Books · 14 reviews
The Best Latter-day Saint Books
Standard works, classic LDS theology, and modern LDS authors.
Books for Latter-day Saints begin with the standard works - the King James Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price - available together as the four-in-one 'quad.' Beyond scripture, the list includes classic Latter-day Saint theology like James E. Talmage's Jesus the Christ and modern favorites such as Stephen Robinson's Believing Christ, plus the Church's Come Follow Me study curriculum.
If you're building a shelf, the standard works come first, then a study companion for the year's Come Follow Me course of study, then the classic and modern titles that go deeper on grace, Christ, and discipleship. The scriptures and curriculum are free; most modern titles are published by Deseret Book and sold in print and ebook.
The Book of MormonThe volume of scripture that gives the Latter-day Saint movement its nickname - free in the Gospel Library app, free from missionaries, and the one book the whole tradition is named around.Best free option
The Doctrine and CovenantsThe volume of modern revelations at the center of Latter-day Saint scripture - 138 sections, two Official Declarations, and the founding document of a still-growing church.| Book | Rating | Price | Publisher | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Book of Mormon | 4.9 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The Doctrine and Covenants | 4.8 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The Pearl of Great Price | 4.7 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The Standard Works (Quad) | 4.7 ★ | Free (digital) | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| Jesus the Christ | 4.7 ★ | Free (public domain) | Deseret Book | |
| Believing Christ | 4.7 ★ | ~$13 paperback | Deseret Book | |
| Come, Follow Me | 4.7 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The Book of Mormon Study Guide | 4.7 ★ | ~$30 hardcover | Deseret Book | |
| Saints | 4.7 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The Articles of Faith | 4.6 ★ | Free (public domain) | Deseret Book | |
| Preach My Gospel | 4.6 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| The God Who Weeps | 4.6 ★ | ~$15 hardcover | Ensign Peak (Deseret Book) | |
| Teachings of the Presidents of the Church | 4.6 ★ | Free | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | |
| Approaching Zion | 4.5 ★ | ~$25 paperback | Deseret Book |
The Book of Mormon
The volume of scripture that gives the Latter-day Saint movement its nickname - free in the Gospel Library app, free from missionaries, and the one book the whole tradition is named around.
The Doctrine and Covenants
The volume of modern revelations at the center of Latter-day Saint scripture - 138 sections, two Official Declarations, and the founding document of a still-growing church.
The Pearl of Great Price
The shortest of the four Latter-day Saint standard works - five short texts that hold the First Vision account, the Articles of Faith, and some of the tradition’s most-quoted scripture.
The Standard Works (Quad)
The four-in-one scripture set most Latter-day Saints carry - King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, bound with one of the most thorough study apparatuses in print.
Jesus the Christ
James E. Talmage's 1915 study of the life and mission of Jesus Christ - for over a century the standard Latter-day Saint treatment of the Messiah, and now free in the public domain.
Believing Christ
The short Latter-day Saint book on grace that quietly reframed how a generation of readers understood the Atonement - built around one homely parable about a girl, a bicycle, and a father.
Come, Follow Me
The official home-centered, church-supported study curriculum of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - the weekly reading schedule the whole Church follows together, free in Gospel Library and in print.
The Book of Mormon Study Guide
A single-volume, verse-by-verse companion that walks a Latter-day Saint reader through the entire Book of Mormon - background, commentary gathered from Church leaders and scholars, maps, and helps, all keyed to the text you read alongside it.
Saints
The official narrative history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - a four-volume, story-driven account titled Saints, written to read like a true story and free in the Gospel Library app. (Not to be confused with the New Orleans football team or the broader idea of saints; this is the Church’s own multi-volume history.)
The Articles of Faith
James E. Talmage's 1899 exposition of Latter-day Saint belief, built chapter by chapter on the 13 Articles of Faith - for generations the tradition's doctrinal textbook, and now free in the public domain.
Preach My Gospel
The official missionary-service and personal-study guide of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - free in Gospel Library, low-cost in print, and used far beyond the mission field.
The God Who Weeps
A short, literary statement of Latter-day Saint belief by two of its most-read writers - the book seekers and lifelong members alike reach for when they want the faith said beautifully rather than systematically.
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church
A long-running Latter-day Saint manual series, with each volume gathering the teachings of a past President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into chapters built for personal and class study - free in the Gospel Library app and on the Church website.
Approaching Zion
A bracing collection of essays by the influential Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh Nibley on consecration, wealth, work, and the ideal of Zion - pointed, demanding, and aimed squarely at a Latter-day Saint readership.
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard works?
For Latter-day Saints, the standard works are the four volumes of scripture: the King James Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. They're often bound together as a single 'quad' (four-in-one) edition.
What is the best Latter-day Saint book on grace?
Stephen E. Robinson's Believing Christ is the modern Latter-day Saint book most often recommended on grace and the Atonement, and it remains a long-running bestseller. Jesus the Christ, by James E. Talmage, is the classic full-length study of the life of Christ.
Where can I read Latter-day Saint scripture for free?
The full standard works are free in the Gospel Library app and on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and several are reviewed here with links. Print and study editions are sold by Deseret Book.
What is Come Follow Me?
Come Follow Me is the Church's home-centered, church-supported study curriculum, organized as a weekly course of study through the scriptures. The official manuals are free; study companions and guides are sold separately.