Church Handbook of Instructions
Encyclopedia
The Handbook is a two-volume book of instructions and policies for leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The books are prepared by the First Presidency
and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church. Along with the Church's standard works
(i.e., its scriptural canon), the Handbook stands as the preeminent policy and practice guide for the leaders of the LDS Church. The LDS Church only distributes copies of the handbook to individuals who fill certain leadership callings within the church hierarchy, although one of the two volumes is available for free on the church's official website.
s, district presidents, branch president
s, and their counselors. Other individuals who receive a copy of Book 1 are temple president
s and their counselors, general authorities, general auxiliary presidencies, area seventies, and church clerks and executive secretaries.
The topics in Handbook 1 include guidelines involving general, area
, and regional administration; duties of the stake president; duties of the bishop; temples
and marriage; missionary
service; administering church welfare; church discipline
and name removal; interviews and counseling; physical facilities; creating, changing, and naming new units; military
relations; Church Educational System
; Perpetual Education Fund
; records and reports; finances; stake patriarch; ordinance and blessing policies; and general church policies on administrative, medical and health, and moral issues.
The church has stated that it did not place Handbook 1 online with Handbook 2 because church authorities were concerned that if it were widely read by the church membership, members "might decide they don’t need to go see their bishop ... It made much more sense to reserve that volume for leaders."
quorums and auxiliary organizations of the church. Every quorum president and auxiliary organization leader at stake, ward, district, and branch levels receive a copy of Handbook 2, as do most of the individuals who receive Handbook 1. Counselors to quorum or auxiliary presidencies and stake high councilors also receive copies of Handbook 2, as do other leaders in church congregations.
The topics in Handbook 2 include guidelines involving families and the church in God's plan; priesthood
principles; leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ; the ward council; the work of salvation in the ward and stake; welfare principles and leadership; Melchizedek priesthood; Aaronic priesthood; Relief Society
; Young Women
; Primary; Sunday School
; activities; music; stake organization; single members; uniformity and adaptation; meetings in the church; callings in the church; and priesthood ordinances and blessings. Handbook 2 also contains some of the general church policies on administrative, health, and moral issues that are contained in Handbook 1.
of the church. Leaders are instructed to write the changes into their copies of the handbook and keep the handbook and the supplemental materials together. New editions of the handbook are published in order to incorporate these issued supplements into the text of the handbook.
. The church asserts copyright over the contents of the Handbook and prohibits its duplication. The handbook emphasizes that it has been prepared solely for use by general and local Church officers to administer the affairs of the Church." The copyright to the Handbook is owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a corporation
owned by the LDS Church which owns the church's intellectual property
rights.
After the 1998 version of the Church Handbook was published, Jerald and Sandra Tanner
's Utah Lighthouse Ministry published portions of it on the internet without permission from the church and without including the book's copyright notice. The text was also disseminated to other websites which the ULM's website linked to. In the 1999 lawsuit
Intellectual Reserve v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry
, a United States district court
issued an injunction
prohibiting the further duplication of the contents of the handbook and ordered ULM to remove the offending material from its website.
In May 2008, the LDS Church notified the Wikimedia Foundation
that it believed the copyright to the Handbook of Instructions had been violated by a link posted in Wikinews
. The link directed readers to the text of the handbook that was posted on the Wikileaks
website, which is unaffiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation. Shortly after the complaint was made, Wikinews removed the link to the text from the article.
In 2010, the church placed the new Handbook 2 on its official website, which was seen as "part of a recent trend in the church to become more transparent."
Regarding birth control
, the Tribune comments:
The Tribune has also noted that the LDS Church discourages the use of in vitro fertilization using semen
and ova from people outside the couple and that the LDS Church has no official stance on drinking Coca-Cola
.
The Tribune quoted one member of the church as applauding the public availability of the Handbook, because it will allow the members of the church to become more familiar with the church's stance on certain social issues:
Some members have complained that the Handbook does not always explain the doctrinal justification for the church's stance on certain social issues, such as that related to artificial insemination of single women in the church: The Handbook states that artificial insemination of single women in the church "is not approved" and that "single sisters who deliberately refuse to follow the counsel of church leaders in this matter are subject to church discipline,” but it does not explain why similar treatment would not be meted out to single women in the church who adopt children.
of tithing
by church members. The handbook was revised every year until 1910 and approximately every five years thereafter. The book has been variously called the Annual Instructions, the Circular of Instructions, the Handbook of Instructions, the General Handbook of Instructions, the Church Handbook of Instructions, and finally, the Handbook.
In 1998, the book was split into two volumes for the first time and was renamed the Church Handbook of Instructions. A new edition was published and released to church leaders in November 2010, with the new names Handbook 1 and Handbook 2. One of the major changes between the 2006 and 2010 versions of the handbook is that the 2010 version "has softened the language about gay Mormons", eliminating statements "that same-sex relationships 'distort loving relationships' and that gays should repent of their 'homosexual thoughts or feelings.'"
(listing through 24(A) only) and supplemented with a list of editions since the Kimball article's publication.
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church. Along with the Church's standard works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
(i.e., its scriptural canon), the Handbook stands as the preeminent policy and practice guide for the leaders of the LDS Church. The LDS Church only distributes copies of the handbook to individuals who fill certain leadership callings within the church hierarchy, although one of the two volumes is available for free on the church's official website.
Purpose
In general, the Handbook contains institutional church policies as opposed to church doctrine. However, brief statements of doctrine are commonly presented at the start of sections in the handbook in order to provide the doctrinal context in which the policies are being set and implemented.Structure and distribution
The Handbook is divided into two volumes. The Church only distributes copies of the handbook to individuals who fill certain leadership callings within the church hierarchy. Handbook 1 is not available for sale to the general public or the general church membership. The text of Handbook 2 is available for free on the church's official website.Handbook 1
Handbook 1 is subtitled Stake Presidents and Bishops. It contains information that is primarily relevant to the functions and duties of stake presidents, bishops, mission presidentMission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
s, district presidents, branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
s, and their counselors. Other individuals who receive a copy of Book 1 are temple president
Temple President
Temple president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A temple president's primary responsibility is to supervise the affairs of an LDS temple in both an administrative and spiritual capacity....
s and their counselors, general authorities, general auxiliary presidencies, area seventies, and church clerks and executive secretaries.
The topics in Handbook 1 include guidelines involving general, area
Area (LDS Church)
An area is an administrative unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which typically is composed of multiple stakes and missions...
, and regional administration; duties of the stake president; duties of the bishop; temples
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...
and marriage; missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
service; administering church welfare; church discipline
Disciplinary council
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a disciplinary council is an ecclesiastical trial during which a member of the church is tried for alleged violations of church standards. If a member of the LDS Church is found guilty of an offence by a disciplinary council, he or she may be...
and name removal; interviews and counseling; physical facilities; creating, changing, and naming new units; military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
relations; Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
; Perpetual Education Fund
Perpetual Education Fund
The Perpetual Education Fund is a program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, first announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley on March 31, 2001...
; records and reports; finances; stake patriarch; ordinance and blessing policies; and general church policies on administrative, medical and health, and moral issues.
The church has stated that it did not place Handbook 1 online with Handbook 2 because church authorities were concerned that if it were widely read by the church membership, members "might decide they don’t need to go see their bishop ... It made much more sense to reserve that volume for leaders."
Handbook 2
Handbook 2 is subtitled Administering the Church. It contains information that is primarily relevant to the functions and duties of the leaders of priesthoodPriesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
quorums and auxiliary organizations of the church. Every quorum president and auxiliary organization leader at stake, ward, district, and branch levels receive a copy of Handbook 2, as do most of the individuals who receive Handbook 1. Counselors to quorum or auxiliary presidencies and stake high councilors also receive copies of Handbook 2, as do other leaders in church congregations.
The topics in Handbook 2 include guidelines involving families and the church in God's plan; priesthood
Priesthood (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...
principles; leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ; the ward council; the work of salvation in the ward and stake; welfare principles and leadership; Melchizedek priesthood; Aaronic priesthood; Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
; Young Women
Young Women (organization)
The Young Women is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
; Primary; Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
; activities; music; stake organization; single members; uniformity and adaptation; meetings in the church; callings in the church; and priesthood ordinances and blessings. Handbook 2 also contains some of the general church policies on administrative, health, and moral issues that are contained in Handbook 1.
Supplements
Occasionally the church updates, supplements, or changes material in the Handbook with written directives from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, or Presiding BishopricPresiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of the church. Leaders are instructed to write the changes into their copies of the handbook and keep the handbook and the supplemental materials together. New editions of the handbook are published in order to incorporate these issued supplements into the text of the handbook.
Unauthorized distribution
Handbook 1 is not available for sale to the general public or the general church membership. The text of Handbook 2 is available for free on the church's official website. In the past, unauthorized copies of the restricted handbook have been made available on the internetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. The church asserts copyright over the contents of the Handbook and prohibits its duplication. The handbook emphasizes that it has been prepared solely for use by general and local Church officers to administer the affairs of the Church." The copyright to the Handbook is owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
owned by the LDS Church which owns the church's intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
rights.
After the 1998 version of the Church Handbook was published, Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Jerald and Sandra Tanner
Jerald Dee Tanner was an American writer and researcher who, with his wife Sandra McGee Tanner spent nearly fifty years annotating and publishing archival and evidential materials which, the Tanners claim, accurately portrayed the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
's Utah Lighthouse Ministry published portions of it on the internet without permission from the church and without including the book's copyright notice. The text was also disseminated to other websites which the ULM's website linked to. In the 1999 lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
Intellectual Reserve v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry
Intellectual Reserve v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry
Intellectual Reserve v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry was a United States district court decision on the subject of deep linking and contributory infringement of copyright.- Background :...
, a United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
issued an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
prohibiting the further duplication of the contents of the handbook and ordered ULM to remove the offending material from its website.
In May 2008, the LDS Church notified the Wikimedia Foundation
Wikimedia Foundation
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is an American non-profit charitable organization headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States, and organized under the laws of the state of Florida, where it was initially based...
that it believed the copyright to the Handbook of Instructions had been violated by a link posted in Wikinews
Wikinews
Wikinews is a free-content news source wiki and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. The site works through collaborative journalism. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has distinguished Wikinews from Wikipedia by saying "on Wikinews, each story is to be written as a news story as opposed to an...
. The link directed readers to the text of the handbook that was posted on the Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
website, which is unaffiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation. Shortly after the complaint was made, Wikinews removed the link to the text from the article.
In 2010, the church placed the new Handbook 2 on its official website, which was seen as "part of a recent trend in the church to become more transparent."
Examples of content discussed in the media
Although the Handbook covers a wide variety of topics related to church organization and policy, media attention has focused largely on the church's policies on social issues that are outlined in the Handbook. As summarized by the Salt Lake Tribune, the Handbook states that the LDS Church:opposes gambling (including government-run lotteries), guns in churches, euthanasia, Satan worship and hypnotism for entertainment. It “strongly discourages” surrogate motherhood, sperm donation, surgical sterilizations (including vasectomies) and artificial insemination — when “using semen from anyone but the husband.” But [the church] supports organ donation, paying income taxes, members running for political office and autopsies — “if the family of the deceased gives consent.”
Regarding birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
, the Tribune comments:
The handbook says it is a “privilege” for Mormon couples to nurture and rear children, but the decision of how many to have is “extremely intimate and private and should be left between the couple and the Lord.” Moreover, church members “should not judge one another in this matter.” The book also says sexual relations in marriage “are divinely approved not only for the purpose of procreation, but also as a way of expressing love and strengthening emotional and spiritual bonds between husband and wife.”
The Tribune has also noted that the LDS Church discourages the use of in vitro fertilization using semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
and ova from people outside the couple and that the LDS Church has no official stance on drinking Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
.
The Tribune quoted one member of the church as applauding the public availability of the Handbook, because it will allow the members of the church to become more familiar with the church's stance on certain social issues:
“I’ve known church members who were shocked that the handbook strongly discourages vasectomies. They had no idea that there was any policy concerning it. ... If there are such policies, I think it is wise that everyone — not just those with leadership callings — knows about them.”
Some members have complained that the Handbook does not always explain the doctrinal justification for the church's stance on certain social issues, such as that related to artificial insemination of single women in the church: The Handbook states that artificial insemination of single women in the church "is not approved" and that "single sisters who deliberately refuse to follow the counsel of church leaders in this matter are subject to church discipline,” but it does not explain why similar treatment would not be meted out to single women in the church who adopt children.
History
The document that is identified as the first Church Handbook of Instructions was published in 1899 as a small fourteen-page booklet. It primarily contained instructions on how to manage in-kind paymentsPayment in kind
Payment in kind refers to payment for goods or services with a medium other than legal tender ....
of tithing
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
by church members. The handbook was revised every year until 1910 and approximately every five years thereafter. The book has been variously called the Annual Instructions, the Circular of Instructions, the Handbook of Instructions, the General Handbook of Instructions, the Church Handbook of Instructions, and finally, the Handbook.
In 1998, the book was split into two volumes for the first time and was renamed the Church Handbook of Instructions. A new edition was published and released to church leaders in November 2010, with the new names Handbook 1 and Handbook 2. One of the major changes between the 2006 and 2010 versions of the handbook is that the 2010 version "has softened the language about gay Mormons", eliminating statements "that same-sex relationships 'distort loving relationships' and that gays should repent of their 'homosexual thoughts or feelings.'"
Chronology of the Handbook
The chronological listing below of the publication history was partially taken from an article by Edward L. KimballEdward L. Kimball
Edward L. Kimball is a now-retired law professor at Brigham Young University who has written biographies of his father Spencer W. Kimball and his mother Camilla Eyring Kimball. Mormon historians have described these as "well crafted" biographies...
(listing through 24(A) only) and supplemented with a list of editions since the Kimball article's publication.
| No. | Year | Title | Pages | First Presidency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1899 | Instructions to Presidents of Stakes, Bishops of Wards and Stake Tithing Clerks | 14 | Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:... , George Q. Cannon George Q. Cannon George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow... , Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... |
| 2 | 1900 | Instructions to Presidents of Stakes, Bishops and Clerks | 23 | Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:... , George Q. Cannon George Q. Cannon George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow... , Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... |
| 3 | 1901 | Instructions to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors and Stake Tithing Clerks | 43 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 4 | 1902 | Annual Instructions, No. 4, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion | 38 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 5 | 1903 | Annual Instructions, No. 5, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion, 1903-1904 | 28 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 6 | 1904 | Annual Instructions, No. 6, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion | 32 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 7 | 1905 | Annual Instructions, No. 7, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, Bishops and Counselors and Stake Tithing Clerks in Zion | 34 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 8 | 1906 | Annual Instructions, No. Eight, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, Stake Clerks and General Authorities in Zion | 34 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 9 | 1908 | Annual Instructions, 1908, Circular No. 9, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks and General Authorities in Zion | 34 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 10 | 1909 | Annual Instructions, 1909, Circular No. 10, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Mission and Ward Clerks and All Church Authorities in Zion | 41 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... |
| 11 | 1909 | Annual Instructions, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Mission and Ward Clerks and All Church Authorities in Zion, Circular No. 11 | 36 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Charles W. Penrose Charles W. Penrose Charles William Penrose was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 7, 1904. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency of the church under Church Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J... |
| 12 | 1913 | Circular of Instructions, No. 12, to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, Presidents of Missions, Bishops and Counselors, Stake, Mission, and Ward Clerks and All Church Authorities | 52 | Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known... , Charles W. Penrose Charles W. Penrose Charles William Penrose was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 7, 1904. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency of the church under Church Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J... |
| 12 | 1921 | Instructions to Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks, No. 13 | 63 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... , Charles W. Penrose Charles W. Penrose Charles William Penrose was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 7, 1904. Penrose was also a member of the First Presidency of the church under Church Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J... |
| 13 | 1923 | Instructions to Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks, No. 13, 2d ed. | 63 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , Anthon H. Lund Anthon H. Lund Anthon Henrik Lund was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a prominent Utah leader.-History:... , Anthony W. Ivins Anthony W. Ivins Anthony Woodward Ivins born in Toms River, New Jersey, was a high-ranking official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life and family :... |
| 14 | 1928 | Handbook of Instructions for Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, No. 14 | 86 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , Anthony W. Ivins Anthony W. Ivins Anthony Woodward Ivins born in Toms River, New Jersey, was a high-ranking official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life and family :... , Charles W. Nibley Charles W. Nibley Charles Wilson Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency from 1925 until his death.... |
| 15 | 1934 | Handbook of Instructions for Stake Presidencies, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks, Number 15 | 111 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , Anthony W. Ivins Anthony W. Ivins Anthony Woodward Ivins born in Toms River, New Jersey, was a high-ranking official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life and family :... , J. Reuben Clark J. Reuben Clark Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge... |
| 16 | 1940 | Handbook of Instructions for Stake Presidents and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks and Other Church Officers | 159 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , J. Reuben Clark J. Reuben Clark Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge... , David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... |
| 17 | 1944 | Handbook of Instructions for Stake Presidents and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks and Other Church Officers | 272 | Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale... , J. Reuben Clark J. Reuben Clark Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge... , David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... |
| 18 | 1960 | Handbook of Instructions for Stake Presidents and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks and Other Church Officers | David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... , J. Reuben Clark J. Reuben Clark Joshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge... , Henry D. Moyle Henry D. Moyle Henry Dinwoodey Moyle was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Early life:... |
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| 19 | 1963 | Handbook of Instructions for Stake Presidents and Counselors, Bishops and Counselors, Stake and Ward Clerks and Other Church Officers | 146 | David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... , Henry D. Moyle Henry D. Moyle Henry Dinwoodey Moyle was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Early life:... , Hugh B. Brown Hugh B. Brown Hugh Brown Brown was an attorney, educator and author and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... |
| 20 | 1968 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, General Handbook of Instructions | 125 | David O. McKay David O. McKay David Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church... , Hugh B. Brown Hugh B. Brown Hugh Brown Brown was an attorney, educator and author and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... , N. Eldon Tanner, Thorpe B. Isaacson Thorpe B. Isaacson Henry Thorpe Beal Isaacson was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church president David O. McKay from 1965 to 1970.... , Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church... |
| 21 | 1976 | General Handbook of Instructions | 110 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
| 21(A) | 1976 | General Handbook Supplement 1 | 8 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
| 21(B) | 1977 | General Handbook Supplement 2 | 7 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
| 21(C) | 1978 | General Handbook Supplement 3 | 183 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
| 21(D) | 1978 | The Church Judicial System (replaced section 8 of General Handbook of Instructions) | 11 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... |
| 22 | 1983 | General Handbook of Instructions | 82 | Spencer W. Kimball Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:... , Marion G. Romney Marion G. Romney Marion George Romney was an apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:... , Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... |
| 23 | 1985 | General Handbook of Instructions | 79 | Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of... , Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... |
| 24 | 1989 | General Handbook of Instructions | 79 | Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of... , Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... |
| 24(A) | 1991 | Supplement to the 1989 General Handbook of Instructions | 10 | Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of... , Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... |
| 25(1) | 1998 | Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics | 161 | Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , James E. Faust James E. Faust James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35... |
| 25(2) | 1998 | Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders | 167 | Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , James E. Faust James E. Faust James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35... |
| 25(2-A) | 2006 | Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders: Section 9: Temple and Family History Work | 8 | Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , James E. Faust James E. Faust James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35... |
| 26(1) | 2006 | Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics | 205 | Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death... , Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , James E. Faust James E. Faust James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35... |
| 27(1) | 2010 | Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops | 186 | Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , Henry B. Eyring Henry B. Eyring Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October... , Dieter F. Uchtdorf Dieter F. Uchtdorf Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German former aviator and airline executive. He currently serves as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the eleventh most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church.-Early life and education:Uchtdorf... |
| 27(2) | 2010 | Handbook 2: Administering the Church | 217 | Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth... , Henry B. Eyring Henry B. Eyring Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October... , Dieter F. Uchtdorf Dieter F. Uchtdorf Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German former aviator and airline executive. He currently serves as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the eleventh most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church.-Early life and education:Uchtdorf... |
External links
- Handbook 2, lds.org