Teachings of Presidents of the Church
Teachings of Presidents of the Church is a series of books published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Each book of the series compiles the teachings and sermons of one of the men who has served as president of the LDS Church. The text of each book is not limited to sermons preached while the person was president of the church, but generally contain teachings given during their time as an apostle.[1]
The series began in 1997, with the release of the Brigham Young edition. The books were not issued in the same order in which presidents served. They also are not intended to be a comprehensive collection of the words, sermons, or writings of their subjects. Church members have been encouraged to save the books and make a collection in their homes. Four and a half million copies of the 2008 adult study course, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, were printed.[2]
Initially, the books were the basis for many of the lessons presented in weekly Relief Society and priesthood meetings. Each collection was used as the class curriculum for one or two calendar years, depending on the length of the book. In 2010 and 2011, the church temporarily ceased using the series for communal study at Sunday meetings and instead used a newly revised Gospel Principles manual. Sunday study of the Teachings of Presidents of the Church series resumed in 2012 but concluded at the end of 2017.
Beginning in 2018, adult church members used a new approach to the Sunday curriculum entitled Come Follow Me: For Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society. This placed greater emphasis on members counseling together regarding local needs, increased study of general conference talks, and studying other topics selected by general church leadership.)[3]
The copyright in the books is held by Intellectual Reserve, but they are available in electronic format for free on the LDS Church's website.
Books in the series
| No. | Publication date | President of the Church & years in tenure |
Years used as curriculum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997 | Brigham Young (1847–1877) | 1998–1999 |
| 2 | 1998 | Joseph F. Smith (1901–1918) | 2000–2001 |
| 3 | 2000 | Harold B. Lee (1972–1973) | 2002 |
| 4 | 2001 | John Taylor (1880–1887) | 2003 |
| 5 | 2002 | Heber J. Grant (1918–1945) | 2004 |
| 6 | 2003 | David O. McKay (1951–1970) | 2005 |
| 7 | 2004 | Wilford Woodruff (1889–1898) | 2006 |
| 8 | 2006 | Spencer W. Kimball (1973–1985) | 2007 |
| 9 | 2007 | Joseph Smith (1830–1844) | 2008–2009 |
| 10 | 2011 | George Albert Smith (1945–1951) | 2012[4] |
| 11 | 2012 | Lorenzo Snow (1898–1901) | 2013[5] |
| 12 | 2013 | Joseph Fielding Smith (1970–1972) | 2014[6] |
| 13 | 2014 | Ezra Taft Benson (1985–1994) | 2015[7] |
| 14 | 2015 | Howard W. Hunter (1994–1995) | 2016[8] |
| 15 | 2016 | Gordon B. Hinckley (1995–2008) | 2017[9] |
| 16 | 2022 | Thomas S. Monson (2008–2018) | N/A |
| 17 | 2024–2025 (partly) | Russell M. Nelson (2018–2025) | N/A |
Note: Initial sections for Russell M. Nelson, the seventeenth church president, were initially published on the church's website in 2024, with more provided in 2025.[10] This includes eight chapters released a few days following his death.[11] To date, Nelson is the only church president to have his teachings published as part of this series during his lifetime.[12]
References
- ^ Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "A new -- or is it old? -- manual for Mormons", The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 December 2009. Retrieved on 22 March 2020.
- ^ "'In their own language' - translating in the LDS Church", Deseret News, 30 August 2008. Retrieved on 22 March 2020.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2018, churchofjesuschrist.org. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2012, churchofjesuschrist.org
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2013, churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2014, churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2015, churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2016, churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ Instructions for Curriculum 2017, churchofjesuschrist.org.
- ^ "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ 8 new chapters released of "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson": Online resource has 18 chapters so far with embedded videos, invitations and blessings for people to study, Church News, 1 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ 4 chapters released in new manual of teachings from President Russell M. Nelson, Church News, 1 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.