New General Handbook for Church Leaders and Members to Be Published in February

The book, adapted to the ministerial needs of a global faith, goes live February 19, 2020

On Thursday, General Authorities and General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were introduced to a new handbook for all leaders and members.

This more accessible handbook was created under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Titled General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it will replace both Handbook 1 (for stake presidents and bishops) and Handbook 2 (for all other leaders). The new book will be digital only and available to the public. Its content will be updated regularly, giving it the requisite flexibility to help thousands of leaders around the world adapt the Church’s various programs, policies and procedures to their circumstances with loving, pastoral care.

“This new handbook is a part of the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ that began 200 years ago,” said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who helped introduce the new handbook to Church leaders. “This Restoration has been and will continue to be a process of learning how to minister as Jesus would to a richly diverse world. We pray this new handbook will help Church leaders use their God-given gifts to continue to bless lives in their ministry. We know there is room in this Church for everyone.”

The new handbook will contain 38 chapters, which will be accessible to the public in English on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and the Gospel Library app on February 19, 2020. Translation into 51 languages has begun. Nine chapters have been updated at this point to reflect the new tone and approach. Nearly 80% of the content will be transferred from the current handbooks and reordered in a new organizing structure. The remaining 29 chapters will be updated in 2020 and 2021. A detailed look at what is new in the handbook will be posted on February 19 at newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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