Your Weekly Gems guide

1. Start here

1. Open Weekly Gems on Android, iPhone, iPad or at gems.nsflabs.org. No account is required.
2. On This week, choose an available week, your material and difficulty.
3. Open Trivia, Crossword or Word Search. Your solo progress saves as you play.
4. Use the bottom navigation for Explore, Play together, My progress and Settings.

This guide describes the current release. The included weekly collection is October 5–11, 2026; a future date in the picker does not mean a playable collection has been published. The week’s short inspirational sentence accompanies its subject matter.

2. Weeks, material and difficulty

This week’s material connects puzzles to the selected week’s midweek meeting and Watchtower study, with supporting Research Guide references where provided. The current weekly bank contains 100 questions and 100 unique terms. The app does not generate a new set automatically simply because the calendar changes.

Random Research Guide is a separate bank of 5,000 source-lookup challenges. Open the citation and locate the indicated passage on the publisher’s site, then choose the matching answer. The source text is not reproduced in the puzzle. Different questions may use the same answer term; it is not a bank of 5,000 distinct words. Crossword and Word Search draw suitable terms from the same material selection. Use this bank for spontaneous game nights or additional rounds.

Choose a different trivia length, up to 100 questions when the selected pool permits it. The weekly pools contain 30 Gentle, 65 Standard and 100 Deep Study questions; these are cumulative options, not three separate banks of 100. Material and difficulty selections have their own saved attempts.

3. New rounds, randomization and resuming

Each new round randomizes the selected questions or suitable words and their order or arrangement. Opening research, leaving the game and returning does not shuffle an existing round. Choose New round when you want a fresh puzzle; confirm replacement if an unfinished round is present.

The app avoids recently used questions and terms for five days when enough eligible material remains. It can reuse them earlier when the available pool has been exhausted. Difficulty, word length and crossword-fit constraints affect which items are eligible. Small eligible pools can repeat sooner than the entire 5,000-question bank.

Repeat history is local to the device/browser. Solo play and live hosting track it separately; it is not synchronized across phones or hosts. Clearing progress/history or using another browser can bring items back sooner. To continue an unfinished solo game, open its card again or use Resume game in Settings.

4. Solo Trivia

1. Open Trivia and read the question. A source-lookup challenge gives a citation, a location and a word-length/letter hint. Open the source and identify the matching name or term there.
2. Choose one answer. It is recorded immediately and cannot be changed for a second attempt at that question.
3. Read the explanation and use Explore the source. Gentle and Deep Study also offer Research before answering; Standard asks you to answer first for conventional trivia. Source-lookup challenges allow research before answering at every difficulty.
4. Choose Next question, then Finish after the final answer.
5. Review the completion result or return to the week. A review follows the existing questions without changing your first-try record.

Solo trivia is untimed and reports how many answers were correct on the first try. Its gem celebrates finishing the round, not a perfect score. The 20-point speed scoring applies to Live Trivia.

5. Crossword

1. Tap an Across or Down clue to highlight its word.
2. Tap a highlighted cell and type. The cursor advances along the word. At an intersection, tap again to switch direction.
3. Use Check word to check the selected word; it reports whether the word is correct, incomplete or needs another look.
4. Use Research this clue for context. If you want direct help, Reveal word fills the selected answer and records the reveal separately from research.
5. Complete every placed word correctly to finish the puzzle.

On a keyboard, arrow keys move between cells; Backspace in an empty cell moves back within the active word. Entries are normalized to letters for the grid. There is no timer or penalty for taking time to study.

6. Word Search

1. Find a word from the list in the grid.
2. Touch or click its first letter, drag in a straight line to the last letter, then release. Either end may be selected first.
3. A valid match stays highlighted and the word is marked found. If the selection does not match, try again.
4. You can also tap the two ends instead of dragging, or use Tab and Enter. Cancel selection clears a pending first endpoint.
5. Tap a word in the list to see its source, then use the source control to research it. Find all listed words to complete the puzzle.

Gentle places words horizontally and vertically. Standard and Deep Study add reverse and diagonal placement. A selection must follow one straight line; it cannot turn a corner. The current puzzle stays fixed while you research.

7. Explore, study sources and returning to the game

Open Explore to browse the selected material, search and narrow the displayed discoveries with the available filters. Use Load more when more results are available. On the home screen, Study sources below the puzzle cards opens the weekly reference list.

Research controls open a source card with the citation, official study links and location details. Paragraph markers are website identifiers and may differ from printed paragraph numbers. Sentence and section positions are reading aids; site formatting can vary. If a highlight is unavailable, use the citation to find the section yourself. A Research Guide topic identifies the indexed study route; the linked page may be a referenced article rather than the guide’s index page. Use the publication title, date, section or paragraph information to find the context.

In the installed mobile app, supported JW.org and Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY links open a research browser with a ← Game control. Tap it to return to the saved puzzle. If your system opens an external browser instead, return through the app switcher. In the web app, close the source tab or switch back to the game tab.

Research pages need internet access. Their cookie/privacy choices belong to the external website; the app preserves the research browser’s cookies between visits. Different domains, cleared storage or private browsing may require another choice. Reading a source does not reveal a crossword answer automatically and is recorded separately from using Reveal word.

8. Your gems and progress

Finishing Trivia, Crossword and Word Search earns the corresponding gems for that week. 0 of 3 gems discovered grows as you finish the three different weekly puzzles. Repeating a completed puzzle does not create a fourth weekly gem. Research Guide rounds have their own progress and do not replace the selected week’s three-puzzle goal.

My progress shows your journey and saved results. Completed gems remain faceted and glow blue; motion settings can make the glow steady. The app values finishing and exploration, while keeping first-try answers and revealed help distinct. Progress stays on this device/browser unless you export and restore it elsewhere.

9. Join a Live Trivia game

1. Use the host’s QR code or joining link, or open Play together → Join a game and enter the room code.
2. Choose a nickname suitable for everyone in the room. It is visible on shared standings, so avoid a full name or personal details.
3. Wait in the lobby. When the host starts, keep the game open through the preparation and countdown.
4. Tap one answer before time runs out. A submitted answer is final for that question. A late answer receives no points.
5. Read the reveal, check the standings and wait for the host to continue.

Players may join using a mobile browser without installing the app. A room supports up to 20 players. Late joins and connection recovery may require waiting for the next question. Keep the same browser/app storage to preserve your session; switching to a new browser creates a different local session.

10. Host a game and score a round

1. Open Play together and choose hosting. Select weekly or Research Guide material, difficulty, question count and an answer time of 20, 30, 45 or 60 seconds.
2. Create the room and share the displayed join code, joining link or QR code. Share a player or display link, not private host credentials.
3. Wait for players, then start the game. The service prepares the round, runs a short countdown and opens the question.
4. After the answer window closes, view the correct answer and results. Choose Show standings, then Next question. The discussion pause lets you talk through the source before continuing.
5. On the final standings, choose Celebrate results. Use Play again for another game, or End game and confirm to close the room for everyone.

Scoring: A correct answer is worth at most 20 points. The score decreases with the time taken, from 20 near the start to about 15 halfway through and 10 near the deadline. Wrong or late answers earn 0. The server decides the deadline and score; network delay can affect when an answer arrives. Solo trivia uses a first-try count instead of this speed score.

Under Presentation preferences & players, a host can remove a participant, reduce motion or enable the optional spoken winner announcement (off by default). Source controls appear at the allowed point for the chosen difficulty. Opening research does not pause a live answer timer.

Rooms expire four hours after creation, including lobby time. Returning to the home screen is different from ending a room. Reconnect promptly if the network drops; the clock continues on the server. Create a new room when one has expired.

11. TV view and screen mirroring

1. On the host screen, open TV view and turn the presenting phone or tablet sideways. TV setup help explains the setup.
2. On a compatible iPhone/iPad and TV, use Control Center → Screen Mirroring. On supported Samsung devices, use Quick Settings → Smart View. Compatibility, network requirements and available controls depend on your devices.
3. Alternatively, choose Copy display link and open it in a browser on a computer connected to the TV.
4. Keep the presenting device awake and the game visible. Consider Focus or Do Not Disturb so personal notifications are not shown.
5. Answer on a separate player device. Research on that player device will not replace the TV presentation.

The display link is a public presentation view, not a host control panel. The app does not implement direct Chromecast pairing or its own AirPlay receiver. If a tablet does not mirror, first test whether the operating system can mirror its home screen; try the browser display link on a connected computer if needed. Device compatibility is not guaranteed.

12. Appearance, accessibility and help

Open the gear icon in the bottom navigation for Settings. Choose the default difficulty, high contrast, larger text, reduced motion and scenery preferences. The dark, high-contrast presentation helps separate text and controls from the backgrounds. Landscape artwork rotates across launches and screens while staying still during play.

Reduced motion limits animated effects, including completion celebrations. Live presentation also has its own Reduce motion control. Home time zone keeps displayed week dates aligned with your selected zone when traveling; it does not read your GPS location.

Help & information opens this user guide, the privacy policy and Questions or comments. The email link opens your email app addressed to info@NSFLabs.org. Review and send the message yourself; the app does not automatically attach saves or logs. If no mail app is set up, copy the address into your preferred email service.

Behind the scenery identifies the background collection, including imaginative AI-generated illustrations and supplied photographs. These are scenery credits, not labels over the game backdrop.

13. Backup, restore, offline play and deletion

Export: Settings → Export a backup saves a JSON file. Installed apps use the system sharing sheet; the web app downloads a file. Put it somewhere you control. It includes solo progress and preferences, not a transferable Live Trivia host session.

Restore: Settings → Restore a backup, then choose a previously exported JSON file. Restoring replaces existing solo progress, so export the current device first if you want to keep a separate copy. There is no automatic merge or account sync.

Offline: Installed apps include the puzzle collection. On the web, first open the app online and allow its offline resources to finish saving. Settings → Keep downloaded games asks a supported browser to retain storage; a browser can refuse or later remove storage. Export important progress regardless. Live Trivia, external research, support email delivery and tips need a connection. When an app update is offered, finish or save what you are doing before reloading.

Delete: Settings → Delete local progress → Yes, delete progress removes solo entries, completion and solo recent-use history. Preferences remain. Live session/history, research cookies and files you exported are separate. To remove those, clear the relevant app/browser storage or external files. See the privacy policy’s deletion instructions for the exact limits.

14. The optional tip jar

In Settings, choose $1, $3 or Other in the Buy Me a Coffee section, then Continue to Buy Me a Coffee. Enter your chosen amount on the provider’s page and confirm its currency and payment frequency before paying. The app’s suggestion does not automatically charge you or prefill checkout.

All core puzzles remain free; tipping provides no hints, extra points or gameplay advantages. Support is for NSF Labs, not for Watch Tower or Jehovah’s Witnesses. Payment questions can be sent to the provider or info@NSFLabs.org as appropriate.

15. Troubleshooting and reporting a problem

• A saved puzzle looks different: Check the week, material and difficulty. Each selection has its own attempt. A new round replaces the prior attempt for that selection.
• Questions repeat: The eligible pool may be exhausted, five days may have passed, or the browser/device/history may have changed. Try a broader difficulty or material bank.
• A word is not selected: Drag directly from one endpoint to the other in a straight line and release. Try tapping the two endpoints, or cancel the current selection and start again.
• Live game will not connect: Confirm internet access and the room code; rooms expire after four hours. Reopen the same browser/app. A browser blocking storage can prevent session recovery.
• Research asks about cookies again: Make a choice on the source site, return with ← Game and revisit in the same browser. Check whether device cleanup or private browsing removes storage. Send the source address and device/app version if it repeats on every visit.
• Missing progress: Private browsing, cleared storage, app deletion or using another device can remove or separate a save. Restore your exported backup if available.
• TV or sound trouble: Check system mirroring, the receiving TV and volume. Spoken announcements must be enabled and supported by the device’s speech service.
• A source or answer seems wrong: Email the week/material, difficulty, question wording and source citation. Tell us what appears incorrect so it can be reviewed.

Use Questions or comments. Include your device, app version and steps to reproduce a problem. Do not send passwords, private host tokens, payment credentials or unnecessary personal data.

16. Independent study aid and references

Weekly Gems is an independent NSF Labs study and puzzle app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or part of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., or Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

Official references provide context and remain subject to their owners’ terms. From build 19, the app contains independently worded prompts, answer terms, citations and source links. It does not bundle publication excerpts, quoted missing-term passages, original EPUB/JWPUB files or complete publications. Read the original passage on its site of origin. The app does not claim publisher authorization or official approval. See the publication-reference notice and JW.org’s Terms of Use.