Teens Read the Book
Bringing the sound of scripture
to a worldwide audience
Bringing the sound of scripture
to a worldwide audience
The Bible is the word of God. It is a timeless collection of holy writings revered and loved by billions. Its impact on world history and human life is without parallel.
At the center of the Bible is Jesus Christ, Jehovah of the Old Testament and the promised Messiah of the New Testament. The Bible is a witness of His life, His work, and His purposes among God’s children.
Our desire is to honor and celebrate Jesus Christ by reading this sacred scripture for you. We hope our young voices sharing this ancient text will elevate its timeless teachings and bless the whole world.
We are collecting recordings of 12 to 19-year-olds reading the Bible, one chapter each. They will be published on this website and at Teens Read the Book on all major podcast platforms.
We intend to produce them to a high quality standard so they can be used on the media platforms of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the Gospel Library app.
The recordings may also be licensed to other organizations with similar intent. We hope they will be enjoyed throughout the world.
Would you like to be involved?
If you are a teen (ages 12-19), we invite you to submit a recording of yourself reading a chapter of scripture. See below for instructions. People around the world will love hearing your voice read these timeless words.
I believe our efforts to produce these recordings will fill a unique need in the world. Compared with the flood of instant media whose appeal can fade in a matter of days or weeks, these scriptures have and will remain relevant for hundreds and even thousands of years. Hopefully, our recordings of them will make a big difference for those who hear them.
This is God's word. Thanks for helping us share it in new a way that will bless lives and increase faith for years to come.
-McKay
P.S. Would you like to do more? We are looking for visionary teens and helpful adults who see the importance of this effort and can help us review and quality check the recordings for accuracy. Email us at teensreadthebook@gmail.com if you would like to get involved. We look forward to working together.
If you would like to participate, click here to see chapters and pick one that still needs to be recorded. You don't need an assignment, just find one that is available. When you submit your recording, we will update the spreadsheet with your name and information next to the chapter you submitted.
If you would like to participate, sign these two release forms and submit with your recording. We can't use your recording without these. A photo or .pdf scan of these pages is okay.
When you have recorded your chapter, have a parent or friend listen to it to check for accuracy. When you have your recording ready, upload it with your permission slip here. You'll need to sign in with a Google account to upload your files.
Ask God to help you as you do for people around the world what Nephi did for his brothers:
22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.
23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. (1 Nephi 19:22 - 23)
Review the chapter you will record. Practice pronouncing any difficult words until you can say them right. If you are unsure how to say a word, listen to the church's existing voice recording to get the pronounciation right.
It's hard to speak clearly with a dry mouth. Drink a full bottle or glass of water about 10 minutes before you record.
Record yourself reading the whole chapter in the current version of the scriptures published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read the chapter number, introductory chapter notes, and all verses. If you are reading the first chapter of a book, read the full book name and any extra text that precedes chapter one.
Use the highest quality recording device you can find. If that's an app on your phone, see if you can adjust the settings to capture your voice in the highest quality possible. Many phones and apps will compess audio files to save storage space, but for this you want an "uncompressed" file type to capture the highest quality possible. The best format is a WAV file, but FLAC, AIFF (for apple files) and ALAC formats should also work. You may need to download a good recording app if your phone's built-in recorder can't export your recording as a WAV file.
Don't read too fast or too slow. Read at a pace that is natural and comfortable for you and can be easily understood.
Eliminate background noise. Record in a silent, carpeted room without an echo. Closets and cars that are off make excellent recording studios.
Holding your phone or recording device in your hands as you record will make small clicking / tapping noises. Put your phone on a pillow or stand about six inches below your mouth. And obviously, put your phone on airplane mode and silence all alarms.
In order to be published widely, your recording need to include every word spoken correctly. If you mistake a word, just say it again correctly and continue reading.
If you notice a mistake in your recording afterward, send us a second recording of the corrected verses and we will edit them together to make it right.
You don't need to sound like a professional when you record. Be authentic. Your voice is unique and is what we need. Do your best and it will be good enough.
And smile every once in a while as you read. Remember that you are doing something great. :)