Handbooks and Callings
Summary of Recent Updates

“Summary of Recent Updates,” General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2026).

“Summary of Recent Updates,” General Handbook.

Summary of Recent Updates

October 2026

Throughout the handbook, many instances of “the United States and Canada” have been changed to “the United States” only. The Canada Area now has its own area office and is no longer supported directly from Church headquarters. For most purposes, Church leaders in Canada should now contact their area office for support.

Throughout the handbook, Young Women “classes” have been updated to “age-groups,” and the names of Young Women age-groups have been updated.

Chapter 5: General and Area Leadership

  • 5.2.1. Area Presidency (updated language to refer to “members of the Area Presidency” rather than “counselors ... to assist the president”)

  • 5.2.2. Area Seventies (updated “counselor in the Area Presidency” to “member of the Area Presidency”)

  • 5.2.4. Coordinating Council (section deleted; subsequent sections have been renumbered)

  • 5.2.4.1. Area Organization Advisers (area organization advisers are now called in Canada)

Chapter 6: Stake Leadership

  • 6.2.1.6. Stake Organizations and Programs (new stake organization presidencies in Canada may receive orientation from an area organization adviser; added “Support for members with disabilities”)

  • 6.6.1. Calling, Sustaining, and Ordaining a Stake Patriarch (updated guidance on who may stand in the circle when a patriarch is ordained)

  • 6.8. Stake Specialists (added “Support for members with disabilities”)

Chapter 8: Elders Quorum

  • 8.2.1.2. Gospel Learning in Quorum Meetings (updated guidance on quorum meetings to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 8.2.3. Inviting All to Receive the Gospel (deleted information found elsewhere in the handbook)

  • 8.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (deleted information found elsewhere in the handbook)

  • 8.3.3.2. Responsibilities (added “Support the needs of members with disabilities” to the list of responsibilities)

Chapter 9: Relief Society

  • 9.2.1.2. Gospel Learning in Relief Society (updated guidance on Relief Society meetings to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 9.2.3. Inviting All to Receive the Gospel (deleted information found elsewhere in the handbook)

  • 9.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (deleted information found elsewhere in the handbook)

  • 9.3.2.2. Responsibilities (added “Support the needs of members with disabilities” to the list of responsibilities)

Chapter 10: Aaronic Priesthood Quorums

  • 10.1.2. Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme (deleted the sentence directing young men and their leaders to repeat the theme in quorum meetings)

  • 10.2.1.2. Gospel Learning (updated guidance on Aaronic Priesthood quorum meetings to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 10.2.1.3. Service and Activities (updated Young Women age-group name)

  • 10.3. Bishopric (added “Support the needs of young men with disabilities” to the list of bishopric responsibilities)

Chapter 11: Young Women

  • 11.1.2. Young Women Theme (deleted the sentence directing young women and their leaders to repeat the theme in Sunday meetings)

  • 11.1.3. Age-Groups (revised title; information moved to new subsections)

  • 11.1.3.1. Builders of Faith (new section)

  • 11.1.3.2. Messengers of Hope (new section)

  • 11.1.3.3. Gatherers of Light (new section)

  • 11.1.3.4. Adapting to Local Needs (new section)

  • 11.2.1.2. Gospel Learning (updated guidance on Young Women meetings to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 11.3.2. Adult Young Women Presidency (added “Support the needs of young women with disabilities” to the list of Young Women presidency responsibilities)

  • 11.3.4.3. Age-Group Presidency Meeting (revised title)

Chapter 12: Primary

  • 12.1.7. Temple and Priesthood Preparation Meeting (clarified guidance on helping children understand God’s authority and power; added cross-references to 3.4 and 3.6)

  • 12.2.1.1. Roles of Parents and Leaders (added language about teaching children how they can be blessed by God’s authority and power; added cross-references to 3.4 and 3.6)

  • 12.2.1.2. Gospel Learning (adjusted meeting lengths to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 12.2.1.3. Service and Activities (added option for wards and stakes to hold children’s devotionals)

  • 12.3.2. Primary Presidency (clarified how Primary presidencies help prepare children to make and keep sacred covenants; added “Support the needs of children with disabilities” to the list of Primary presidency responsibilities)

  • 12.5.1. Safeguarding Children (added language that using or threatening to use physical discipline in Primary is never acceptable)

Chapter 13: Sunday School

  • 13.2.2.2. Responsibilities (clarified the Sunday School presidency’s responsibility to keep attendance records; added “Support the needs of members with disabilities” to the list of responsibilities)

  • 13.3. Sunday School Classes (updated class length to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 13.4. Improving Learning and Teaching in the Ward (updated guidance on teacher council meetings to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 13.5. Improving Learning and Teaching in the Home (updated guidance on teacher council meetings for parents to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

Chapter 17: Teaching the Gospel

  • 17.4. Teacher Council Meetings (updated guidance to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 17.5. Teacher Council Meetings for Parents (updated guidance to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

Chapter 18: Performing Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings

  • 18.8.3. Baptism and Confirmation Record and Certificate (updated instructions for creating membership records for new converts)

Chapter 19: Music

  • 19.6. Music Training and Resources (deleted bullet point regarding the Music Education Fund)

Chapter 20: Activities

  • 20.5.8. Sabbath-Day Observance (added allowance for Primary activities to be scheduled after Sunday meetings as exceptions)

Chapter 22: Providing for Temporal Needs and Building Self-Reliance

  • 22.13. Church Resources (updated information about referring members to Deseret Industries and Development Counseling Services)

Chapter 23: Sharing the Gospel and Strengthening New and Returning Members

  • 23.2. Strengthen New Members (added list item to emphasize helping new members attend church)

Chapter 24: Missionary Recommendations and Service

  • 24.1. The Call to Serve (updated “service missions” to “service assignments”)

  • 24.2.4. Senior Service Missionaries (updated “service missions” to “service assignments”)

  • 24.3.2.2. Belated Confessions (updated language to account for missionaries who serve from home)

  • 24.6.3.2. Returning Home Early (clarified that a missionary’s stake president, mission president, and area president counsel together to determine whether a missionary should remain in the field or return home)

  • 24.9.1. Manuals and Forms (added a link to Excerpt from “Handbook for Mission Leaders: A Guide to Becoming, Serving, and Leading as Disciples of Jesus Christ”—Chapter 3: Service Missionaries [available to local leaders only])

  • 24.9.3. Contact Information (updated “Service Mission Office” to “Service Assignment Office”)

Chapter 25: Uniting Families for Eternity through Temple and Family History Work

  • 25.1.1. Individual Responsibility for Temple Worship (updated “appointment” to “reservation”; clarified that members receiving their own ordinances must make a reservation with the temple; members performing ordinances for the deceased may attend with or without a reservation)

  • 25.5. Recommending and Calling Temple Workers (added language that members should contact their bishop if they desire to serve as temple workers)

  • 25.5.3. Calling and Setting Apart Temple Workers (added instruction that members called as temple workers must complete the children and youth protection training)

Chapter 26: Temple Recommends

  • 26.1. Types of Temple Recommends (added information that temple recommends for living ordinances are issued to children observing the sealing of living siblings to their parents)

  • 26.3.3. Issuing Temple Recommends for Living Ordinances (added information that temple recommends for living ordinances are issued to children observing the sealing of living siblings to their parents)

Chapter 27: Temple Ordinances for the Living

  • 27.1.2. Verifying Records and Receiving a Temple Recommend for Living Ordinances (added information that children preparing to observe the sealing of living siblings to their parents must meet with the bishop to receive a recommend for living ordinances)

  • 27.2.3.2. Contacting the Temple (updated “appointment” to “reservation”)

  • 27.3.4. Who May Attend a Temple Sealing (clarified guidelines for authorizing members with intellectual disabilities to observe the sealings of their living parents or siblings)

  • 27.4.6. Appropriate Clothing for a Sealing of Living Children to Parents (new section)

Chapter 28: Temple Ordinances for the Deceased

  • 28.1.4. Scheduling (updated “appointment” to “reservation”; clarified that members performing ordinances for the deceased may attend the temple with or without a reservation)

Chapter 29: Meetings in the Church

  • 29.2.8. Schedules for Sunday Meetings (updated the schedule tables to reflect the new Sunday meeting schedule)

  • 29.4. Coordinating Council Meetings (updated guidance on who attends coordinating council meetings; added Area Seventy responsibility to follow up with participants)

  • 29.5.4. Funeral Services (Where Customary) (added guidance on Latter-day Saint chaplains conducting funerals)

Chapter 30: Callings in the Church

  • 30.7.2. Calling, Ordaining, and Setting Apart (added instruction on who may stand in the circle when a bishop is ordained)

  • 30.8.5. Group Calling (revised title; adjusted the table to reflect that the calling of service member group leader is now merged into the calling of group leader; updated information on who recommends, approves, calls, and sets apart group leaders; the calling of assistant to the service member group leader has been discontinued)

Chapter 33: Records and Reports

  • 33.10. Stake and Ward Technology Specialists (ward technology specialists now serve under the direction of the ward clerk only)

Chapter 36: Creating, Changing, and Naming New Units

  • 36.0. Introduction (added email address for support in the United States)

Chapter 37: Specialized Wards, Stakes, and Branches

  • 37.0. Introduction (added email address for support in the United States)

  • 37.7. Groups in Stakes, Missions, and Areas (revised section to reflect approved changes regarding groups: groups are now assigned unit numbers; the process for creating groups is now aligned with the process for creating branches; dispersed member groups are overseen by mission presidents; and bishops and branch presidents may assign a counselor to call and set apart group leaders)

  • 37.8. Church Units for Service Members (revised title)

Chapter 38: Church Policies and Guidelines

  • Section 38.2: Policies for Ordinances and Blessings

    • 38.2.9.6. Military Servicemen in War Zones or Isolated Areas (section deleted; subsequent sections in 38.2.9 have been renumbered)

  • Section 38.3: Civil Marriage

    • 38.3.1. Who May Perform a Civil Marriage (revised policies on Latter-day Saint chaplains performing civil marriages)

  • Section 38.4: Sealing Policies

    • 38.4.1.5. Applying for a Sealing Cancellation or a Sealing Clearance (corrected formatting; updated “schedule an appointment” to “make a reservation”)

    • 38.4.1.6. Removing a Restriction against Temple Sealing (updated “schedule an appointment” to “make a reservation”)

  • Section 38.8: Administrative Policies

    • 38.8.28.9. Disability Specialist (updated responsibilities of disability specialists)

  • Section 38.9: Military Relations and Chaplain Services (section deleted)

    • This section has been divided into two new sections: 38.9 “Chaplains” and 38.10 “Military Relations.” The information in both sections has been thoroughly revised.

  • Section 38.9. Chaplains (new section)

  • Section 38.10. Military Relations (new section)