Why Handbooks?

As Church leaders introduced two new handbooks and helped explain how to implement the policies therein during two recent worldwide leadership training meetings, they have also answered the question: why are handbooks important?

Among the many ways the Church’s handbooks may be a blessing are: (1) maintaining procedural integrity during rapid growth, (2) reducing the burden on the First Presidency, and (3) facilitating revelation in local administration.

Integrity and Growth

The handbooks help maintain the integrity of policies, procedures, and programs of a church that is experiencing rapid growth around the world.

“Our membership has been increasing since the Church was organized in 1830. And it will continue to grow with thousands of units throughout the world,” said President Thomas S. Monson during the November 2010 worldwide leadership training meeting. “It would be nearly impossible to maintain the integrity of the policies, procedures, and programs of the Church without these handbooks.”

The First Presidency’s Burden

The handbooks help reduce the First Presidency’s time-consuming burden of answering procedural questions and correcting procedural errors.

“As we of the First Presidency meet together in our regular sessions each weekday, we must, of necessity, deal with and correct errors,” said President Monson. “Most of these errors could be avoided if … leaders were familiar with the handbooks and followed the policies and procedures outlined therein.”

President Monson said that occasionally well-meaning leaders who are unfamiliar with the policies and procedures of the Church make decisions that lead to potentially harmful aberrations in Church programs.

“Whether you’ve been a lifelong member of the Church or are a relatively new member, consult the handbook when you are uncertain about a policy or procedure,” President Monson said. “There’s safety in the handbooks.”

Facilitating Revelation

The handbooks help facilitate revelation as local leaders seek the guidance of the Spirit in administering Church affairs.

“When leaders of the Church know their duties and follow established procedures, they invite the Holy Ghost to inspire them and the people they are serving,” said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the November 2010 meeting.

Brother David M. McConkie, first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency, illustrated the importance of the handbooks in the October 2010 general conference.

While being trained as a new stake president by an Area Seventy, Brother McConkie asked a series of questions that, to his chagrin, were all answered in the handbooks.

“I did not venture to ask any more questions. I thought it best to read the handbook,” Brother McConkie said. “It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively” (“Gospel Learning and Teaching,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2010, 13).

To find video, text, and audio of the November 2010 and February 2011 worldwide leadership training meetings in 40 languages, visit the Serving in the Church section of LDS.org.

Church leaders who are familiar with and follow the handbooks invite the guidance of the Holy Ghost to inspire them.

Photograph by Welden C. Andersen