The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have issued a second edition of “Preach My Gospel.” The updated manual is an enhanced resource to all Church members in sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
The release was the focal point of an announcement Thursday, June 22 — a video introduction by President Russell M. Nelson, his opening message at the four-day 2023 Seminar for New Mission Leaders at the Provo Missionary Training Center — and a First Presidency letter sent to all leaders and members of the Church of Jesus Christ.
The change in subtitles — from the original “Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service” published first in 2004 to the latest, second-edition “Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ” — highlights the new emphasis.
“As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have the sacred and covenant responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and bless the lives of all of God’s children,” said President Nelson in a video announcing the second edition.
He recited the Lord’s call from two millennia ago: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
President Nelson continued: “This new edition comes at a time when the world is rapidly changing and reflects the sensitivity to many of those changes. It contains some of the best instruction I’ve ever seen, to help people accept the Lord’s invitation to come unto Him.”
He invited Latter-day Saints to “enjoy the enrichment” and “sense the privilege to assist our Father in Heaven in His holy work” that the updated “Preach My Gospel” can provide.
“You’ll sense the privilege to assist our Father in Heaven in His holy work,” he said. “As you study and apply the teachings from ‘Preach My Gospel’ second edition, from the scriptures and from living prophets, you will be blessed. Your own testimony will be enriched, your capacity to share the Savior’s gospel will increase.”
The First Presidency letter noted that in the two decades since the manual was first published, “technology has significantly advanced, and the needs and circumstances of many in the world have changed. The second edition of ‘Preach My Gospel’ will help address those changes,” according to the letter, signed by President Nelson and his two counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring.
“Preach My Gospel” helps missionaries and those they teach to center their lives on Jesus Christ and the covenants of the gospel, states the letter, adding that the latest edition contains the inspired words and teachings given by prophets and apostles since the manual’s debut.
“The Savior’s gospel is the only enduring solution for the challenges faced in today’s world,” the letter continues. “This underscores the urgent need to make the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ known to all. ‘Preach My Gospel’ is a treasured resource to help bring the Savior’s healing, sanctifying power to individuals, families, missionaries and those they teach.”
The new edition is available online in the Gospel Library app in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, with print editions available by the end of 2023 and other languages online beginning in January 2024.
It aligns with the General Handbook — published in 2020 and 2021 — and other new policies and includes safeguards and guidelines for using technology in sharing the gospel.
From the 1950s to the 1980s, the Church’s full-time missionaries used one of several versions of standardized discussions.
With the 2004 introduction of “Preach My Gospel,” missionaries began teaching a unified curriculum of Christ’s teachings — but in their own words as guided by the Holy Ghost. It is why the manual is named as it is, as based on Doctrine and Covenants 50:14 — “To preach my gospel by the Spirit.”
