General Church History Research GuideGeneral Resources

General Resources

General Church History Research Guide

Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days

This four-volume series is a narrative history telling the stories of the women and men who dedicated their lives to establishing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe.

Church History Topics

Published to accompany Saints, these articles focus on specific aspects of Church history and Latter-day Saint beliefs and practices.

Answers to Church History Questions

These brief videos address some of the most common questions about Church history.

Church History Biographical Database

This online database contains information about the lives of early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their contributions to building the kingdom of God, and the records they left behind. It includes the information from the old Pioneer and Missionary Databases.

The Church Historian’s Press

The website for official publications of the Church History Department. Transcribed journals, discourses, letters, and other materials from the early years of the Church can be viewed online. Additional resources to provide context to the documents and stories are also provided. Notable collections include The Joseph Smith Papers and The Diaries of Emmeline B. Wells.

Revelations in Context

A collection of essays providing context to the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Chronology of Church History

This online timeline provides an overview of several important events in the history of the Church. It is not comprehensive and only covers the Church’s history up to 2012.

Church History Maps

Maps provided on ChurchofJesusChrist.org show major locations important in early Church history.

Church Magazines and Newspapers

An extensive list of newspapers and magazines officially and semi-officially published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that have been digitized and made available online. They are in a variety of languages and cover a wide range of years.

Journal History of the Church

This is a daily, scrapbook-style history of the Church from 1830 to 2008. It was compiled mostly from newspaper clippings, but information was also gleaned from Church minutes and individuals’ diary entries.

Manuscript Histories of the Church in the United States

Includes accounts of Church activities in various areas in the United States during the 19th century. These were compiled in the Historian's Office under Andrew Jenson's direction, primarily during the 1920s and 1930s.

Mormon Missionary Diaries

This collection of missionary diaries spans from 1832 to the 1960s. The digitized collection is hosted online by the Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library and can be searched by name, geographic location, and mission.

Mormon Publications: 19th and 20th Century

This collection is comprised of early Mormon publications, including books, hymnals, periodicals, newspapers, and published discourses of doctrinal and historical significance. The digitized collection is hosted online by Brigham Young University’s Harold B. Lee Library.

Religious Studies Center Books

The BYU Religious Studies Center has provided online access to numerous books addressing topics in Church history.