The latest adjustments to “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” were released Thursday, Aug. 31, updating the Church’s guidebook on information and topics such as callings, meetings and temple ordinances.
Also released at the same time was a new publication titled “Selections from the General Handbook,” which is a condensed version of the handbook available in multiple languages in which the full “General Handbook” has yet to be published. The “Selections” publication compiles handbook instructions that are needed most often.
The handbook updates and “Selections” release were first published Thursday on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
‘General Handbook’ updates
Some of the handbook updates in the latest release include:
- Throughout the handbook, the phrases “the work of salvation and exaltation” and “the Lord’s work of salvation and exaltation” have been changed to “God’s work of salvation and exaltation,” emphasizing that Latter-day Saints are invited to help God with His work.
- In Section 25, “Temple and Family History Work in the Ward and Stake,” and throughout the handbook, family history centers are now called FamilySearch centers, and the Family History Library is now called the FamilySearch Library.
- Several section updates have Sunday Relief Society, Young Women, Sunday School and quorum meetings beginning with prayer (see 8.2.12, 9.2.1.2, 10.2.1.2, 11.2.1.2 and 13.3).
- In Section 9.3, “Relief Society Leaders,” all ward Relief Society callings are presented for sustaining in sacrament meeting (see 9.3.3 and 9.3.4).
- In Section 18.7.2, “Baptismal Services,” guidelines for such services have been updated.
- Section 25.5.2, “Requirements for Temple Ordinance Workers,” clarifies information about who may be called as temple ordinance workers.
- In Section 26.3.3, “Conducting a Temple Recommend Interview,” instructions for issuing temple recommends have been updated, and the recommend questions have been added.
- In Section 27, “Temple Ordinances for the Living,” information about the temple endowment has been updated (see 27.2).
- Also in that section, information has been clarified about who may attend a sealing of living children to parents (see 27.4.4)
- In Section 29.3, “Stake Meetings,” information about the stake youth leadership committee (see 29.3.10) and the stake bishops’ council meeting (see 29.3.11) has been updated.
- Section 29.8, “Photographs and Video Recordings of Meetings,” is an updated section.
- Section 33.7.1, “Ward and Stake Histories,” has updated information on creating ward and stake histories.
- In Section 35.5, “Policies on Using Church Meetinghouses,” updates to the guidelines underscore the safe and responsible use of meetinghouses in ways that welcome and serve both members and friends, helping all to draw closer to Christ.
- In Section 38.2.1, “Interpreting Ordinances and Blessings into Another Language,” information has been added about interpreting ordinances and blessings for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Section 38.4.2, “Sealing Children to Parents,” now clarifies that parents must be sealed to each other before children are sealed to them.
Additional updates released Thursday are listed in the “Summary of Recent Updates” section, found at the beginning of the handbook.
The latest revisions have been published in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on the Gospel Library app; they will be translated into additional languages in coming months.
More about ‘Selections from the General Handbook’
“Selections from the General Handbook” is designed for leaders and members who can benefit from a condensed version while not yet having access to the full handbook in their preferred language.
With Thursday’s inaugural “Selections” release, the condensed version is now available in 23 languages, with additional language versions to be available as they are translated.
While “Selections” can provide answers to many frequently asked questions, local leaders will find some questions that it either doesn’t fully address or even answer. In such cases, leaders should refer to the “General Handbook,” if available in a language they can use. Leaders can also counsel with their immediate presiding authority for guidance.
