You are probably already familiar with popular LDS apps like Deseret Bookshelf, but here are 10 other newly-created Mormon apps you might not know about.
From interactive scripture mastery games incorporating 300 animations to an app that creates an LDS version of Youtube, the LDSTech Conference had everything Mormon gamers and computer wizards could want.
As part of this year’s conference, LDSTech decided to hold their first Gospel Game and App Contest that featured games designed by Mormons, for Mormons. Over 150 contestants submitted some 80 designs, 16 of which were selected for awards.
Held on October 16th and 17th at the University of Utah Institute, the contest named three winners in each of three categories—Primary, Youth, and Family—as well as awarded nearly a dozen honorable mentions. In addition, a People’s Choice Awards was held following the competition to recognize the most popular designs.
At only 16 years old, Corbin Anderson was one of the competition's youngest and most promising contributors. Anderson won second place in the Primary category with his LDS Children’s Activity App. Now he's keeping himself busy gearing up for next year’s competition.
“I love technology, and am a die-hard fan of Android,” Anderson said in an interview with Greg Duerden of LDSTech. “I feel very blessed to have been able to have such opportunities and to have been able to participate in the LDSTech Conference app contest, and I hope to be able to build an app [for] next time too.”
The submissions featured in the 2014 Gospel Games and Apps Contest represent a variety of designs, interests, and options that are sure to appeal to any family. These games are now available to view or download from lds.org.
So, whether you need a new app to complement your LDS lifestyle or you are looking for inspiration for next year’s competition, be sure to stay up to date on all of these exciting developments on tech.lds.org.
LDSTech Gospel Game and App Contest Winners
Here are this year's contest winners listed by category. LDSTech will be publishing more information on these apps, as well as providing exclusive interviews with their creators on tech.lds.org.
Primary
1st–Quiet Games: Five LDS games that provide quiet and fun entertainment for children—ad-free, created by Clint, Rachel and Kristen Johnson.
2nd–LDS Children’s Activity App: An app that takes a gospel spin on classic and modern games like Memory and 2048—perfect for helping young children stay engaged through Sacrament meeting, created by Corbin Anderson.
3rd–This is Catherine: An interactive, true pioneer story of a convert family’s journey to Zion, created by Michael, Janet and Wade Hatch.
Youth
1st–Scripture Mastery SUPERSTAR!: A game that combines text, voice acting, animation and other mnemonic devices to help players brush up on their scripture mastery, created by Nick Pasto, Megan and Jonathon Chan, and Eric Haddad.
2nd–Scripture Fling: A game that tests your knowledge of all 100 scripture mastery verses through four levels of difficulty, created by Kevin, Kammi and Matt Pyles.
3rd–Mormon Tube: An app that provides easy access to clean, uplifting, Mormon-related videos, created by Dustin Hill.
Family
1st–ScriptureCharts.com: A free, online scripture reading chart that helps you track your reading, created by Cassie Wooley.
2nd–LDS Tweets Free: A collection of Twitter feeds that include official accounts from the Church, created by Trevor Holyoak.
3rd–My Mission (LDS): An app that helps LDS missionaries organize and share their favorite missionary pictures, stories and experiences with their family and friends back home, created by Kevin, Sean, Lindsey, Loni, David Wade, Veronica Bendersky, Laura Leibson, Matt Taylor.
People’s Choice
Lehi’s Escape: A 3D game where players can talk to key characters, get missions, learn principles, then Go and Do in 600 BC Jerusalem, created by Freeman and Alejandra Hyzer.
Scripture Mastery SUPERSTAR!: A game that combines text, voice acting, animation and other mnemonic devices to help players brush up on their scripture mastery, created by Nick Pasto, Megan and Jonathon Chan, and Eric Haddad.
My Mission (LDS): An app that helps LDS missionaries organize and share their favorite missionary pictures, stories, and experiences with their family and friends back home, created by Kevin, Sean, Lindsey, Loni, David Wade, Veronica Bendersky, Laura Leibson, Matt Taylor.