Handbooks and Callings
Summary of Recent Updates

“Summary of Recent Updates,” General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2025).

“Summary of Recent Updates,” General Handbook.

Summary of Recent Updates

December 2025

Chapter 5: General and Area Leadership

  • 5.1.1.1. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (clarified succession in the Presidency of the Church)

Chapter 6: Stake Leadership

  • 6.5. High Council (clarified that elders may serve on a district council)

  • 6.6. Stake Patriarch (updated the term “nonfunctioning” status to “not actively serving”)

  • 6.6.1. Calling, Sustaining, and Ordaining a Stake Patriarch (added information about ordaining a stake patriarch before he can be sustained in a stake conference)

  • 6.6.3. Instructing a Newly Called Stake Patriarch (updated resources)

  • 6.6.6. Patriarchs Who Are Called to Another Church Position (updated the term “nonfunctioning” status to “not actively serving”)

  • 6.7.1.1. Additional Stake Relief Society Presidency Responsibilities (emphasized ward Relief Society presidencies’ role in helping lead missionary and temple and family history work)

Chapter 7: The Bishopric

  • 7.2. Differences between Branch Presidencies and Bishoprics (added reference to 23.6.1)

Chapter 9: Relief Society

  • 9.5. Stake Relief Society Leaders (emphasized ward Relief Society presidencies’ role in helping lead missionary and temple and family history work)

Chapter 10: Aaronic Priesthood Quorums

  • 10.2.1.3. Service and Activities (clarified that 18-year-olds may attend Aaronic Priesthood activities, such as camps and conferences)

  • 10.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (updated “indexing” to “family history volunteer activities”)

Chapter 11: Young Women

  • 11.2.1.3. Service and Activities (clarified that 18-year-olds may attend Young Women activities, such as camps and conferences)

  • 11.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (updated “indexing” to “family history volunteer activities”)

Chapter 12: Primary

  • 12.1.8. Baptism and Confirmation Preparation Meeting (new section)

  • 12.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (updated “indexing” to “family history volunteer activities”)

  • 12.3.2. Primary Presidency (a member of the Primary presidency now attends weekly missionary coordination meetings and ward temple and family history coordination meetings)

Chapter 14: Single Members

  • 14.2.4. Uniting Families for Eternity (updated “indexing” to “family history volunteer activities”)

Chapter 18: Performing Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings

  • 18.7.1.1. Children Who Are Members of Record (added reference to new section 12.1.8, “Baptism and Confirmation Preparation Meeting”)

  • 18.17. Patriarchal Blessings (added explanation of the purpose of patriarchal blessings)

  • 18.17.1. Receiving a Patriarchal Blessing (added language allowing a member to invite a close friend)

Chapter 19: Music

  • Throughout chapter 19, language has been revised to allow worshipful children’s songs to be used for congregational singing.

Chapter 20: Activities

  • 20.4. Youth Conference (clarified that 18-year-olds may attend youth conference)

  • 20.7.2. Age Requirements for Participation in Youth Activities (clarified that 18-year-olds may attend youth activities)

  • 20.7.3.4. Church Activity Medical Assistance Program (CAMA program no longer applies to members in Canada)

  • 20.7.6.3. Accident Reporting (members in Canada now report accidents to the area office instead of Church headquarters)

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

  • 22.3.2. Help Members Assess and Address Short-Term Needs (clarified that bishops may provide assistance with urgent needs before a Self-Reliance Plan has been completed)

  • 22.3.3. Help Members Build Self-Reliance (emphasized that a Self-Reliance Plan is used with all members receiving assistance)

  • 22.5.1.1. Assistance to Ward Members (added language that members receiving assistance should be making efforts to progress temporally and spiritually)

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

  • 23.1. Share the Gospel (added introduction; moved video to 23.1.3)

  • 23.1.1. Love (revised section)

  • 23.1.2. Share (added paragraphs moved from 23.1.3)

  • 23.1.3. Invite (revised section; moved paragraphs to 23.1.2; added video from 23.1)

  • 23.2. Strengthen New Members (added link to My Covenant Path resource)

  • 23.4. Hold Weekly Missionary Coordination Meetings (revised title; revised section to clarify purpose, emphasize the Covenant Path Progress report, and align with Preach My Gospel; a member of the Primary presidency now attends these meetings)

  • 23.4.1. My Covenant Path and Covenant Path Progress report (new section; paragraphs moved here from 23.6.5)

  • 23.6.1. Bishopric (added language to allow bishops and branch presidents to assign counselors to interview new members; added reference to Family Name Assist tool)

  • 23.6.5. Ward Council and Ward Youth Council (moved paragraphs about My Covenant Path and Covenant Path Progress report to 23.4.1)

Chapter 24: Missionary Recommendations and Service

  • Throughout chapter 24, the terms “service mission” and “service mission leaders” have been replaced with “service missionary assignment” and “service missionary advisers,” respectively.

  • 24.2.3. Senior Missionaries (updated to reflect a policy change allowing single men ages 40 and older to serve as senior missionaries)

  • 24.3.4.1. Financing Young Missionaries Serving Away from Home (clarified instruction about financing missionaries)

  • 24.4.2. Interviews and Recommendation Forms (clarified the missionary recommendation process)

  • 24.4.4. Those Unable to Serve as Full-Time Missionaries (updated contact information for the Missionary Department)

  • 24.5.3. Setting Apart Missionaries (added instruction for when circumstances do not permit setting apart a missionary before he or she begins service)

  • 24.7. Service Missionaries (revised title)

  • 24.7.1. Identifying Opportunities for Service Missionaries (updated list of examples of service missionary opportunities)

  • 24.7.3. Training and Supervision (clarified that young service missionaries participate in a virtual MTC experience)

  • 24.7.5. Concluding a Service Missionary Assignment (title revised; deleted second paragraph; added contact information for the in-field representative)

Chapter 25: “Temple and Family History Work in the Ward and Stake”

  • Throughout chapter 25, the term “uniting families for eternity” has been emphasized.

  • 25. Uniting Families for Eternity through Temple and Family History Work (revised title)

  • 25.0. Introduction (added paragraph describing the blessings of temple and family history work)

  • 25.1. Member and Leader Participation in Uniting Families for Eternity (revised title and section)

  • 25.2. Ward Leaders (revised title; moved content to 25.2.5)

  • 25.2.1. Bishopric (revised section)

  • 25.2.2. Elders Quorum and Relief Society Presidencies (added focus on members who have recently received mission calls and unendowed members; moved last bullet here from 25.2.3)

  • 25.2.3. Ward Temple and Family History Leader (moved last bullet to 25.2.2)

  • 25.2.4. Ward Temple and Family History Consultants (moved language from second bullet up to emphasize the focus of consultants’ work)

  • 25.2.5. Ward Council (revised bulleted list)

  • 25.2.6. Ward Temple and Family History Plan (revised list of examples)

  • 25.2.7. Ward Temple and Family History Coordination Meetings (revised section; a member of the Primary presidency now attends these meetings)

  • 25.3. Stake Leaders (revised title; deleted content)

  • 25.3.1. Stake Presidency (revised bulleted list)

  • 25.3.3. High Councilors (clarified that high councilors may help elders quorum presidencies instruct ward temple and family history consultants)

  • 25.3.8. Area Temple and Family History Advisers (clarified the work of these advisers; added reference to Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction)

  • 25.4.1. Online Resources (revised title and section)

  • 25.4.3. Family History Volunteer Activities (added references to the Get Involved app)

  • 25.5.2. Requirements for Temple Workers (clarified tasks temple workers may perform)

Chapter 26: Temple Recommends

  • Chapter 26 has been reorganized and revised to reflect procedural changes for issuing recommends for living ordinances through Ordinance Preparation in LCR, to prepare for the release of mobile temple recommends, and to consolidate information.

  • 26.0. Introduction (revised section; clarified that members must be baptized and confirmed to receive a temple recommend)

  • 26.1. Types of Temple Recommends (revised section; clarified three types of recommends; added option to receive a mobile recommend)

  • 26.3. General Guidelines for Issuing Temple Recommends (moved some content to 26.3.1 and 26.3.2)

  • 26.3.1. Issuing Temple Recommends for Proxy Baptisms and Confirmations (new section; content moved here from 26.3, 26.3.3, 26.4.1, and 26.4.3)

  • 26.3.2. Issuing Temple Recommends for Endowed Members (revised title; new section number shown; content moved here from 26.1, 26.3, 26.3.3, and 26.4.1)

  • 26.3.3. Issuing Temple Recommends for Living Ordinances (new section; content moved here from 26.3.1, 26.3.3, 26.4.1, 26.4.4, 26.5.1; added language that members who will be age 12 or older by the end of the year must have either a recommend for proxy baptisms and confirmations or a recommend for endowed members in addition to a recommend for living ordinances)

  • 26.3.4. Issuing Temple Recommends to Members in Isolated Areas (revised title; new section number shown)

  • 26.4. Conducting a Temple Recommend Interview (new section number shown)

  • 26.4.1. Temple Recommend Interview Questions (new section number shown)

  • 26.4.2. Wearing the Temple Garment (new section number shown)

  • 26.4.3. Additional Direction (new section number shown)

  • 26.4. Issuing Temple Recommends to Unendowed Members (section deleted)

  • 26.4.1. General Guidelines (deleted section; content moved to 26.3.1)

  • 26.4.2. Temple Recommends for Newly Baptized Members (deleted section; content moved to 26.5.1)

  • 26.4.3. Temple Recommends for Proxy Baptisms and Confirmations Only (deleted section; some content moved to 26.3.1)

  • 26.4.4. Temple Recommends for Sealing Living Children to Parents (deleted section; some content moved to 27.4.1 and 27.4.5)

  • 26.5.1. Members Receiving Their Own Endowment (section deleted; some content moved to 27.2.2; subsequent sections have been renumbered)

  • 26.5.1. Newly Baptized Members (new section number shown; content moved here from 26.4.2; added language that bishops may offer to use the Family Name Assist tool to help new members print names of deceased family members)

Chapter 27: Temple Ordinances for the Living

  • Chapter 27 has been reorganized and revised to reflect procedural changes for issuing recommends for living ordinances.

  • 27.1.1. Preparing to Receive Temple Ordinances (some content moved to 27.1.2)

  • 27.1.2. Scheduling Temple Ordinances (section deleted)

  • 27.1.2. Verifying Records and Receiving a Temple Recommend for Living Ordinances (new section; content moved here from 27.1.1)

  • 27.2. The Endowment (clarified descriptions of initiatory ordinances and law of chastity)

  • 27.2.2. Deciding When to Receive the Endowment (added language from 26.5.1 that a man must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood before receiving the endowment)

  • 27.2.3.1. Receiving a Recommend for Living Ordinances (updated to specify that to receive the endowment, a member must have both a recommend for living ordinances and a recommend for endowed members)

  • 27.2.3.2. Contacting the Temple (clarified that members planning to receive the endowment should meet with their bishop before contacting the temple)

  • 27.3. Sealing of Husband and Wife (added explanation of the covenant members make when they are sealed)

  • 27.3.2.1. Receiving a Recommend for Living Ordinances for Sealing a Husband and Wife (revised title; updated to specify that to be sealed to a spouse, members must have both a recommend for living ordinance and a recommend for endowed members)

  • 27.3.2.3. Obtaining a Marriage License (updated with information about Ordinance Preparation)

  • 27.3.2.4. Escorts for the Couple Being Sealed (revised title; updated to reflect that a couple may have already been married prior to being sealed)

  • 27.3.2.6. Appropriate Clothing for a Temple Sealing (updated to reflect that a couple may have already been married prior to being sealed)

  • 27.3.4. Who May Attend a Temple Sealing (added language that a stake president may authorize a member with an intellectual disability to observe the sealing of their parents)

  • 27.4.1. Receiving a Recommend for Living Ordinances (revised title; added table describing the recommends members need when they are sealed to their parents)

  • 27.4.2. Contacting the Temple (clarified that members planning to be sealed to children or deceased parents should meet with their bishop before contacting the temple)

  • 27.4.5. Who May Attend a Sealing of Children to Parents (added table describing the recommends members need when they observe the sealing of their siblings to their parents)

Chapter 28: Temple Ordinances for the Deceased

  • 28.1.1.1. Submitting the Names of Family Members (removed “generally” to align with policy)

  • 28.1.1.2. Submitting the Names of Celebrities and Unauthorized Groups (removed “generally” to align with policy)

  • 28.2.1. Baptisms and Confirmations for the Dead (clarified that those baptizing, confirming, or recording must be able to do so without assistance)

  • 28.3.5.2. Deceased Persons Who Were Endowed (clarified policies)

Chapter 29: Meetings in the Church

  • 29.3.1. Stake Conference (added instruction that when a General Authority or Area Seventy presides, the stake leadership meeting includes all members of the stake council and ward councils)

  • 29.3.3. Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting (updated guidelines so that only one stake conference per year includes a stake priesthood leadership meeting)

Chapter 30: Callings in the Church

  • 30.7. Calling Bishops (divided section into two subsections)

  • 30.7.1. Recommending (new section created from 30.7; added guidelines about recommending candidates for bishop)

  • 30.7.2. Calling, Ordaining, and Setting Apart (new section created from 30.7)

Chapter 32: Repentance and Church Membership Councils

  • 32.6.2.5. Some Other Acts (updated table to be consistent with the section’s text)

Chapter 38: Church Policies and Guidelines

  • Section 38.2: Policies for Ordinances and Blessings

    • 38.2.9.1. New Members (clarified that a bishop can interview newly baptized brothers for Aaronic Priesthood ordination and also for a temple recommend in the same meeting; updated guidelines to allow the bishop to assign his counselor to conduct this interview

    • 38.2.10. Patriarchal Blessings (updated list of resources)

    • 38.2.10.4. Members Who Live outside the Patriarch’s Stake (replaced the term “functioning patriarch” with “actively serving patriarch”)

    • 38.2.10.7. Replacement Patriarchal Blessings (revised title; clarified that in rare circumstances, members may receive a “replacement” blessing, not a “second” blessing)

  • Section 38.4: Sealing Policies

    • 38.4.1.8. Sealing of Deceased Persons (made policy for sealing deceased couple who were divorced consistent with other sections; added policy for sealing deceased couples who cohabited but were not married)

    • 38.4.2.3. Adopted or Foster Children Who Are Living (updated policies regarding when a formal adoption decree is required)

    • 38.4.2.5. Sealing of Living Children to One Natural Parent and a Stepparent (updated section to address sealing adult children who are not accountable)

  • Section 38.5: Temple Clothing and Garments

    • 38.5.1. Temple Clothing (removed “socks or hosiery” from the description of temple clothing for women)

    • 38.5.2. Obtaining Temple Clothing and Garments (added the language from 38.5.4 that members may not make ceremonial temple clothing or temple garments)

    • 38.5.3. Garments and Temple Clothing for Members Who Have Disabilities or Allergies (added information for members with physical needs to request modifications)

    • 38.5.4. Making Temple Clothing (section deleted; content moved to 38.5.2)

    • 38.5.4. Modifying Ceremonial Temple Clothing(new section)

  • Section 38.6: Policies on Moral Issues

    • 38.6.1. Abortion (clarified language)

  • Section 38.8: Administrative Policies

    • 38.8.40.1. Editions and Translations of the Holy Bible (revised title; updated guidelines to state that some members may benefit from doctrinally clear Bible translations that are easier to understand than Church-published editions; added reference to a list of such translations)

    • 38.8.40.2. Scripture Translation (addressed unauthorized translations, including those done through AI)

    • 38.8.40.3. Simplified or Modernized Scriptures (revised title; addressed unauthorized efforts, including those done through AI)

    • 38.8.47. Appropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence (new section)

    • 38.8.47.1. Learning and Teaching (new section)

    • 38.8.47.2. Relationships with God and Others (new section)

    • 38.8.47.3. Callings and Assignments (new section)