''Gospel Principles'' is a book that sets out some of the basic doctrines and teachings of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church). The book is published by the LDS Church and is provided to its members as a personal study guide and as a church lesson manual.

History

''Gospel Principles'' was first published in English in 1978. Subsequent editions, each with minor revisions, were published in 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1995, and 1997. The book has traditionally been used as a

Sunday School A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

lesson manual for attendees who are recent converts or non-members of the church. In 2009, the LDS Church published a revised edition of the book and mandated that it be used twice-monthly as the lesson manual for Sunday

Relief Society The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 18 ...

and

Melchizedek priesthood The priesthood of Melchizedek is a role in Abrahamic religions, modelled on Melchizedek, combining the dual position of king and priest. Hebrew Bible Melchizedek is a king and priest appearing in the Book of Genesis. The name means "King of Right ...

classes in 2010 and 2011.

Content

''Gospel Principles'' is designed to be both a personal study guide and as a teacher's manual. The book is divided into 47 chapters. Each chapter sets out a basic doctrine or teaching of the LDS Church in simple language. Supporting scriptural references to the

standard works The standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church, the largest in the Latter Day Saint movement) are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon. The four books of the standard works are: * T ...

are included in each chapter, as are sample questions that a teacher could ask in a class setting. The book also contains color illustrations. The chapters have not changed between the 1979 and 2009 editions, but some content has been revised.

Mormonism Research Ministry The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) has been subject to criticism and sometimes Anti-Mormonism, discrimination since its early years in New York and Pennsylvania. In the late 1820s, criticism centered around the claim ...

, a Christian organization that opposes the teachings of the LDS Church, has compiled a list of changes in the various editions of the book.Mormon Research Ministry: Changes to Gospel Principles
mrm.org, accessed 2009-11-17.

Availability

''Gospel Principles'' is published by the LDS Church and is available for purchase from the church and through some private LDS-related bookstores. The book's contents are also available for free on the church's Internet website. The text of ''Gospel Principles'' is copyrighted by

Intellectual Reserve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The c ...

, a corporation that holds the intellectual properties of the LDS Church.

Notes

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History

Content

Availability

See also

Notes

External links