Deseret Book
Encyclopedia
Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States
. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City
headquarters. During holidays, over 1000 employees work at over 30 Deseret Book store locations.
Owned wholly by Deseret Management Corporation
, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Deseret Book is managed independently, but distributes media in accord with church doctrine. As a publisher, Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from doctrine
and LDS fiction
books, to electronic resources and sound recordings such as Mormon Tabernacle Choir
albums.
bookstores trace their organizational roots to George Q. Cannon
, a Latter-day Saint General Authority
. The bookstore is named after "deseret," a word from the Book of Mormon
meaning "honeybee".
published the first issue of Juvenile Instructor
magazine. Dated January 1, it was not distributed until later because of problems procuring paper
in Utah Territory
before completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
. Printed on the Deseret News
press, the 8-page bi-monthly magazine was the first serial publication in Utah aimed toward youth. Cannon also organized the Deseret Sunday School Union, an LDS Church organization responsible for educating young Latter-day Saints. The Sunday School Union gained control of the Juvenile Instructor
after Cannon died in 1901.
Cannon opened the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in 1867 to sell this and other publications of an uplifting nature. Cannon perceived that novels taken across the plains did not reflect Latter-day Saint values. In the 1880s, Cannon expanded with a branch in Ogden, Utah
.
It's not known how many books Cannon & Sons actually published. In this era authors commonly self-published
, at least in part, to be distributed by others. However, the Cannon & Sons distributed several important volumes through bookstores and mail order (see table).
The company had extensive ties to the LDS Church-owned newspaper, the Deseret News
. Five of Cannon's sons held important positions in the paper, and George Q. Cannon himself was editor between 1867 and 1872, and again while temporarily owning the paper from 1892 to 1898. Nearly every George Q. Cannon & Sons book was printed on the Deseret News press. Cannon sold the bookstore to the LDS Church effective October 1, 1900, near the end of his life. The church grouped management of the two businesses, and the remaining Salt Lake City bookstore became the Deseret News Bookstore.
By 1906 Deseret News press had a Linotype machine
and dedicated book press
. Many significant volumes were published and distributed through the Deseret News Bookstore.
Of these, the most successful was James E. Talmage
's Jesus the Christ. Published in September, 1915, the initial 5000 print run was quickly consumed. The First Presidency
authorized the bookstore to produce many more copies for use in Sunday School. Seeking out a higher-capacity press in New York City
, Talmage is said to have made revisions for the second edition while on the train. Overseeing second edition in January 1916, Talmage began making revisions for the third edition by February 5. The book went through innumerable printings, and was quickly translated into several languages.
Meanwhile, the Deseret Sunday School Union, still publishing the money-losing Juvenile Instructor struggled to maintain its distribution center, the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore. Aimed at church supply, the Sunday School Bookstore sold textbook
s, minutes ledgers, sacrament trays, as well as popular books. Since 1891 the non-profit Union asked for yearly five-cent contributions from Sunday school pupils on "Nickel Sunday." Facing over $12,000 in debt in 1914, requested donations increased to ten cents, and 1919 a committee formed to study the organizations solvency. Led by Talmage, the committee recommended consolidation of the Sunday School Bookstore with the Deseret News Bookstore.
By 1920, both antecedent bookstores were closed and a single new Deseret Book Company building was constructed in downtown Salt Lake City
at site of the present ZCMI Center Mall. Ownership of Deseret Book was split between the Deseret News
(70%) and the Deseret Sunday School Union (30%). However, the Union would manage the bookstore until 1932 when Deseret Book was incorporated for-profit
as the "Utah Company". The Deseret News bought out the Sunday School Union in 1948 to become sole owner of the bookstore, but both the Deseret News and Deseret Book are now subsidiaries
of the Deseret Management Corporation
, which manages several for-profit assets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret News Press printed nearly all Deseret Book publications until the 1960s when the company began seeking other competitive bids.
Through the 1930s, the bookstore focused mostly on Sunday school needs such as lesson manuals. Though the bookstore introduced relatively few new authors, several important works were published in this period. Notably, B. H. Roberts' magnum opus
, the six-volume Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
, 1930. Deseret Book did not accept manuscripts for publication until the 1940s when the company made a push for new authors.
Deseret Book expanded into motion picture equipment and photographic
supplies in the 1940s. Winning an exclusive contract to distribute for Bell & Howell in Utah
and parts of Idaho
and Wyoming
, Deseret Book supplied 16 mm film
projectors
to the LDS Church. Becoming a film distribution and rental outfit, the Deseret Book "Censorship Committee on Films" was established in 1946 because regular employees were unable to review all the films it handled. By 1950, 18 members sat on the committee.
Preceding modern LDS cinema
by over 50 years, Deseret Book founded Deseret Film Productions in 1947. The first film, produced by Frank Wise, was Where the Saints have Trod, an 80 minute film celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Mormon pioneer
s entering Salt Lake Valley. Wise subsequently produced Temple Square, a 30-minute filmed tour of Salt Lake City
's most popular tourist draw
. Deseret Film recorded over 120 LDS General Conference talks over a six year period. Intended for rental to wards, the conference talks are the first motion pictures of LDS Conferences.
In the 1950s, BYU
established a motion picture department which attracted Frank Wise. Deseret Film Productions was gradually disbanded. Soon, KSL-TV
began covering General Conferences.
Deseret Book's downtown location remained the only store until 1959 when site for an Ogden, Utah
branch was donated. Stores in Orange, California
and greater Salt Lake County
opened in malls in 1962. In the 1970s, the original location was torn down to make way for the ZCMI Center Mall
where the store reopened on April 2, 1976 during a General Conference to large late crowds. Several more mall locations opened in the 1970s; in Northridge, California, Boise, Idaho
, and many more locations in Utah
. In 1997 Deseret Book opened its first Washington state location in the city of Bellevue. By 2004, Deseret Book operated over 33 stores in 9 western US states
. Expanding its reach in eastern Idaho, the chain also purchased Beehive Book Stores, located in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Blackfoot, Idaho. Deseret Book already operated in Idaho Falls at the Grand Teton Mall and in Rexburg. The new store in Rexburg has expanded merchandise selection from the prior two stores.
In the late 1970s, Deseret Book coordinated publication of new editions of the King James Version of the Bible
and the Book of Mormon
/Doctrine and Covenants
/Pearl of Great Price "Triple combination". The 1979 publication of the Bible was the first geared toward Latter-day Saints. A comparably styled "triple combination" was introduced in 1981. With notes from the Joseph Smith Translation, James E. Talmage
's scripture commentary, and an index and "topical guide," the new editions are now standard in the LDS Church. Typesetting for the volumes was done by Cambridge University Press
.
Deseret Book began publishing LDS fiction
for the first time in 1979. In 1986 it purchased Mormon Handicraft—a hand-made crafts store—from the Relief Society
. As inventory and distribution was centralized in 1984, Deseret Book expanded its lines to include items such as CTR rings and more popular music.
In 2002 Sheri L. Dew
became the first female CEO and president of Deseret Book.
In April 2010 Deseret Book opened its "Flagship" store located in the City Creek Center
, in downtown Salt Lake City
. This new store sits almost exactly on the same location as the first Deseret Book Location.
was acquired by Deseret Book. This allowed them to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other Deseret Management Corporation
entities (the Deseret News, and Bonneville International
) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University
, the Church Educational System
).
, a 10-year old company particularly known for its LDS cinema
productions and record labels (Highway Records, Embryo Records, Joyspring Records). Jeff Simpson, the founder and president of Excel, became the merged company's new executive vice president. Both companies are privately held, so terms of the deal were not publicly released. However, Deseret Book management assures that it will take a hands-off approach to managing Excel. Although some Excel employees were relocated to Shadow Mountain music at Deseret Book headquarters, most remained at the separate Excel headquarters in Salt Lake City. Shortly after the merger between the two record labels, many of the recording artists on the new Shadow Mountain label were dropped from their contract.
, citing marketing differences. Seagull claimed that their discounted prices on Deseret Book's products was the reason for the threat. Seagull Book & Tape competed with Deseret Book's retail operation, but depended on the company's published work, which reportedly accounted for most of its sales. After some time, Deseret Book instead opted to renegotiate its distribution contract with Seagull. On December 28, 2006, it was announced that Deseret Book was buying both Seagull Book & Tape and the publisher Covenant Communications, from Lewis Kofford. Company officials said they intended to continue running all three businesses as separate entities.
in 1999, it divided its publishing into four differently marketed imprints:
The only imprints that are still in use today are Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain.
After acquiring Covenant Communications in 2006, Deseret Book Company did not make it an additional imprint, but continued its independent operations as a publisher alongside Deseret Book Publishing.
, including Jenny Oaks Baker
, a classical violinist, and Josh Wright, a classical pianist.
in 1986) and food is offered through The Lion House Pantry brand. It also provides the texts of many of its books online with paid subscriptions at GospeLink.com.
In 2009 a few select Deseret Book locations began selling official LDS Church items, such as Temple garments, which had originally been available only in LDS Church Distribution Centers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
headquarters. During holidays, over 1000 employees work at over 30 Deseret Book store locations.
Owned wholly by Deseret Management Corporation
Deseret Management Corporation
The Deseret Management Corporation is a for-profit management company of assets for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1966 by then church president David O...
, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Deseret Book is managed independently, but distributes media in accord with church doctrine. As a publisher, Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
and LDS fiction
LDS fiction
LDS fiction is an American niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
books, to electronic resources and sound recordings such as Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
albums.
History
The Deseret Book Company merged from the Deseret News Bookstore and the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore in 1919 and formally adopted its name in 1920. Both of these UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
bookstores trace their organizational roots to 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...
, a Latter-day Saint General Authority
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
. The bookstore is named after "deseret," a word from the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
meaning "honeybee".
George Q. Cannon & Sons
In early 1866 George Q. CannonGeorge 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...
published the first issue of Juvenile Instructor
Juvenile Instructor
The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...
magazine. Dated January 1, it was not distributed until later because of problems procuring paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
in Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
before completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
. Printed on the Deseret News
Deseret Morning News
The Deseret News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is Utah's oldest continuously published daily newspaper. It has the second largest daily circulation in the state behind The Salt Lake Tribune. The Deseret News is owned by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of...
press, the 8-page bi-monthly magazine was the first serial publication in Utah aimed toward youth. Cannon also organized the Deseret Sunday School Union, an LDS Church organization responsible for educating young Latter-day Saints. The Sunday School Union gained control of the Juvenile Instructor
Juvenile Instructor
The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...
after Cannon died in 1901.
Some books distributed by Cannon & Sons:
|
Cannon opened the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in 1867 to sell this and other publications of an uplifting nature. Cannon perceived that novels taken across the plains did not reflect Latter-day Saint values. In the 1880s, Cannon expanded with a branch in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
.
It's not known how many books Cannon & Sons actually published. In this era authors commonly self-published
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design , formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR...
, at least in part, to be distributed by others. However, the Cannon & Sons distributed several important volumes through bookstores and mail order (see table).
The company had extensive ties to the LDS Church-owned newspaper, the Deseret News
Deseret Morning News
The Deseret News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is Utah's oldest continuously published daily newspaper. It has the second largest daily circulation in the state behind The Salt Lake Tribune. The Deseret News is owned by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of...
. Five of Cannon's sons held important positions in the paper, and George Q. Cannon himself was editor between 1867 and 1872, and again while temporarily owning the paper from 1892 to 1898. Nearly every George Q. Cannon & Sons book was printed on the Deseret News press. Cannon sold the bookstore to the LDS Church effective October 1, 1900, near the end of his life. The church grouped management of the two businesses, and the remaining Salt Lake City bookstore became the Deseret News Bookstore.
Deseret News Bookstore
Notable books distributed by the Deseret News Bookstore:
|
By 1906 Deseret News press had a Linotype machine
Linotype machine
The Linotype typesetting machine is a "line casting" machine used in printing. The name of the machine comes from the fact that it produces an entire line of metal type at once, hence a line-o'-type, a significant improvement over manual typesetting....
and dedicated book press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
. Many significant volumes were published and distributed through the Deseret News Bookstore.
Of these, the most successful was James E. Talmage
James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1911 until his death in 1933....
's Jesus the Christ. Published in September, 1915, the initial 5000 print run was quickly consumed. The First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
authorized the bookstore to produce many more copies for use in Sunday School. Seeking out a higher-capacity press in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Talmage is said to have made revisions for the second edition while on the train. Overseeing second edition in January 1916, Talmage began making revisions for the third edition by February 5. The book went through innumerable printings, and was quickly translated into several languages.
Meanwhile, the Deseret Sunday School Union, still publishing the money-losing Juvenile Instructor struggled to maintain its distribution center, the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore. Aimed at church supply, the Sunday School Bookstore sold textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
s, minutes ledgers, sacrament trays, as well as popular books. Since 1891 the non-profit Union asked for yearly five-cent contributions from Sunday school pupils on "Nickel Sunday." Facing over $12,000 in debt in 1914, requested donations increased to ten cents, and 1919 a committee formed to study the organizations solvency. Led by Talmage, the committee recommended consolidation of the Sunday School Bookstore with the Deseret News Bookstore.
Deseret Book
Notable books distributed and/or published by Deseret Book:
|
By 1920, both antecedent bookstores were closed and a single new Deseret Book Company building was constructed in downtown Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
at site of the present ZCMI Center Mall. Ownership of Deseret Book was split between the Deseret News
Deseret Morning News
The Deseret News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is Utah's oldest continuously published daily newspaper. It has the second largest daily circulation in the state behind The Salt Lake Tribune. The Deseret News is owned by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of...
(70%) and the Deseret Sunday School Union (30%). However, the Union would manage the bookstore until 1932 when Deseret Book was incorporated for-profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
as the "Utah Company". The Deseret News bought out the Sunday School Union in 1948 to become sole owner of the bookstore, but both the Deseret News and Deseret Book are now subsidiaries
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Deseret Management Corporation
Deseret Management Corporation
The Deseret Management Corporation is a for-profit management company of assets for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1966 by then church president David O...
, which manages several for-profit assets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret News Press printed nearly all Deseret Book publications until the 1960s when the company began seeking other competitive bids.
Through the 1930s, the bookstore focused mostly on Sunday school needs such as lesson manuals. Though the bookstore introduced relatively few new authors, several important works were published in this period. Notably, B. H. Roberts' magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, the six-volume Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Century I is a six-volume history published in 1930 by B.H. Roberts, a general authority and Assistant Church Historian of the LDS Church...
, 1930. Deseret Book did not accept manuscripts for publication until the 1940s when the company made a push for new authors.
Deseret Book expanded into motion picture equipment and photographic
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
supplies in the 1940s. Winning an exclusive contract to distribute for Bell & Howell in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and parts of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, Deseret Book supplied 16 mm film
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
projectors
Movie projector
A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.-Physiology:...
to the LDS Church. Becoming a film distribution and rental outfit, the Deseret Book "Censorship Committee on Films" was established in 1946 because regular employees were unable to review all the films it handled. By 1950, 18 members sat on the committee.
Preceding modern LDS cinema
LDS cinema
LDS or Mormon cinema typically refers to films with themes relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the terminology has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers...
by over 50 years, Deseret Book founded Deseret Film Productions in 1947. The first film, produced by Frank Wise, was Where the Saints have Trod, an 80 minute film celebrating the 100 year anniversary of Mormon pioneer
Mormon Pioneer
The Mormon pioneers were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Latter-day Saints, who migrated across the United States from the Midwest to the Salt Lake Valley in what is today the U.S. state of Utah...
s entering Salt Lake Valley. Wise subsequently produced Temple Square, a 30-minute filmed tour of Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
's most popular tourist draw
Temple Square
Temple Square is a ten acre complex located in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In recent years, the usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities immediately adjacent to Temple Square...
. Deseret Film recorded over 120 LDS General Conference talks over a six year period. Intended for rental to wards, the conference talks are the first motion pictures of LDS Conferences.
In the 1950s, BYU
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
established a motion picture department which attracted Frank Wise. Deseret Film Productions was gradually disbanded. Soon, KSL-TV
KSL-TV
KSL-TV, virtual channel 5, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. KSL-TV is owned by Bonneville International Corporation, which is in turn owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
began covering General Conferences.
Deseret Book's downtown location remained the only store until 1959 when site for an Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
branch was donated. Stores in Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
and greater Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
opened in malls in 1962. In the 1970s, the original location was torn down to make way for the ZCMI Center Mall
ZCMI Center Mall
The ZCMI Center Mall was a shopping center near Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah that was owned by Zions Securities Corporation, which opened in 1975 and closed in 2007. At the time of its opening, it was the largest downtown mall in the country...
where the store reopened on April 2, 1976 during a General Conference to large late crowds. Several more mall locations opened in the 1970s; in Northridge, California, Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, and many more locations in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. In 1997 Deseret Book opened its first Washington state location in the city of Bellevue. By 2004, Deseret Book operated over 33 stores in 9 western US states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Expanding its reach in eastern Idaho, the chain also purchased Beehive Book Stores, located in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Blackfoot, Idaho. Deseret Book already operated in Idaho Falls at the Grand Teton Mall and in Rexburg. The new store in Rexburg has expanded merchandise selection from the prior two stores.
In the late 1970s, Deseret Book coordinated publication of new editions of the King James Version of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
/Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
/Pearl of Great Price "Triple combination". The 1979 publication of the Bible was the first geared toward Latter-day Saints. A comparably styled "triple combination" was introduced in 1981. With notes from the Joseph Smith Translation, James E. Talmage
James E. Talmage
James Edward Talmage born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1911 until his death in 1933....
's scripture commentary, and an index and "topical guide," the new editions are now standard in the LDS Church. Typesetting for the volumes was done by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
.
Deseret Book began publishing LDS fiction
LDS fiction
LDS fiction is an American niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
for the first time in 1979. In 1986 it purchased Mormon Handicraft—a hand-made crafts store—from the 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...
. As inventory and distribution was centralized in 1984, Deseret Book expanded its lines to include items such as CTR rings and more popular music.
In 2002 Sheri L. Dew
Sheri L. Dew
Sheri L. Dew is an American author and publisher, currently acting as president and chief executive officer of Deseret Book, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dew has also been a religious leader within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , an inspirational speaker, writer, and acted as a...
became the first female CEO and president of Deseret Book.
In April 2010 Deseret Book opened its "Flagship" store located in the City Creek Center
City Creek Center
The City Creek Center is a development with a shopping center, office and residential buildings, and fountain and stream under construction near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. It is an undertaking by Property Reserve, Inc. and Taubman Centers, Inc...
, in downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown Salt Lake City
Downtown is the oldest district in Salt Lake City. The grid from which the entire city is laid out originates at Temple Square, the location of the Salt Lake Temple.-Location:...
. This new store sits almost exactly on the same location as the first Deseret Book Location.
Bookcraft
In early 1999, BookcraftBookcraft
Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
was acquired by Deseret Book. This allowed them to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other Deseret Management Corporation
Deseret Management Corporation
The Deseret Management Corporation is a for-profit management company of assets for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1966 by then church president David O...
entities (the Deseret News, and Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, the 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...
).
Excel Entertainment Group
On November 15, 2004, Deseret Book announced that it had acquired Excel Entertainment GroupExcel Entertainment Group
Excel Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Deseret Book Co. best known for its distribution of many pieces of LDS cinema. Excel Entertainment Group's products deal thematically with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Forever Strong , Midway to Heaven , Saints and Soldiers...
, a 10-year old company particularly known for its LDS cinema
LDS cinema
LDS or Mormon cinema typically refers to films with themes relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the terminology has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers...
productions and record labels (Highway Records, Embryo Records, Joyspring Records). Jeff Simpson, the founder and president of Excel, became the merged company's new executive vice president. Both companies are privately held, so terms of the deal were not publicly released. However, Deseret Book management assures that it will take a hands-off approach to managing Excel. Although some Excel employees were relocated to Shadow Mountain music at Deseret Book headquarters, most remained at the separate Excel headquarters in Salt Lake City. Shortly after the merger between the two record labels, many of the recording artists on the new Shadow Mountain label were dropped from their contract.
Seagull Book and Covenant Communications
In July 2006, Deseret Book threatened to discontinue sales with another LDS bookstore chain, Seagull Book & TapeSeagull Book & Tape
Seagull Book, formerly called Seagull Book & Tape, is an American retail chain bookstore focusing on products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , with over two dozen stores in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and California...
, citing marketing differences. Seagull claimed that their discounted prices on Deseret Book's products was the reason for the threat. Seagull Book & Tape competed with Deseret Book's retail operation, but depended on the company's published work, which reportedly accounted for most of its sales. After some time, Deseret Book instead opted to renegotiate its distribution contract with Seagull. On December 28, 2006, it was announced that Deseret Book was buying both Seagull Book & Tape and the publisher Covenant Communications, from Lewis Kofford. Company officials said they intended to continue running all three businesses as separate entities.
Deseret Book imprints
After Deseret Book acquired BookcraftBookcraft
Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
in 1999, it divided its publishing into four differently marketed imprints:
- Deseret Book — history and doctrine
- Bookcraft — self-help, family, children, women's interests, LDS fiction
- Eagle Gate — art, niche markets, library editions, and teaching aides
- Shadow Mountain — general market for "values-based" publications
The only imprints that are still in use today are Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain.
After acquiring Covenant Communications in 2006, Deseret Book Company did not make it an additional imprint, but continued its independent operations as a publisher alongside Deseret Book Publishing.
Shadow Mountain Records
The Shadow Mountain Records label primarily emphasizes values-based releases, with artists placing in top spots on the Billboard ChartsBillboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, including Jenny Oaks Baker
Jenny Oaks Baker
Jenny Oaks Baker is an American violinist. She was a first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra for seven years. She has released nine studio albums.-Music career:Jenny Oaks Baker first began playing the violin at age four...
, a classical violinist, and Josh Wright, a classical pianist.
Shadow Mountain Records Subsidiaries
- Lumen Records (formerly Embryo Records)
- Joyspring Records
- Highway Records (formerly Lightwave Records)
- Little Stream Records
Affiliated Artists
- Josh Wright
- Hilary WeeksHilary WeeksHilary Weeks is a singer/songwriter of faith based music with seven completed albums including her latest, Every Step, produced by Shadow Mountain Records. Hilary is also a frequent speaker at Deseret Book Company's Time Out For Women. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day...
- Alex BoyeAlex BoyéAlex Boyé is a British-born Latter-day Saint singer and actor of Nigerian descent.Boyé was born in London, England. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 16. He served as a missionary in the England Bristol Mission. He was then the lead singer in the boy band Awesome,...
- Paul CardallPaul CardallPaul Cardall is an American pianist.-History:Cardall says his earliest memories of music were songs learned in Primary....
- Carmen RasmusenCarmen RasmusenCarmen Rasmusen is a Canadian-American country music artist who ranked sixth on the second season of American Idol in 2003. Rasmusen also plays piano and guitar.-Early life:...
- David Osmond
- Dallyn Vail Bayles
- Jenny Oaks BakerJenny Oaks BakerJenny Oaks Baker is an American violinist. She was a first violinist in the National Symphony Orchestra for seven years. She has released nine studio albums.-Music career:Jenny Oaks Baker first began playing the violin at age four...
- Jenny Phillips
- Jericho RoadJericho RoadJericho Road is a Latter-day Saint boy band that sings religious music. The band's members are Abe Mills , Dave Kimball , Justin Smith , and Bret Bryce .-Biography:...
- Julie de Azevedo
- Kurt BestorKurt BestorKurt Roland Bestor is an American composer, arranger, and performer.-Biography:Bestor was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and raised in Orem, Utah, graduating from Orem High School in 1976. His grandfather played trumpet in Tommy Dorsey's band and his great uncle played trombone in Jack Benny's band...
- Kenneth CopeKenneth Cope (musician)Kenneth Cope is a composer and performer of religious music geared towards Latter Day Saints. His first album, Heaven — Don't Miss It For The World, was released in February 1988...
- Michael McLeanMichael McLeanMichael McLean or Mike McLean may refer to:* Michael McLean , Australian broadcaster who appears on Triple M* Michael McLean , American composer* Michael McLean , former Australian Football League player...
- Mercy River
- EclipseEclipseAn eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer...
- A cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
Other offerings
Deseret Book operates further business units in addition to its publishing and retail activities. Under the name Zion's Mercantile it produces home decor and religious art. Events such as women's conferences in the United States and Canada are sponsored by Time Out Events. LDS Living Magazine is an LDS lifestyle magazine in print and online. The Deseret Book Direct business unit conducts direct-to-customer marketing through catalogs, e-mail, and the DeseretBook.com website. From 2000 to 2009 it also operated an auctions website for LDS books. Crafts and other handmade items are sold under the name of Mormon Handicraft (Brand purchased from the LDS Church's Relief SocietyRelief 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...
in 1986) and food is offered through The Lion House Pantry brand. It also provides the texts of many of its books online with paid subscriptions at GospeLink.com.
In 2009 a few select Deseret Book locations began selling official LDS Church items, such as Temple garments, which had originally been available only in LDS Church Distribution Centers.
See also
- Deseret Management CorporationDeseret Management CorporationThe Deseret Management Corporation is a for-profit management company of assets for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1966 by then church president David O...
- BookcraftBookcraftBookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-History:In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. Grant asked the church's Improvement Era magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G...
- Seagull Book and Tape
- Excel Entertainment GroupExcel Entertainment GroupExcel Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Deseret Book Co. best known for its distribution of many pieces of LDS cinema. Excel Entertainment Group's products deal thematically with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Forever Strong , Midway to Heaven , Saints and Soldiers...