and among astronauts they say, "Now to understand this, you don't have to have gone to medical school." Each side is looking at the other in awe. But we all get up every morning and do our best. It is just different skill sets.

I am a self-taught programmer. I started learning basic in 4th grade on a Commodore PET with an amazing 4K of RAM and a cassette tape player to save programs. I worked in a programming department in college, but soon realized that I liked the biologic sciences better. But I still love playing around with new things. Being self taught means that I am not fully rounded. I have a friend who is much better at all things computer than I am, and he will often comment, "Kevin, you have very amazing gaps in your knowledge." Ha! I think we were discussing the minutia of serial communication protocols at the time, so I didn't worry about it too much.

It's been a pleasure conversing with you. Keep up your good work with the memorization tools. I have this app on my phone: Verses: Bible Memory App It has several techniques to help one memorize verses. I was able to memorize Psalms 22 (the one starting with "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?") with it, though it took me about a month.

Best wishes,
Kevin T

 

[joechristianwarrior]

One thing I have noticed is that most Christians cannot remember the things Jesus taught. For example, if you ask your average Christian to name 10 or 15 things Jesus actually taught - like His actual commands, not the 10 Commandments from Moses or anything like that - you'll find that most can't do it. They simply don't know what Jesus taught (love your neighbor as yourself, rejoice when persecuted, give to those who ask, etc.). If churches could do more to help Christians remember the actual teachings of Jesus, then I think it would go a long way toward helping Christians show that they actually love the Lord. (John 14:15)

 

[SavedByGrace3]

One thing I have noticed is that most Christians cannot remember the things Jesus taught. For example, if you ask your average Christian to name 10 or 15 things Jesus actually taught - like His actual commands, not the 10 Commandments from Moses or anything like that - you'll find that most can't do it. They simply don't know what Jesus taught (love your neighbor as yourself, rejoice when persecuted, give to those who ask, etc.). If churches could do more to help Christians remember the actual teachings of Jesus, then I think it would go a long way toward helping Christians show that they actually love the Lord. (John 14:15)

Amen. I recall the parable where the birds come and take away the seeds

Mark 4:4 KJV
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Mark 4:15 KJV
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

So there is a force outside of ourselves that is actively trying to take the word away.
Thanks...

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Also makes nice witnessing tools.