Cease and Desist? ldsscriptures.com

One of the very best scripture study applications that I have using (because of its ease of use and because it allows you to reference many sources that relate to the scripture that you are reading by just a simple click) was shut down recently by the Church's Intellectual Reserve. Does anybody know the particulars? Truly this is a loss. The church just doesn't (to my knowledge) have anything comparable. If there is something out there please let me know. Thanks.

Since it was the app that was taken down and not the website, I suspect they didn't have the rights to distribute copyrighted works of the church.

The LDS Gospel Library is the only app I'm aware of.

This may also be related to the recent lawsuit by Litchfield Associates about the use and distribution of the Alexander Scourby Bible recordings.

I found out about this last month. I was shocked and saddened. The ldsscripture.com app is/was a far superior app. I have a great deal of work put into my scripture study--annotations and markings. I hate to think of all that work that will one day be totally lost.

The Church's app (and I mean no disrespect) is clunky and anti-intuitive in every way. There is no comparison. I wish there were a way the Church would adopt the ldsscripture app.

The church doesn't normally buy out a software product created by others; but it has continued developing apps that have been donated to the church. For example, both Gospel Library for iOS and LDS Music for iOS were donated by members to the church, and that's how they started.

I just discovered this same thing today as I was trying to put my ipad apps onto my new iphone. Aargh!@ I'm so disappointed. Too bad that Intellectual Reserve can't see how superior this app is and just buy it so we can all benefit.
Does anyone know how I can get my ipad app onto my new iphone?? I've tried going to the app store and clicking on "updates", then "purchased", but it doesn't even show up in the list. Is there a way to plug in my ipad to my computer to transfer all apps and then plug my phone into the computer to transfer?? Help!

The main functionality - beyond keeping notes and study references - I am most saddened by losing from not being able to use the ldsscriptures app is the ability to easily see where a scripture has been cited in a general conference talk or lesson manual.

Can the features offered in the LDS Scripture Citation Index be integrated into Gospel Library to provide a more seamless and user-friendly experience?

My understanding is that the ldsscriptures app and the LDS Scripture Citation Index are totally different apps, created by separate developers (ldsscriptures is done by Michael Jensen, Citation Index by Steve Liddle). The Scripture Citation Index is still available, likely because it doesn't merely repackage and enhance Intellectual Reserve's copyrighted works.

I really enjoyed the app the ldsscriptures.com provided because you could sync your phone,tablet and iMac altogether at once and it didn't take forever to download....I understand the reasoning that the brethren want to keep control of our printed material....maybe they could work out some sort of agreement to implement some of the key features that ldsscriptures.com app has ...

Wow!! Just found out I can't update this app!! I am CRUSHED!! I use it every day and have put a ton of work into tagging and book marking scriptures! Is there anything we can do to get it working again??!!! Such a huge bummer - I have seen nothing that is even remotely comparable!

Maybe see if their "100% Lifetime Money-back Guarantee!" is still effective.

Boo hiss! This is a serious downer. I have put countless hours of study, notes and lesson compilation into this app, which until now has had zero heat from anyone, let alone Intellectual Reserve Inc. for making the most effective and intuitive full spectrum gospel library available.

At best I will have to re-spend countless hours transcribing to some more stable medium (paper perhaps, perish the thought!) these notes, scripture chains and cross references. Truly a backward step: less effective.

Is there anyone in an official church capacity that can respond to this? Real harm has been done here and silence makes it worse.

It took me over an hour to collect my thoughts and redirect the negative energy the natural man in me would prefer to perpetuate in response to this news.

My heart goes out to the Michael Jensen family and his team. They must be shaken to the core over this.

leejj wrote:Maybe see if their "100% Lifetime Money-back Guarantee!" is still effective.

I would hope that no one would add this level of insult to an already devastating injury to the developers. This app is worth 100 times, yeah more, than what we paid for it.

kurttaylor wrote:Is there anyone in an official church capacity that can respond to this?

I'd suggest contacting the legal department at Intellectual Reserve. I don't know as you're going to find anyone here who can speak on that.

kurttaylor wrote:Is there anyone in an official church capacity that can respond to this? Real harm has been done here and silence makes it worse.

It took me over an hour to collect my thoughts and redirect the negative energy the natural man in me would prefer to perpetuate in response to this news.

My heart goes out to the Michael Jensen family and his team. They must be shaken to the core over this.

The church, in an official capacity, has responded. That is where the Cease and Desist comes from. Many in the church have misunderstandings around legal use and sometimes we must live with the consequence of our actions.

I am sick about this too!! I have amassed a treasure through my study using that app. I am going to copy my tags into a notebook. I am not going to loose them again. I am tired of loosing all my work. I think that this technology is changing very rapidly. It is only a matter of time before we will have a scripture app that will be more user friendly. The church is all about making this work for individuals and families! Be patient and back up your study.

This is sad. I like so many have been blessed with this amazing app. Please do what you can to restore it. It is like having your beloved, well marked and researched scriptures taken from you. Please help.

Just last week I paid the developers another 1.99 (not a lot of money, granted!) to update to a reading plan. I can't install this update and only realised that they have a cease and desist order on the app. Why accept people's money when it can't be updated. I agree this is a fantastic app, but this has made me a little less charitable towards the developers.
Can't update the new manuals for this year either. Hmph!

I agree. I love this app and am extremely disappointed that it can no longer be updated. I hope somehow it can come back.

I agree with the other comments. This has been a very nice app and I use it all of the time. I noticed the problem on the first of the month, but my Nook was still able to download after awhile. When I tried to install the app on my wife's new Android phone though, I was unable to download the app to the new phone, even though I paid for it.

Why is the site still able to advertise and accept payment, if the Cease and Desist order is in effect?

marcris wrote:Why is the site still able to advertise and accept payment, if the Cease and Desist order is in effect?

That's something you'll have to take up with them.

I need the option in the app to change the colour of text and background, I need to have blue text, I find Black writing on white very difficult to read, while blue on white is far and away more restful for me to read. I find that most people who contact actualy go to the trouble of changing their emails to blue, look at this page there is a lot of blue writing on white background, even black on a grey background is easier to read, look at your own website on this very page; look at your app even you highlight the important/key words in Blue please please add this feature into your app so as the Brothers and Sisters with color 'Blindness' problems can rest their eyes as they read the sacred word.

Also the 2 step process to jump around open pages in your app version is far inferior to the one step process in LDSScriptures.com app, think of it, just one step not 2, please bless us by not dismissing our relevant comments.

russellhembrow wrote:I need the option in the app to change the colour of text and background,

Which app are you talking about? You've posted to the ldsscriptures.com thread, but no one here has any connection with that app.

I wonder if there was been any discussion around adding the incredible features found in the LDS Scriptures app to the official LDS Gospel Library app? I have asked that question via feedback to both lds.org and ldsscriptures.org. But not a word in reply. Surely the good people at both places can see the value of it to serious scripture reading saints all over the world. It has improved my scripture study 1000%, and thus my lessons, and high council talks. It would be a tragedy for all that to just go away.

Gutted...absolutely gutted. I paid for this app more than once bc nothing compared? All my notes, tags, references...gone! Buy WHY. Can't something be worked out? I treasure it all the more now but no updates...so disappointing.

Actually, I suppose it is more disappointing the developers were on the wrong side of the law for their app to be shut down. However it happened I feel for them and thanks for that brilliant cutting edge app. Our faith gets tested, that's why we're here. Peace out!

LOOK WHAT FOUND YAAHHHOOO!!!
Good news! We now have an official license agreement for using the Church's content and are working to get our apps back on the various App Stores as soon as possible with updated content. (no timeframe yet sorry!)

SOME BACK STORY: Some of you may have noticed our apps haven't been updated with the latest General Conference and manuals, and that you can no longer find our apps in the various App Stores. About six months ago we were named in a lawsuit (the Church was named in the same lawsuit as well), and to play it safe the Church asked us to stop selling our apps until things were resolved. The lawsuit has now been settled (none of us were at fault) and we have secured an official license from the Church to publish our apps with their content.

We hope you will continue to use and share our apps as you have in the past as we work hard to innovate and improve Scripture study for the LDS community.

I do not have a timeframe of when the app updates will be ready as we are still working on the programming changes. Thanks for your patience as we work hard on this and many things in the future!

dauniika5 wrote:LOOK WHAT FOUND YAAHHHOOO!!!

What dauniika5 is referring to is this link: http://ldsscriptures.com/support.html

About six months ago we were named in a lawsuit (the Church was named in the same lawsuit as well), and to play it safe the Church asked us to stop selling our apps until things were resolved.

Well, that's quite a bit different than what we thought happened.

Oh yeah lol...Thanks

Someone pointed out to me recently that the Bible recordings on LDS.org are no longer the Alexander Scourby version, which I assume means the Church now has more freedom in how they distribute them. I'm not sure when it changed.

It has been eight (8) years since those of you posted there was nothing comparable to the defunct 2014 app that was available at ldsscriptures.com . For those of you who made the transition to what is now available for free from the church, please post what you believe is a better comparison. I'd appreciate it.