“Contents,” Selections from the General Handbook (2023) Contents Using Selections from the General Handbook 0. Introductory Overview 0.0 Introduction 0.1 The Handbook 0.2 Adaptation and Optional Resources 0.4 Questions about Instructions 0.5 Terminology 0.6 Contacting Church Headquarters or the Area Office 1. God’s Plan and Your Role in His Work of Salvation and Exaltation 1.0 Introduction 1.1 God’s Plan of Happiness 1.2 God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 1.3 The Purpose of the Church 1.4 Your Role in God’s Work 2. Supporting Individuals and Families in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 2.0 Introduction 2.1 The Role of the Family in God’s Plan 2.2 God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation in the Home 2.3 The Relationship between the Home and the Church 3. Priesthood Principles 3.0 Introduction 3.2 Blessings of the Priesthood 3.3 Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood 3.4 Priesthood Authority 3.5 Priesthood Power 3.6 The Priesthood and the Home 4. Leadership and Councils in the Church of Jesus Christ 4.0 Introduction 4.2 Principles of Leadership in the Church 4.3 Councils in the Church 4.4 Principles of Effective Councils 5. General and Area Leadership 5.0 Introduction 6. Stake Leadership 6.1 Purposes of a Stake 6.2 Stake Presidency 6.3 Differences between the Authority of District Presidents and That of Stake Presidents 6.5 High Council 6.7 Stake Organizations 7. The Bishopric 7.1 The Bishop and His Counselors 7.3 Ward Executive Secretary and Assistant Ward Executive Secretaries 7.4 Ward Clerk and Assistant Ward Clerks 8. Elders Quorum 8.1 Purpose and Organization 8.2 Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 8.3 Elders Quorum Leaders 8.4 Helping Prospective Elders Prepare to Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood 9. Relief Society 9.1 Purpose and Organization 9.2 Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 9.3 Relief Society Leaders 9.4 Helping Young Women Prepare to Participate in Relief Society 9.6 Additional Guidelines and Policies 10. Aaronic Priesthood Quorums 10.1 Purpose and Organization 10.2 Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 10.3 Bishopric 10.4 Youth Quorum Leaders 10.8 Additional Guidelines and Policies 11. Young Women 11.1 Purpose and Organization 11.2 Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 11.3 Ward Young Women Leadership 11.6 Additional Guidelines and Policies 12. Primary 12.1 Purpose and Organization 12.2 Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation 12.3 Ward Primary Leadership 12.5 Additional Guidelines and Policies 13. Sunday School 13.1 Purpose 13.2 Ward Sunday School Leadership 13.3 Sunday School Classes 13.4 Improving Learning and Teaching in the Ward 13.5 Improving Learning and Teaching in the Home 14. Single Members 14.0 Introduction 14.1 Single Members in Geographic Units 14.2 Participating in the Work of Salvation and Exaltation 15. Seminaries and Institutes of Religion 15.0 Introduction 15.1 Seminary 15.2 Institute 15.3 Church Schools and Church Educational System 16. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ 17. Teaching the Gospel 17.1 Principles of Christlike Teaching 17.2 Home-Centered Gospel Learning and Teaching 17.3 Leaders’ Responsibilities 17.4 Teacher Council Meetings 18. Performing Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings 18.0 Introduction 18.1 Ordinances of Salvation and Exaltation 18.3 Participation in an Ordinance or Blessing 18.4 Ordinances for Minor Children 18.6 Naming and Blessing Children 18.7 Baptism 18.8 Confirmation and Gift of the Holy Ghost 18.9 The Sacrament 18.10 Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office 18.11 Setting Apart Members to Serve in Callings 18.12 Consecrating Oil 18.13 Administering to the Sick 18.14 Blessings of Comfort and Counsel, Including Father’s Blessings 18.15 Dedicating Homes 18.16 Dedicating Graves 18.17 Patriarchal Blessings 19. Music 19.1 Purpose of Music in the Church 19.2 Music in the Home 19.3 Music in Church Meetings 19.4 Music Leadership in the Ward 19.7 Additional Policies and Guidelines 20. Activities 20.1 Purposes 20.2 Planning Activities 20.4 Youth Conference 20.5 Policies and Guidelines for Selecting and Planning Activities 20.6 Policies and Guidelines for Funding Activities 20.7 Safety Policies and Guidelines for Activities 21. Ministering 21.0 Introduction 21.1 Responsibilities of Ministering Sisters and Brothers 21.2 Organizing Ministering 21.3 Ministering Interviews 21.4 Coordinating Ministering Efforts 22. Providing for Temporal Needs and Building Self-Reliance 22.0 Introduction 22.1 Build Self-Reliance 22.2 Minister to Those with Temporal and Emotional Needs 22.3 Pattern for Building Self-Reliance and Ministering to Those in Need 22.4 Principles for Providing Church Assistance 22.5 Policies for Providing Church Assistance 22.6 Roles of Ward Leaders 22.7 Role of the Ward Council 22.8 Role of the Ward Youth Council 23. Sharing the Gospel and Strengthening New and Returning Members 23.0 Introduction 23.1 Share the Gospel 23.2 Strengthen New Members 23.3 Strengthen Returning Members 23.4 Hold Weekly Coordination Meetings 23.5 Stake Leaders 23.6 Ward Leaders 24. Missionary Recommendations and Service 24.0 Introduction 24.1 The Call to Serve 24.2 Missionary Assignments 24.3 Preparing and Qualifying to Serve a Mission 24.4 Recommending Missionaries 24.5 After Receiving a Mission Call 24.6 Service Away from Home 24.7 Service Missions 24.8 After Missionary Service 24.9 Resources for Missionary Recommendations and Service 25. Temple and Family History Work in the Ward and Stake 25.0 Introduction 25.1 Member and Leader Participation in Temple and Family History Work 25.2 Organizing Temple and Family History Work in the Ward 25.4 Family History Resources 25.5 Recommending and Calling Temple Workers 26. Temple Recommends 26.0 Introduction 26.1 Types of Temple Recommends 26.2 Safeguarding Temple Recommends 26.3 General Guidelines for Issuing Temple Recommends 26.4 Issuing Temple Recommends to Unendowed Members 26.5 Issuing Temple Recommends in Special Circumstances 27. Temple Ordinances for the Living 27.0 Introduction 27.1 Receiving Temple Ordinances 27.2 The Endowment 27.3 Sealing of Husband and Wife 27.4 Sealing Living Children to Parents 28. Temple Ordinances for the Deceased 28.0 Introduction 28.1 General Guidelines for Performing Proxy Ordinances 28.2 Performing Temple Ordinances for Deceased Persons 28.3 Special Circumstances 29. Meetings in the Church 29.0 Introduction 29.1 Planning and Conducting Meetings 29.2 Ward Meetings 29.3 Stake Meetings 29.5 Funerals and Other Services for the Deceased 29.6 Prayers in Church Meetings 29.7 Streaming Meetings and Holding Virtual Meetings 29.8 Photographs and Video Recordings of Meetings 29.9 Interpreting for Meetings 30. Callings in the Church 30.0 Introduction 30.1 Determining Whom to Call 30.2 Extending a Calling 30.3 Sustaining Members in Callings 30.4 Setting Apart Members to Serve in Callings 30.6 Releasing Members from Callings 30.8 Chart of Callings 31. Interviews and Other Meetings with Members 31.0 Introduction 31.1 Guiding Principles 31.2 Interviews 31.3 Other Opportunities for Leaders to Meet with Members 31.4 Meeting with Members Virtually 32. Repentance and Church Membership Councils 32.0 Introduction 32.1 Repentance and Forgiveness 32.2 Purposes of Church Membership Restrictions or Withdrawal 32.3 The Role of Judges in Israel 32.4 Confession, Confidentiality, and Reporting to Government Authorities 32.6 Severity of the Sin and Church Policy 33. Records and Reports 33.0 Introduction 33.1 Overview of Church Records 33.2 General Instructions for Clerks 33.4 Ward Records and Reports 33.5 Reports on Member Participation 33.6 Membership Records 33.7 Historical Records 33.8 Confidentiality of Records 33.9 Records Management 34. Finances and Audits 34.0 Introduction 34.2 Ward Financial Leadership 34.3 Contributions 34.4 Confidentiality of Tithing and Other Offerings 34.5 Handling Church Funds 34.6 Budget and Expenditures 34.7 Audits 35. Care and Use of Meetinghouses 35.1 Purpose 35.2 Roles and Responsibilities 35.3 Providing Meetinghouses 35.4 Maintaining Meetinghouses 35.5 Policies on Using Church Meetinghouses 36. Creating, Changing, and Naming New Units 36.0 Introduction 37. Specialized Stakes, Wards, and Branches 37.0 Introduction 37.1 Language Wards and Branches 37.7 Groups in Stakes, Missions, and Areas 38. Church Policies and Guidelines 38.1 Church Participation 38.2 Policies for Ordinances and Blessings 38.3 Civil Marriage 38.4 Sealing Policies 38.5 Temple Clothing and Garments 38.6 Policies on Moral Issues 38.7 Medical and Health Policies 38.8 Administrative Policies