Learn more about lesser-known and frequently misunderstood aspects of Church history.

A short video showcasing a patron's journey and experience at the Church History Library.

Experience the Church History Library

In this recorded session from RootsTech 2021, Keith Erekson, director of the Church History Library, shares the library's family history resources that can help bring your family’s story to life.

RootsTech 2021: Church History Library Director’s Session

The Foundations of Faith exhibit at the Church History Library features priceless artifacts from Church history. Visitors may view these treasures in person or online at ChurchHistoryLibrary.org.

Foundations of Faith Exhibit at the Church History Library

The state-of-the-art Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, preserves priceless treasures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including ancient Egyptian papyrus fragments.

Egyptian Papyrus: Preserving History in the Church History Library

Follow a donated historic journal through cataloging, conservation, and secure storage. This film is narrated by Church History Department historians, archivists, and conservation experts. Donations related to the Church and its history are welcome.

A Journal’s Journey through the Church History Library

Short film produced for the Church History Museum depicting Joseph Smith's First Vision, including details drawn from each of Joseph Smith's accounts.

Ask of God: Joseph Smith's First Vision

A documentary about the Church History Museum, its renovation, and the unveiling of the new main exhibit "The Heavens are Opened."

Church History Museum Documentary

Nancy Holbrook was one of the few Latter-day Saint women to participate in Zion's camp. Megan Whatcott introduces Nancy's story and describes how she's found inspiration in it for her own life.

Nancy Holbrook Marches with Zion's Camp

Matthew C. Godfrey and Spencer McBride discuss how Church leaders’ understanding of the Priesthood developed after authority was restored. They also discuss changes in organization and duties.

The Restoration of the Priesthood Authority and Organization

Students discuss the relationship between the larger anti-alcohol temperance movement and the Word of Wisdom.

The Word of Wisdom and the Temperance Movement

Why did Church leaders start a bank in Kirtland--and how did people react when it collapsed? Historians Elizabeth Kuehn and Mason Allred talk through a difficult moment in early Church history.

The Kirtland Bank: Q&A

In 1842, Margaret Cook and Sarah Kimball’s effort to help build the temple led to the restoration of a vital organization in the Church. Learn how the Nauvoo Relief Society left a legacy for us today.

The Nauvoo Female Relief Society

Historians Kate Holbrook and Steven C. Harper discuss what the Law of Consecration is, the three core doctrines pertaining to it, and how we can live it today.

The Law of Consecration

Joseph Smith's vision of three degrees of glory, instead of one heaven and hell, was a challenge to many early Mormons. Learn how these members learned to accept an idea they had struggled with.

Joseph Smith's Vision of Heaven

Christian Heimburger and Robin Scott Jensen discuss the process that gave us the Book of Abraham, giving background on Joseph Smith’s translation processes and his interest in ancient languages.

Book of Abraham Translation

The Story Lives Here highlights the purpose and talks about some of the work that takes place at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, UT.

The Story Lives Here

Brigham Young publicly acknowledged the practice of plural marriage after the Mormons arrived in Utah. Historians Lisa Olsen Tait and Matthew J. Grow discuss the varied experiences of plural families.

What was polygamy like in pioneer Utah?

In 1838, the governor of Missouri issued an order to drive Latter-day Saints from the state or exterminate them. What led up to the order—and what happened after it?

1838: The Year the Saints Were Driven Out of Missouri

Joseph Smith's struggle with his brother Alvin's death led eventually to the introduction of baptisms for the dead. This new ordinance was embraced by saints in Nauvoo who did the first genealogical and family history research in Church history.

Glad Tidings: The History of Baptisms for the Dead

Historians Kate Holbrook and Steven C. Harper discuss the "Word of Wisdom." They discuss how understanding and practices developed over time and what the significance of the Word of Wisdom is today.

The Word of Wisdom: Development and Practice

After the Hawn's Mill Massacre, Amanda Barnes Smith prayed for inspiration to treat her 7-year-old son's wounds. Carrie Wrigley describes how this example helps her turn to the Lord for inspiration.

Amanda Barnes Smith Heals Her Son

Many people think of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when they hear the word “Mormon.” Learn how a revelation to Emma Smith led step by step to the first LDS hymnbook, published in 1836.

Emma Smith and the First Mormon Hymn Book

Historians Lisa Olsen Tait and Matthew J. Grow discuss polygamy in the early years of the LDS Church: how it began, how it changed over time, and how it was discontinued.

Mormon Polygamy Q and A 

A new four-volume narrative history tells the inspiring true story of the women and men who dedicated their lives to establishing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe.

A New History for the Church

Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 2012. Two days earlier, the first group of 
saints arrived in the valley. This video highlights that first encampment and the memorial park that 
commemorates the location.

Legacy: First Encampment

Historians Jenny Lund and Emily Utt discuss the impact of the Hawn's Mill Massacre on LDS memory, whether or not it could have been avoided, and the meaning of the massacre for Latter-day Saints today.

Questions and Answers about the Hawn's Mill Massacre

Mary Whitmer hosted many early Saints during the translation of the Book of Mormon. Elisabeth Westwood introduces Mary's story and explains how it's spoken to her as she has dealt with depression.

Mary Whitmer Sees the Gold Plates

Jane Neyman was the first Latter-day Saint to be baptized by proxy for the dead. Shari Ohman introduces Jane's story and describes her experiences with baptism for her deceased family members.

Jane Neyman and the First Proxy Baptisms

Mary Fielding Smith was a prominent Mormon pioneer. Bethany Crowther introduces Mary's story, and describes how she's been inspired by it.

Mary Fielding Smith's Strength and Perseverance

When Joseph Smith was martyred in 1844, members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were away on assignments. After their return, a solemn assembly was organized to choose the path forward.

The Succession Crisis after Joseph Smith's Murder

Mason Allred and Mark Ashurst-McGee discuss historical accounts of the Book of Mormon translation process, including Joseph Smith using a Seer Stone and accounts of Joseph Smith using Urim and Thummim.

Seer Stones and the Translation of the Book of Mormon

Learn how and why the Young Woman's Organization was established in the Church. Featuring  Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon and historians Lisa Tait and Jenny Reeder. 

How the Latter-day Saint Young Women's Organization Began

After leaving Nauvoo, Latter-day Saints longed to have another temple. That dream was realized in St. George, where Saints built the oldest continuously operating temple in the Church. 

Building the St. George Temple

The Mountain Meadows Massacre took place just a year after the Handcart Rescue. Richard Turley and Emily Utt discuss both events and consider what factors can lead us toward tragedy or heroism. 

Lessons from the Mountain Meadows Massacre

Vinna Chintaram and Keith Erekson discuss early Latter-day Saints' experience on the pioneer trail and lessons Church members around the world can learn from their example. 

Lessons from the Latter-day Saint Pioneer Trek

 Darren Parry (Shoshone Nation) and Scott Christensen  (Church History) discuss how Indian groups in Utah were affected by the arrival of Latter-day Saint pioneers in the 1800s. 

American Indians and Latter-day Saint Pioneers 

Latter-day Saint pioneers faced poverty, hunger, and similar challenges. Brett McDonald (Church Welfare) and James Goldberg (Church History) why these stories should matter to members today. 

Learning from the Latter-day Saint Pioneer Story

French Polynesia has one of the oldest Latter-day Saint communities in the world, dating back to 1844. See how a mission call from Joseph Smith led to the first branches on Tubuai, Anaa, and Tahiti. 

The First Latter-day Saint Mission to the Pacific

Latter-day Saint women were pioneers in the women's suffrage movement. Learn how their Church experience helped them become more active in their communities politically, economically, and socially. 

Latter-day Saint Women and the Right to Vote

The discovery of a Nauvoo temple daguerreotype was an invaluable resource for the building of the Nauvoo temple showing us that the Lord is in the details.

Church History Nauvoo Temple Daguerreotype: The Lord is in the Details

What do historians who have studied Brigham Young have to say about his life and character? Matthew Grow and Jenny Lund discuss his complexity and core commitments.  

Brigham Young: the Prophet and the Man

Historians Lisa Olsen Tait and Matthew J. Grow discuss how questions about the Manifesto and the ending of polygamy were resolved over time.

The Manifesto and the End of Polygamy

In obedience to the Lord’s command to keep a record, a five-story, state-of-the-art facility is focused strictly on preserving a staggering number of journals, images, and artifacts.

The Church History Library: Behind the Scenes

The Lord’s command to keep a record has resulted in an exhaustive effort to preserve a staggering number of historical journals, images, artifacts, and memorabilia in a state-of-the-art facility.

Behind the Scenes at the Church History Library

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