Compiled by Eric Johnson
Beginning in 1997, the LDS Church began producing a regular series of church gospel manuals called “Teachings of Presidents of the Church.” Each book features the teachings of a different deceased church president.
The manuals are part of the correlated materials produced by the church and are considered official teaching. According to the first volume (Brigham Young):
This book reflects the desire of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to deepen the doctrinal understanding of Church members and to awaken them a greater desire to know the things of God. It will inspire and motivate individuals, priesthood quorums, and Relief Society classes to inquire, read, search, and then go to their Father in Heaven for a witness of the truth of these teachings (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, p. v).
The editors added, “If individuals and families prayerfully follow the principles in this book, they will be blessed and inspired to greater dedication and spirituality” (p. vi).
In the January 2013 Ensign, the current manual was introduced like this:
Features of Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow. This book is the addition to your personal and family library of Teachings of Presidents of the Church. There are now 11 books in the series, which gives inspired understanding on many gospel topics (p. 27).
With its year of publication, books were dedicated to the following leaders (parentheses indicate the year(s) when this volume was used in the church as a classroom teaching manual):
- 1997: Brigham Young (1998-99)
- 1998: Joseph F. Smith (2000-1)
- 2000: Harold B. Lee (2002)
- 2001: John Taylor (2003)
- 2002: Heber J. Grant (2004)
- 2003: David O. McKay (2005)
- 2004: Wilford Woodruff (2006)
- 2006: Spencer W. Kimball (2007)
- 2007: Joseph Smith, Jr. (2008-9)
- 2009: Gospel Principles (2010-11)—this general manual was revised and used as curriculum between the “Presidents” series. (For a look at the different versions–and the changes that were made–go here.)
- 2011: George Albert Smith (2012)–for a review of Smith’s volume, go here.
- 2012: Lorenzo Snow (2013)–for a review of Snow’s volume, go here.
- 2013: Joseph Fielding Smith (2014)–for a review of Smith’s volume, go here.
- 2014: Ezra Taft Benson (2015)–for a review of Benson’s volume, go here.
- 2015: Howard W. Hunter (2016)–for a review of Hunter’s volume, go here.
- 2016: Gordon B. Hinckley (2017)–for a review of Hunter’s volume, go here.
The only president left who has not had a manual dedicated to him is 16th President Thomas S. Monson who passed away in early 2017. While the church hasn’t said so, perhaps Monson was not included because they ended the series while he was still living.
Some topics are talked about many times, and some hardly at all. For example, the issue of polygamy (or polyandry) is practically nonexistent in the entire series. This seems odd, especially in the volume dedicated to Joseph Smith. While the manual makes it appear throughout the chapters that Joseph Smith was a monogamist, married only to Emma, the fact is that he was married to many women, including teenagers and women who were already married to other men. (For a look at this issue, see here.)
Under the section “Teachings for Our Day” in the introduction to Smith’s manual, it explains:
This book deals with teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that have application to our day. For example, this book does not discuss such topics as the Prophet’s teachings regarding the law of consecration as applied to stewardship of property. The Lord withdrew this law from the Church because the Saints were not prepared to live it (see D&C 119, section heading). This book also does not discuss plural marriage. The doctrines and principles relating to plural marriage were revealed to Joseph Smith as early as 1831. The Prophet taught the doctrine of plural marriage, and a number of such marriages were performed during his lifetime. Over the next several decades, under the direction of the Church Presidents who succeeded Joseph Smith, a significant number of Church members entered into plural marriages. In 1890, President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto, which discontinued plural marriage in the Church (see Official Declaration 1). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints no longer practices plural marriage.
One day in late 2012 I went to my local Deseret Books to pick up the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith manual. As I looked at the other books, a young female employee stopped me and asked about the book in my hand. When I told her that I had read every book in the series (to that point), she was amazed. While she regularly attends her church’s Sunday services and the gospel doctrine classes, she had a hard time remembering whose book was being covered that year. When I suggested “Lorenzo Snow,” she said, “That’s right!” Then she said, “Honestly, none of us reads these manuals. We bring them to church to follow along, but we don’t read before the class.”
When the church assigned the Joseph Smith manual, I highly doubt the issue of plural marriage ever came up. Reading through the manual, especially in a casual way as apparently many members do, would not cause most people to ask, “Gee, I wonder if Joseph Smith practiced polygamy.” The analysis given above (Smith “taught the doctrine”) is very innocuous. And the church wants everyone to know that it “no longer practices plural marriage.” It seems quite convenient, as if the dirt is swept under the rug. An honest evaluation of the history, doctrines, and controversial issues of the church are not a part of these manuals. Everything is presented in a positive PR way to make the church look spic and span. Dishonesty? I think so.
Below are the different topics of the books, listed in a format to show which issues have warranted the most attention by the LDS leadership. (We’ve included the Gospel Principles manual as well since it was used in substitution for the Teachings of Presidents series a few years ago.)
Agency
John Taylor, chapter 15, “Agency and Accountability”
David O. McKay, chapter 22, “Agency and Responsibility”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 20, “Agency: Choosing Life or Death”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 23, “Individual Responsibility”
Gospel Principles, chapter 4, “Freedom to Choose”
Apostasy
Brigham Young, chapter 12, “Preventing Personal Apostasy”
Joseph Smith, chapter 26, “Elijah and the Restoration of the Sealing Keys”
Joseph Smith, chapter 27, “Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy”
Atonement
Brigham Young, chapter 5, “Accepting the Atonement of Jesus Christ”
John Taylor, chapter 5, “The Infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ”
John Taylor, chapter 6, “The Power of the Atonement for Us Personally”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 7, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 6, “The Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 24, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ: Vast in Its Reach, Intimate in its Effect”
Gospel Principles, chapter 12, “The Atonement”
Baptism
Joseph Smith, chapter 7, “Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 2, “Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 13, “Baptism”
Gospel Principles, chapter 20, “Baptism”
Beginnings
Gospel Principles, chapter 5, “The Creation”
Gospel Principles, chapter 6, “The Fall of Adam and Eve”
Chastity
Joseph F. Smith, “Chastity and Purity”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 20, “Living the Law of Chastity”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 17, “The Law of Chastity”
Gospel Principles, chapter 39, “The Law of Chastity”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 17, “Keeping the Law of Chastity”
Church Organization
Brigham Young, chapter 20, “Church Organization and Government”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 23, “The Progress and Destiny of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
David O. McKay, chapter 3, “The Purpose of the Church”
Joseph Smith, chapter 11, “The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 23, “Strengthen Thy Stakes”
Death
Brigham Young, chapter 37, “Understanding Death and Resurrection”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 5, “Comfort in the Hour of Death”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 8, “Understanding Death and Resurrection”
Joseph Smith, chapter 14, “Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death”
Dispensations
Brigham Young, chapter 14, “Dispensations of the Gospel”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 3, “The Dispensation of the Fulness of the Holy Priesthood”
Joseph Smith, chapter 44, “The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of All Things”
Education
Brigham Young, chapter 27, “Learning by Study and by Faith”
John Taylor, chapter 10, “The Value of Education”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 17, “Continue in the Great Process of Learning”
Elderly
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 16, “The Elderly in the Church”
Eternal Life/Exaltation
Brigham Young, chapter 13, “Preparing for Eternal Progression”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 1, “The Way to Eternal Life”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 1, “’To Live with Him Some day’”
Joseph Smith, chapter 18, “Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities”
George Albert Smith, chapter 7, “The Immortality of the Soul”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 5, “The Grand Destiny of the Faithful”
Gospel Principles, chapter 47, “Exaltation”
Faith
Brigham Young, chapter 8, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 6, “Faith: The Foundation of All Righteousness”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 12, “Valiant in the Cause of Christ”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 13, “Stand by the Truth Lest You Be Deceived”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 15, “Living by Faith”
George Albert Smith, chapter 17, “The Strengthening Power of Faith”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 1, “Learning by Faith”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 5, ‘Faith and Repentance”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 19, “Our Commitment to God”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 21, “Faith and Testimony”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 25, “Move Forward with Faith”
Gospel Principles, chapter 18, “Faith in Jesus Christ”
Family
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 4, “The Influence of Mothers”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 33, “Children: The Richest of all Earthly Joys”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 39, “Strengthening Families in Family Home Evenings”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 43, “Fathers in the Home”
John Taylor, chapter 21, “Strengthening Families”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 14, “Love at Home”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 15, “The Righteous Influence of Mothers”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 6, “Uniting Families through Temple and Family History Work”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 19, “Strengthening our Families”
Joseph Smith, chapter 42, “Family: The Sweetest Union for Time and for Eternity”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 9, “Sacred Family Relationships”
Gospel Principles, chapter 36, “The Family Can be Eternal”
Gospel Principles, chapter 37, “Family Responsibilities”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 4, “Strengthening and Preserving the Family”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 14, “Marriage and Family–Ordained of God”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 15, “The Sacred Callings of Fathers and Mothers”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 17, “Preserve and Protect the Family”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 11. “Home–The Basis f a Righteous Life”
Friendship
Joseph Smith, chapter 40, “How Glorious are Faithful, Just, and True Friends”
Forgiveness
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 29, “Bear No Malice Toward Anyone”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 16, “Forgiving Others”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 4, “The Miracle of Forgiveness”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 9, “Forgiving Others with All Our Hearts”
Joseph Smith, chapter 34, “The Power of Forgiving”
George Albert Smith, chapter 23, “’Of You It is Required to Forgive’”
Gifts of the Spirit
Brigham Young, chapter 34, “Strengthening the Saints through the Gifts of the Spirit”
Joseph Smith, chapter 9, “Gifts of the Spirit”
Joseph Smith, chapter 33, “The Spiritual Gifts of Healing, Tongues, Prophecy, and Discerning of Spirits”
Gospel Principles, chapter 22, “The Gifts of the Spirit”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 12, “Seek the Spirit in All You Do”
God
Brigham Young, chapter 4, “Knowing and Honoring the Godhead”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 37, “Sons and Daughters of the Eternal Father”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 40, “The Father and the Son”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 14, “’Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods before Me’”
Joseph Smith, chapter 2, “God the Eternal Father”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 14, “’With God All Things are Possible”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 21, “Loving God More than We Love the World”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 1, “Our Father in Heaven”
Gospel Principles, chapter 1, “Our Heavenly Father”
God’s Will
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 11, “I Seek Not Mine Own Will, but the Will of the Father”
Gospel
Brigham Young, chapter 2, “The Gospel Defined”
Brigham Young, chapter 3 “Living the Gospel”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 45, “The Gospel Brings Peace to the World in Troubled Times”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 4, “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”
John Taylor, chapter 2, “The Everlasting Gospel”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 1, “Learning and Teaching the Gospel”
David O. McKay, chapter 21, “The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 1, “The Restoration of the Gospel”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 22, “Teaching the Gospel”
Government
Brigham Young, chapter 36, “Earthly Governments and the Kingdom of God”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 14, “Being Loyal Citizens”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 17, Being Loyal Citizens”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 4, “Living Joyfully in Troubled Times”
Happiness
Brigham Young, chapter 26, “Happiness and Social Enjoyment”
John Taylor, chapter 11, “Finding Joy in Life”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 15, “Labor for the Happiness of Others”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 3. “Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism”
History/Heritage
Brigham Young, chapter 15, “The Settlement in the West”
Brigham Young, chapter 16, “Building Zion”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 14, “Come, Come Ye Saints”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 14, “Remembering our Spiritual Heritage”
Joseph Smith, chapter 15, “Establishing the Cause of Zion”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 4, “The Pioneer Heritage of Faith and Sacrifice”
Gospel Principles, chapter 15, “The Lord’s Covenant People”
Gospel Principles, chapter 16, “The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times”
Gospel Principles, chapter 17, “The Church of Jesus Christ Today”
Holy Ghost
Brigham Young, chapter 10, “The Influence of the Holy Ghost”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 8, “The Holy Ghost”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 5, “The Holy Ghost and Personal Revelation”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 4, “Strengthened by the Power of the Holy Ghost”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 14, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost”
Gospel Principles, chapter 7, “The Holy Ghost”
Gospel Principles, chapter 21, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost”
Humanity
David O. McKay, chapter 2, “The Dual Nature of Man”
Integrity
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 47, “Integrity: Living Our Religion with All Our Hearts”
John Taylor, chapter 7, “Integrity”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 12, “Integrity”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 18, “We Believe in Being Honest”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 18, “Virtue–A Cornerstone on Which to Build Our Lives”
Gospel Principles, chapter 31, “Honesty”
Jesus
Brigham Young, chapter 40, “Salvation through Jesus Christ”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 1, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 10: “Jesus Christ Redeems All Mankind from Temporal Death”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 11: “Jesus Christ Redeems the Repentant from Spiritual Death”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 48, “Finding Rest in Christ”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 3, “The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 24, “Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God”
David O. McKay, chapter 1, “Jesus Christ: ‘The Way, the Truth, and the Life”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 3, “Jesus Christ: My Savior, My Lord”
Joseph Smith, chapter 3, “Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World”
Joseph Smith, chapter 25, “Truths from the Savior’s Parables in Matthew 13”
George Albert Smith, chapter 3, “Our Testimony of Jesus Christ”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 24, “Reflections on the Mission of Jesus Christ”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 2, “Our Savior, Jesus Christ”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 25, “The Birth of Jesus Christ: “Good Tidings of Great Joy'”
Gospel Principles, chapter 3, “Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior
Gospel Principles, chapter 11, “The Life of Christ”
Gospel Principles, chapter 18, “Faith in Jesus Christ”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 6, “Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer”
Howard W. Hunter, chapters 1: “Jesus Christ–Our Only Way to Hope and Joy
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 2: “My Peace I Give unto You”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 24: “Following the Example of Jesus Christ”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 8, “We Look to Christ”
John the Baptist
Joseph Smith, chapter 6, “The Mission of John the Baptist”
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young, chapter 47, “President Brigham Young’s Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 2, “A Personal Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 8, “Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Living God”
John Taylor, chapter 9, “Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 2, “The Mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith”
David O. McKay, chapter 10, “The Divine Calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 2, “Joseph Smith: Prophet, Seer, Revelator”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 21, “The Prophet Joseph Smith”
Joseph Smith, chapter 1, “The First Vision: The Father and the Son Appear to Joseph Smith”
Joseph Smith, chapter 20, “A Heart Full of Love and Faith: The Prophet’s Letters to His Family”
Joseph Smith, chapter 31, “’God Shall be With You Forever and Ever’: The Prophet in Liberty Jail”
Joseph Smith, chapter 38, “The Wentworth Letter”
Joseph Smith, chapter 43, “He was a Prophet of God: Contemporaries of Joseph Smith Testify of His Prophetic Mission”
Joseph Smith, chapter 45, “Joseph Smith’s Feelings about His Prophetic Mission”
Joseph Smith, chapter 46, “The Martyrdom: The Prophet Seals His Testimony with His Blood”
Joseph Smith, chapter 47, “’Praise to the Man’”: Latter-day Prophets Bear Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith
George Albert Smith, chapter 4, “The Prophet Joseph Smith, God’s Instrument in Restoring the Truth”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 23, “The Prophet Joseph Smith”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 7, “Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Witnesses for Jesus Christ”
Ezra Taft Benson, “Joseph Smith, an Instrument in the Hands of the Lord”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 5, “Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration”
Judgment
Brigham Young, chapter 39, “Eternal Judgment”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 24, “Safely Home at Last”
Gospel Principles, chapter 46, “The Final Judgment”
Kingdom of God
Brigham Young, chapter 44, “The Kingdom of God and the Gathering of Israel”
John Taylor, chapter 24, “The Kingdom of God”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 20, “The Kingdom of God Moves Forward”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 8, “The Church and Kingdom of God”
Lay Leadership
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 38, “Serving in the Church”
Joseph Smith, chapter 24, “Leading in the Lord’s Way”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 18, “Church Leadership and Selfless Service”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 19, “Leadership”
Marriage
Brigham Young, chapter 23, “Understanding the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 20, “The Eternal Union of Husband and Wife”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 12, “The Divine Purpose of Marriage”
David O. McKay, chapter 14, “Preparing for an Eternal Marriage and Family”
David O. McKay, chapter 15, “Experiencing Happiness in Marriage”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 16, “Marriage and Parenthood: Preparing Our Families for Eternal Life”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 18, “Honorable, Happy, Successful Marriage”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 15, “Eternal Marriage”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 16, “Marriage–An Eternal Partnership”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 10, “Nurturing the Eternal Partnership of Marriage”
Gospel Principles, chapter 38, “Eternal Marriage”
Millennium
Gospel Principles, chapter 45, “The Millennium”
Missionary
Brigham Young, chapter 33, “Missionary Work”
John Taylor, chapter 8, “Our Missionary Duty”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 9, “The Joy of Missionary Work”
David O. McKay, chapter 6, “’Every Member a Missionary”
Joseph Smith, chapter 28, “Missionary Service: A Holy Calling, a Glorious Work”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 19, “Missionary Work: ‘To Reach Every Human Heart”
Gospel Principles, chapter 33, “Missionary Work”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 22, “Carrying the Gospel to the World”
Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Latter-day Miracle of Missionary Work”
Money/Finances
Brigham Young, chapter 31, “Thrift, Industry, and Self-Reliance”
Brigham Young, chapter 32, “Temporal Wealth and the Kingdom of God”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 19, “Thrift, the Foundation of Prosperity”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 18, “Providing in the Lord’s Way”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 13, “Principles of Financial Security”
George Albert Smith, chapter 20, “Temporal Salvation for Ourselves and Others”
Neighbors
Brigham Young, chapter 30, “Developing Christlike Attitudes toward Others”
John Taylor, chapter 3, “’Love thy Neighbor as Thyself’”
Joseph Smith, chapter 29, “Living with Others in Peace and Harmony”
George Albert Smith, chapter 2, “Love thy Neighbour as Thyself”
George Albert Smith, chapter 21, “The Power of Kindness”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 22, “Doing Good to Others”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 20, “Love and Concern for All Our Father’s Children”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 20, “Fellowship with Those Who are Not of Our Faith”
Obedience
Brigham Young, chapter 11, “Choosing to Walk in Obedience”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 32, “Liberty through Obedience”
John Taylor, chapter 4, “Obedience: A Sacred Duty”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 3, “Waling in the Path that Leads to Life Eternal”
David O. McKay, chapter 18, “Courage to Live Righteously”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 13, “Obedience Born of Faith in God”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 19, “Take Time to be Holy”
Joseph Smith, chapter 13, “Obedience: ‘What the Lord Commands, Do It’”
George Albert Smith, chapter 1, “Living What We Believe”
George Albert Smith, chapter 18, “Stay on the Lord’s Side of the Line”
George Albert Smith, chapter 24, “Righteous Living in Perilous Times”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 18, “Living by Every Word that Proceeds from the Mouth of God”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 19, “In the World but Not of the World”
Gospel Principles, chapter 35, “Obedience”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 21, “Principles of Temporal and Spiritual Welfare”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 24, “A Christ-Centered Life”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 12, “Obedience: Simply Live the Gospel”
Parents
Brigham Young, chapter 46, “Parental Responsibility”
David O. McKay, chapter 16, “The Noble Calling of Parents”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 16, “Marriage and Parenthood: Preparing Our Families for Eternal Life”
George Albert Smith, chapter 22, “Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 16, “Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth”
Peace
Harold B. Lee, chapter 22, “Peace Be Unto Thy Soul”
Perfection
Harold B. Lee, chapter 21, “Striving for Perfection”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 6, “Becoming Perfect before the Lord: ‘A Little Better Day by Day’”
Personal discipline
Brigham Young, chapter 25, “Cultivating Gratitude, Humility, and Honesty”
Brigham Young, chapter 28, “Exercising Self-Control”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 22, “Charity in Our Souls”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 28, “The Wrongful Road of Abuse”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 42, “Let us Conquer Ourselves”
John Taylor, chapter 16, “Strengthening our Relationship with God”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 4, “Persistence”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 10, “The Power of Example”
David O. McKay, chapter 23, “Developing a Christlike Character”
David O. McKay, chapter 24, “Let Your Light So Shine”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 10, “Humble Reliance on God”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 13, “Journals: ‘Of Far More Worth Than Gold”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 10, “Fortifying Ourselves against Principles of Self-Reliance and Preparedness”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 15, “We Should be a Reverent People”
Joseph Smith, chapter 30, “Valiant in the Cause of Christ”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 9, “’Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart’”
Gospel Principles, chapter 23, “Fasting”
Gospel Principles, chapter 26, “Sacrifice”
Gospel Principles, chapter 30, “Charity”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 8, “The Power of the Word”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 20, “Feed my Sheep”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 3, “Adversity–Part of God’s Plan for Our Eternal Progress”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 11, “True Greatness”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 20, “Walking the Savior’s Path of Charity”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 13, “Peace and Contentment through Temporal Self-Reliance”
Plan of Salvation
Brigham Young, chapter 7, “The Plan of Salvation”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 17, “The Great Plan of Life and Salvation”
Joseph Smith, chapter 17, “The Great Plan of Salvation”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 3, “The Plan of Salvation”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 3, “Freedom of Choice, an Eternal Principle”
Postmortality
Gospel Principles, chapter 41, “The Postmortal Spirit World”
Gospel Principles, chapter 42, “The Gathering of the House of Israel”
Prayer
Joseph Smith, chapter 10, “Prayer and Personal Revelation”
Brigham Young, chapter 6, “The Communication between God and Man”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 3, “True, Earnest Prayer”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 19, “Earnest, Honest, Sincere Prayer”
David O. McKay, chapter 8, “The Power of Prayer”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 11, “Praying to Receive the Blessings of Heaven”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 5, “Prayer, the Passport to Spiritual Power”
George Albert Smith, chapter 9, “Open Your Soul to the Lord in Prayer”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 22, “Prayer–A Commandment and a Blessing”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 2, “Pray Always”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 4, “Help from on High”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 6, “How Mighty a Thing is Prayer”
Gospel Principles, chapter 8, “Praying to Our Heavenly Father”
Premortality
Brigham Young, chapter 38, “The Spirit World”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 2, “Who am I”
John Taylor, chapter 1, “The Origin and Destiny of Mankind”
Gospel Principles, chapter 2, “Our Heavenly Family”
Presidents/Prophets
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 24, “Sustaining Those Who are Called to Preside”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 25, “The President of the High Priesthood of the Church”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 41, “Continuing Revelation for the Benefit of the Church”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 9, “Heeding the True Messenger of Jesus Christ”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 8, “Following Those Whom God Has Chosen to Preside”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 19, “Following the Living Prophet”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 23, “Shepherds of the Flock”
Joseph Smith, chapter 16, “Revelation and the Living Prophet”
George Albert Smith, chapter 6, “Sustaining Those Whom the Lord Sustains”
Gospel Principles, chapter 9, “Prophets of God”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 11, “Follow the Living Prophet”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 7, “Continuous Revelation through the Living Prophets”
Pride
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 18, “Beware of Pride”
Priesthood
Brigham Young, chapter 18, “The Priesthood”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 16, “Priesthood, the Divine Government”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 10, “Loving, Faithful Priesthood Service”
John Taylor, chapter 13, “Priesthood, the Government and Power of God”
John Taylor, chapter 14, “The Responsibilities and Order of the Priesthood”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 11, “Priesthood, ‘the Power of the Living God’”
David O. McKay, chapter 12, “Priesthood, the Responsibility to Represent God”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 4, “The Power and Authority of the Holy Priesthood”
Joseph Smith, chapter 8, “The Everlasting Priesthood”
George Albert Smith, chapter 5, “The Holy Priesthood—for the Blessings of God’s Children”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 17, “Priesthood—‘for the Salvation of the Human Family’”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 11, “Honoring the Priesthood Keys”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 12, “The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 15, “The Holy Priesthood”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 19, “Priesthood Leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ”
Gospel Principles, chapter 13, “The Priesthood”
Gospel Principles, chapter 14, “Priesthood Organization”
Repentance
Brigham Young, chapter 9, “Repentance and Baptism”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 7, “The Glorious Work of Repentance and Baptism”
Joseph Smith, chapter 5, “Repentance”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 5, “Faith and Repentance”
Gospel Principles, chapter 19, “Repentance”
Ezra Taft Benson, “Principles of True Repentance”
Resurrection
Brigham Young, chapter 37, “Understanding Death and Resurrection”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 23, “The Resurrection, an Anchor to the Soul”
David O. McKay, chapter 7, “The Significance of the Resurrection”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 8, “Understanding Death and Resurrection”
Returning to the Church
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 12, “Come Back and Feast at the Table of the Lord”
Revelation/Testimony
Brigham Young, chapter 6, “The Communication between God and Man”
Brigham Young, chapter 43, “Our Search for Truth and Personal Testimony”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 23, “Receiving a Testimony of Jesus Christ”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 6, “To Hear the Voice of the Lord”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 5, “Walking in the Light of Testimony”
John Taylor, chapter 17, “Revelation through the Holy Ghost”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 20, “The Still, Small Voice of Revelation”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 7, “Personal Testimony”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 22, “Revelation: ‘A Continuous Melody and a Thunderous Appeal’”
Joseph Smith, chapter 10, “Prayer and Personal Revelation”
Joseph Smith, chapter 16, “Revelation and the Living Prophet”
George Albert Smith, chapter 11, “Revelation from God to His Children”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 7, “Personal Abiding Testimony”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 9, “The Precious Gift of Testimony”
Sabbath
Brigham Young, chapter 21, “Honoring the Sabbath and the Sacrament”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 26, “Observing the Sabbath: That Your Joy May Be Full”
John Taylor, chapter 12, “The Sabbath is a Holy Day”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 16, “The Sabbath—A Delight”
George Albert Smith, chapter 16, “’Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day’”
Gospel Principles, chapter 22, “The Sabbath Day”
Sacrament
George Albert Smith, chapter 16, “’Offer Up Thy Sacraments upon My Holy Day’”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 6, “The Significance of the Sacrament”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 15, “The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper”
Gospel Principles, chapter 21, “The Sacrament”
Salvation
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 15, “The Salvation of Little Children”
Scriptures
Brigham Young, chapter 17, “The Scriptures”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 5, “The Inspiration and Divinity of the Scriptures”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 7, “The Scriptures, ‘Great Reservoirs of Spiritual Water”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 12, “Rich Treasures in the Scriptures”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 6, “Discovering the Scriptures for Ourselves”
Joseph Smith, chapter 4, “The Book of Mormon: Keystone of our Religion”
George Albert Smith, chapter 10, “The Scriptures, the Most Valuable Library in the World”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 9, “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon”
Gospel Principles, chapter 10, “Scriptures”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 9, “The Book of Mormon–Keystone of our Religion”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 10, “Flooding the Earth and Our Lives with the Book of Mormon”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 10: “The Scriptures–The Most Profitable of All Study”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 16, “The Power of the Book of Mormon”
Second Coming
Brigham Young, chapter 45, “The Last Days”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 44, “Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 24, “Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ”
Joseph Smith, chapter 21, “The Second Coming and the Millennium”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 26, “Preparing for the Coming of the Lord”
Gospel Principles, chapter 44, “The Second Coming of Jesus Christ”
Service
John Taylor, chapter 18, “Service in the Church”
David O. McKay, chapter 19, “The Divine Nature of Service”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 8, “Selfless Service”
Joseph Smith, chapter 37, “Charity, the Pure Love of Christ”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 15, “Faithful, Energetic Service in the Kingdom of God”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 23, “No Less Serviceable”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 14, “Losing Ourselves in the Service of Others”
Gospel Principles, chapter 28, “Service”
Talents
Gospel Principles, chapter 34, “Developing Our Talents”
Teaching
Brigham Young, chapter 24, “Teaching the Family”
Joseph F. Smith, “chapter 30, “Yield to the Promptings of the Spirit”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 13, “Teaching the Gospel in the Home”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 22, “Teaching Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Gospel”
David O. McKay, chapter 20, “Teaching, a Noble Work”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 6, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 7, “The Whisperings of the Spirit”
Temple
Brigham Young, chapter 41, “Temple Ordinances”
Brigham Young, chapter 42, “Temple Service”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 34, “Sacred Temples of the Lord”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 46, “Redeeming our Dead through Temple Service”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 11, “Priceless Riches of the Holy Temple”
John Taylor, chapter 20, “The Temple, the Gateway to Exaltation”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 6, “Uniting Families through Temple and Family History Work”
David O. McKay, chapter 13, “The Sacred Importance of ‘Temples’”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 17, “Temple Work: Turning Our Hearts to Our Families and to the Lord”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 18, “Temple Work: Becoming Saviors on Mount Zion”
Joseph Smith, chapter 35, “Redemption of the Dead”
Joseph Smith, chapter 36, “Receiving the Ordinances and Blessings of the Temple”
Joseph Smith, chapter 41: “Becoming Saviors on Mount Zion”
George Albert Smith, chapter 8, “Temple Blessings for Ourselves and Our Ancestors”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 10, “’Come into the Temples’”
Gospel Principles, chapter 40, “Temple Work and Family History”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 17, “Sealing Power and Temple Blessings”
Ezra Taft Benson, chapter 13, “Priceless blessings of the House of the Lord”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 13, “The Temple–The Great Symbol of our Membership”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 14, “Hastening Family History and Temple Work”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 23, “The Blessings of the Holy Temple”
Tithing
Brigham Young, chapter 22, “Tithing and Consecration”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 31, “Obedience to the Law of Tithing”
John Taylor, chapter 19, “Temporal Blessings and the Law of Tithing”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 12, “Tithing, a Law for Our Protection and Advancement”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 9, “The Law of Tithing”
Gospel Principles, chapter 32, “Tithes and Offerings”
Trials/Temptation
Brigham Young, chapter 35, “The Blessings of Trials, Chastening, and Persecution”
John Taylor, chapter 22, “Being Perfected through Trials”
David O. McKay, chapter 9, “Overcoming Temptation”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 21, “Faithfully Enduring Trials and Opposition”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 2, “Tragedy or Destiny?”
Joseph Smith, chapter 19, “Stand Fast through the Storms of Life”
Joseph Smith, chapter 32, “Responding to Persecution with Faith and Courage”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 7, “Faithfulness in Times of Trial: ‘From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine”
Truth
Brigham Young, chapter 43, “Our Search for Truth and Personal Testimony”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 35, “Seek to be Educated in the Truth”
John Taylor, chapter 23, “Eternal Truth”
David O. McKay, chapter 17, “A Testimony of the Truth”
Joseph Smith, chapter 22, “Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 3, “Lifelong Conversion: Continuing to Advance in the Principle of Truth”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 10, “Our Search for Truth”
Unity
Brigham Young, chapter 48, “A Call for Unity, a Testimony, and a Blessing”
David O. McKay, chapter 5, “The Blessings of Unity”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 23, “Of One Heart and Mind”
Joseph Smith, chapter 23, “How Good and How Pleasant It Is . . . To Dwell Together in Unity”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 16, “’That we May Become One’”
Witnessing (evangelism)
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 9, “Our Missionary Journey”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 27, “Our Work is to Save Souls”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 16, “Uniting to Save Souls”
Harold B. Lee, chapter 17, “Sharing the Gospel”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 9, “Proclaiming the Gospel”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 24, “Sharing the Gospel”
Joseph Smith, chapter 12, “Proclaim Glad Tidings to All the World”
George Albert Smith, chapter 12, “An Enthusiastic Desire to Share the Gospel”
George Albert Smith, chapter 13, “Doing Our Part to Share the Gospel”
George Albert Smith, chapter 14, “How to Share the Gospel Effectively”
George Albert Smith, chapter 15, “Advancing the Work of the Lord”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 21, “Proclaiming the Gospel to the World”
Howard W. Hunter, chapter 8, “Taking the Gospel to All the World”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 22, “Reaching Out with Love to New Converts and Less-Active Members”
Women
Brigham Young, chapter 19, “The Relief Society and Individual Responsibility”
Joseph F. Smith, “Relief Society: Divinely Organized for the Good of the Saints”
Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 20, “The Women of the Church”
Joseph Smith, chapter 39, “Relief Society: Divine Organization of Women”
Lorenzo Snow, chapter 13, “Relief Society: True Charity and Pure Religion”
Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 24, “The Work of Latter-day Saint Women: ‘Unselfish Devotion to This Glorious Cause'”
Gordon B. Hinckley, chapter 5, “Daughters of God”
Word of Wisdom
Brigham Young, chapter 29, “Learning the Word of Wisdom”
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 36, “The Word of Wisdom: A Law for the Physical and Spiritual Health of the Saints”
Heber J. Grant, chapter 21, “Observing the Word of Wisdom”
David O. McKay, chapter 11, “Living the Word of Wisdom”
George Albert Smith, chapter 19, “Temporal and Spiritual Blessings from the Word of Wisdom”
Gospel Principles, chapter 29, “The Lord’s Law of Health”
Work
Heber J. Grant, chapter 12, “Work and Self-Reliance”
Wilford Woodruff, chapter 22, “Temporal and Spiritual Labor, ‘Hand in Hand Together’”
Gospel Principles, chapter 27, “Work and Personal Responsibility”
Worship
Heber J. Grant, chapter 18, “The Song of the Heart”
David O. McKay, chapter 4, “Elements of Worship”