An upgraded version of the Gospel Library mobile app is now available for iOS devices in Apple’s app store.

The new version is called Gospel Library 3 and it is a separate app from the previous Gospel Library 2.5 app. The 3.0 upgrade is for  iOS 6-compatible devices. (If you have an older iOS device that can’t run iOS 6, you can keep using the Gospel Library version 2.5.)

Improvements and new features include the following:

• New interface. The app is more intuitive and easier to use. Swipe from the left on your device to open up the library area where you’ll see photo thumbnails of Church magazines, scriptures, general conferences, and more.
• Related content. Swipe from the right to open the related content area to see personal notes, footnotes, links, related audio and video recordings, and other scriptures and references related to what you are studying.
• Design. You’ll see improved typography, more images, embedded videos, and improved layout. Take a look at the Come, Follow Me youth curriculum, Preach My Gospel, and Daughters in My Kingdom to see nice redesigns. These digital books look and feel like their printed counterparts.
• New content. See new content, such as Personal Progress and written and audio versions of Jesus the Christ.
• Video content. You can stream video or download it to your device to watch it later offline. You’ll notice that the download speeds are much faster than before. The videos section has also been expanded for teaching and personal use. 
• Notes and marking. The upgrade lets you highlight or underline in 10 colors, create notes, link related passages, and tag paragraphs or words. A new notebooks section lets you record your thoughts and impressions or review your tagged content.
• Automatic updates. You can subscribe to selected content. For example, go to the Ensign content area and you’ll see the currently available issues. You can tap any issue to quickly download that issue. You can also swipe from the top down, and see options to Download All, Remove All, or turn on Subscribe. If you subscribe, each future issue will download automatically into your library. This option is especially helpful for magazines and general conference.
• Sharing. You can email, text, tweet, or post your discoveries to Facebook. 

Migrating to the new app

Install the new 3.0 app and sign in with your LDS Account. All your previous annotations will automatically be transferred into the new app. You can then delete the previous 2.5 app.

Background

First launched in 2009, the Gospel Library app now has more than 1.5 million active users.

The Gospel Library app is available for Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry, webOS, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, and other Phones. The current Android version already includes many of the features in this new iOS upgrade. The next upgrade for Android has not yet been scheduled.

I think you’ll love this upgraded app for Apple iOS. It has been rebuilt from the ground up using new mobile standards to be more graphical, consistent, and secure. It went thru 17 beta versions, so it’s had lots of testing and refining.

Watch this video about the Church’s newest version of the Gospel Library mobile app for Apple iOS 6 now available for free from the Apple app store.

Below is a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott’s latest conference talk “For Peace at Home.” A portion of it appears in the video.

“…many of us have a personal electronic device that fits into our pocket. We are seldom without its company; we may refer to it many times a day. Unfortunately, these devices can be a source of filth and wasted time. But, used with discipline, this technology can be a tool of protection from the worst of society.

“Who could have imagined not very many years ago that the full standard works and years of general conference messages would fit into your pocket? Just having them in your pocket will not protect you, but studying, pondering, and listening to them during quiet moments of each day will enhance communication through the Spirit.

“Be wise in how you embrace technology. Mark important scriptures on your device and refer back to them frequently. If you young people would review a verse of scripture as often as some of you send text messages, you could soon have hundreds of passages of scripture memorized. Those passages would prove to be a powerful source of inspiration and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need. (May 2013 Ensign, ”For Peace at Home“)

Learn more in the article “Major Upgrade for Gospel Library App for iOS Devices Announced.”