Church History

“That They Might Not Suffer”
Over the past 30 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has formed partnerships with the International Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, and other experienced agencies, helping to establish the foundation for LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church. Sharon Eubank describes the evolution of the Church’s efforts to care for the poor and needy on a global scale and discusses what members can do to help wherever they live.
Sealed Together
Saints from Manaus, Brazil, tell the story of the first caravan from their city to the temple in São Paulo
Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley
Many of the missionaries who traveled to Missouri in 1831 were disappointed at first at what they found. But they would each deal with that disappointment in different ways.
Miracles of Christ
Featured artwork from the Church History Museum collection and exhibits

Pioneers
in Every Land

“The Least I Could Do”

What One Tasmanian Family Sacrificed to Go to the Temple

When the Hamilton New Zealand Temple was dedicated in 1958, the Bender family sacrificed everything they could to be there.

Over the past 30 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has formed partnerships with the International Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, CARE, and other experienced agencies, helping to establish the foundation for LDS Charities, the humanitarian arm of the Church. Sharon Eubank describes the evolution of the Church’s efforts to care for the poor and needy on a global scale and discusses what members can do to help wherever they live.

Women
of Conviction

A Love for Words

The Legacy of Mabel Jones Gabbott

At a baptismal service, eight-year-olds dressed in white often join with family and ward members to sing of how “Jesus came to John the Baptist, / In Judea long ago, / And was baptized by immersion / In the river Jordan’s flow” (

Treasures
of the Collection

John Taylor, October 10, 1852

Reflections on Government and War

Shortly after his return from missionary labors in France, Germany, and Great Britain, John Taylor gave this sermon in the five-year-old city of Salt Lake. The sermon gives insight into the climate of the times and the sense of possibility Latter-day Saints felt as they began to create their own communities in the Rocky Mountain region.

Brigham Young, September 1864

Sermons during a Trip to the Southern Settlements

Extracts from sermons given by Brigham Young at various settlements in Utah during a trip south in 1864.

Church History Daily

On Zion's Camp

After the Saints were driven from Jackson County, Missouri, the Church assembled its own militia to go help them. Some members of the group, which was later known as Zion’s Camp, hoped for the opportunity to fight those who had abused Church members. Others, like Nathan Baldwin, saw fighting as a last resort. “Hardly anything could be more repugnant to my feelings than the display of the instruments of death,” Baldwin recalled, “but I procured a rifle, equipage and ammunition, and tried to school myself to their practice.” When a sudden storm protected the camp from its one near-battle, Baldwin saw it as evidence of God’s protection. He was able to make his offering without having to fight.

Matthew C. Godfrey, “The Acceptable Offering of Zion’s Camp: D&C 103, 105,” history.lds.org

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Prophets
of the Restoration

Ezra Taft Benson Exhibit

13th President: 1985–1994

An early career in agriculture prepared Ezra Taft Benson to, as an Apostle, lead Church relief efforts in Europe after WWII and build relationships for the Church. As prophet, he challenged Latter-day Saints to flood the earth with the Book of Mormon, to heed its warnings against pride, and to let Christ transform their inner natures.

Upcoming Events

2015 Lecture Series

Pioneers in Every Land

“Pioneers in Every Land” is the theme of the 2015 Lecture Series at the Church History Library in Salt Lake. Videos of each presentation will be available online after the events.

Revelations
in Context

Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley

D&C 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 71, 73

Many of the missionaries who traveled to Missouri in 1831 were disappointed at first at what they found. But they would each deal with that disappointment in different ways.