This page has frequently asked questions, as well as suggestions for troubleshooting common issues in Android and iOS Gospel Library.
Restarting Gospel Library is a good first step when troubleshooting an issue. To force-close and reopen the app, go to the app switcher on your device and swipe upward on Gospel Library to remove it from the list. Then, exit the app switcher and open Gospel Library again by tapping on its icon.
New versions of Gospel Library are released periodically with bug fixes and new features. Most modern Android and iOS devices have auto-update turned on by default, meaning that apps on your device will update automatically within a few days of an update becoming available. However, sometimes you may want to manually check for an update.
To check for an update, go to the App Store, Play Store, or Amazon Appstore (depending on your device), and search for Gospel Library. Tap Gospel Library. If an update is available, you will see an Update button.
If you expect there to be an update but you don’t see one, make sure your Android or iOS device has the latest available system version installed. The newest versions of Gospel Library may not run on devices with an old version of Android or iOS. You can check the Release Notes Archive to see which Android or iOS version you need to run the latest version of Gospel Library.
To check your Gospel Library version, open the app then open the overflow menu (three dots) in the top right. From the overflow menu, go to Settings then App Details. Your Gospel Library app version number should appear near the top of the App Details page.
Pull to refresh. Gospel Library automatically checks for content updates on a regular basis. If you notice that your content is out of date, you can go to the Home section and pull downward. This will force the app to check for content updates. It will also synchronize your notes, highlights, and other user data.
Check your content version. You can see which content version is installed under Settings > App Details (look for the main catalog version in your language). It may be helpful to compare content versions between devices if one device has updated content and the other device doesn’t.
Use search suggestions. Sometimes content is moved from one section of the app to another. If you can’t find a publication by browsing, you might be able to find it in search. Open the search panel and start typing the name of the publication. As you type, suggestions will appear, including titles of publications, which you can tap to open.
Check your content language. Not all content is available in all languages. Some languages have similar, but different sets of content—for example, English and American Sign Language, Portuguese and European Portuguese, or Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese. You can make sure you have the correct language selected by tapping Language in the overflow menu.
Reinstall the publication. In rare circumstances, an individual publication can get out of sync with the overall content version. You can remove and reinstall a book by long-pressing the book cover and choosing “Remove,” waiting a few seconds, then tapping it to reinstall. (Notes and highlights are stored separately from the publication, so you don’t need to worry about them when removing and reinstalling a book.)
Wait for an update. Note that content is sometimes released in stages. For example, individual general conference talks become available a few days after the full sessions and audio recordings for a magazine may become available a week or two after the magazine text.
Sometimes it can be difficult to find content in search. Here are some things you can try to adjust your search:
Use different search terms. Search will only find content that has the exact words that are typed. It may be helpful to add or remove search terms, try synonyms or different forms of a word, or check for misspellings.
Adjust search filters. If you’re getting too many results that aren’t relevant, you can try using filters to narrow the search results. On the other hand, if you have filters applied and you’re not getting enough results, clearing some of the filters may help.
Check your internet connection. Searching all content requires an internet connection. If you’re offline, search will use a local index, which is limited to preserve space on the device. The local search index includes the following content:
The first time you open Gospel Library, it will load content in the language of your device. To switch to a different language, go to the main Library, then open the overflow menu in the top right and tap Language. Choose the language you want to view.
You can also switch to a different language from any level of content – for example, the General Conference section, the table of contents in a book, or a chapter or talk. The app will navigate to the same content in the new language, if it exists.
Some devices support opening multiple windows of Gospel Library at the same time. This allows you to study the same content in two different languages side-by-side, or to have multiple screens opened simultaneously.
Instructions for using split screen can be found in Apple and Google documentation:
Gospel Library provides a way to download all of the content in a section of the app. For example, to download all general conference content, go to the main library and long-press on General Conference. Then, choose Download All.
Downloading all content in all sections of Gospel Library is discouraged. In the English Gospel Library catalog, there are more than 3000 publications, adding up to multiple gigabytes of data. As Gospel Library needs to keep track of more files, the app runs more slowly and requires more memory. Also, with more downloaded items, content updates are more frequent and take longer to complete.
Gospel Library supports two different types of audio: audio recordings and text-to-speech. Some content—for example, the English scriptures—has more than one audio recording. To switch voices, open Audio Settings (inside the audio player). If the content you’re viewing has more than one voice available, you will see a “Main Voice” setting with various options.
If audio recordings are not available, or if you are offline and audio recordings have not been downloaded, the audio player will automatically fall back to text-to-speech. Text-to-speech is computer-generated audio. Pronunciation and audio quality may vary depending on your device. Some devices allow you to choose between multiple text-to-speech voices.
There are four cards in the Home section of Gospel Library that show information from your local ward or branch:
These features require signing in with a Church Account that’s connected to a membership record number (MRN). Your MRN connects your Church Account to your membership record, allowing Gospel Library to know which ward you’re in.
If you don’t see the cards you expect, here are a few troubleshooting steps:
These ward or branch callings can select sacrament meeting hymns:
Hymns can be selected using the Callings card on Home. If you don’t see the Callings card, the troubleshooting steps in the FAQ section above may be helpful. Additionally, your ward clerk can help by making sure your calling is recorded correctly.
Only current standard callings have access. If your calling is recorded as one of these, it will need to be updated: Music Adviser (no longer defined in the General Handbook), Music Chairman (now “Music Coordinator”), Music Director (now “Music Leader”), Chorister (now “Music Leader”), Organist or Pianist (now “Accompanist”). See General Handbook 19.4, “Music Leadership in the Ward.”
These callings can select general conference talks for elders quorum lessons:
These callings can select general conference talks for Relief Society lessons:
Talks can be selected using the Callings card on Home. If you don’t see the Callings card, the troubleshooting steps in the FAQ section above may be helpful. Additionally, your ward clerk can help by making sure your calling is recorded correctly.
To encourage presidencies to be actively involved, teachers do not currently have access to select talks in Gospel Library. See General Handbook 8.2.1.2, “Gospel Learning in Quorum Meetings,” and General Handbook 9.2.1.2, “Gospel Learning in Relief Society Meetings.”
When a Gospel Library user passes away, their Church Account is locked to protect their privacy and personal information. However, Gospel Library notes and annotations are not immediately deleted. A spouse, parent, or legal custodian of the estate can request access to a deceased relative’s notes and annotations.
To request access, send a written request by email to DataPrivacyOfficer@ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Include the following:
The Data Privacy Office may reach out to you for more information. If your request is granted, they will walk you through the process of setting up a Church Account with a copy of your relative’s Gospel Library notes and annotations.
Gospel Library collects analytics and diagnostic data to make sure the app runs smoothly. This data is aggregated and anonymous and is not used to track individual users.
Analytics (usage trends) are used to make prioritization decisions, for example, considering whether features should be added or removed, or understanding which content is most used. Diagnostic information (crash logs and device information) allows developers to debug and fix issues that cause the app to crash or get into a bad state.
When you sign in with your Church Account, personal notes and annotations created in Gospel Library are synced with Church servers as a backup and to allow them to be accessed by other devices that are signed into your Church Account. Content created by users in Gospel Library is private and is not shared.
The Church follows privacy laws in the countries where it operates. For more complete information, see the official Privacy Notice on the Church website and the privacy sections on the App Store and Google Play Store.
As mobile ecosystems change, it’s impossible to continually improve the app while supporting older devices indefinitely. Here are some of the reasons that can cause an older version of Android or iOS to no longer be supported:
Usually, content updates continue to be provided to older versions of the app for a time, allowing access to the latest general conference messages and magazines. However, when content formats change, older content delivery processes may be phased out to focus resources on providing more and better content in the latest format.
Church members should not feel obligated to purchase a new device when Gospel Library can no longer be updated. The Church doesn’t require members to use the newest technology to study the gospel. Gospel Library is provided as a tool for those who are able to benefit from it. If you are on an older device, you can access Church content on the Church website, or you may be able to use a PDF or e-book reader. If you don’t have a smart device, the Church continues to provide the scriptures and other core content in print format.
If you are considering purchasing a new device to use Gospel Library or other Church apps, check the OS version. Devices with a newer OS version will almost always provide a smoother experience and will last farther into the future.
Yes, Gospel Library for Android is published on both the Google Play Store and the Amazon Appstore. The Amazon Appstore is installed by default on Kindle Fire devices. It can also be sideloaded to other Android devices from Amazon’s website.
Installing Android Gospel Library from the Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore is recommended. Both stores provide an easy way to check for updates, to make sure you’re using the latest version of Gospel Library.
Gospel Library for Android can also be downloaded directly as an APK from the Church website. The APK is provided for personal use only. It should not be uploaded or distributed on other stores or websites without permission from the Church legal office.
The best way to suggest improvements to Gospel Library is using the feedback form under Help > Send Feedback (in the overflow menu). The support team keeps track of common feature requests and provides a regular report to the Gospel Library product manager.
Suggestions may not be implemented right away. Ideas are evaluated based on available resources, technical feasibility, and the goals of the Gospel Library app. They are also prioritized against other features, bug fixes, and enhancements being planned.