In the latest updates to its General Handbook, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has unveiled new guidelines for the latest technological craze: artificial intelligence.
“Interactions with A.I. cannot substitute for meaningful relationships with God and others,” the handbook’s new section warns. “... If members use A.I., they should do so in positive, helpful, and uplifting ways that uphold the integrity, standards, and teachings of the church.”
And while the church discourages members from using A.I. to replace the “individual work and spiritual guidance required to prepare divinely inspired talks, lessons, prayers, or blessings,” it acknowledges that the technology “can be helpful for research, editing, translation, and similar tasks.
The new section also cautions members against using A.I. systems not managed by the church when dealing with sensitive information such as church records, personal member data or confidential communications.
These guidelines also apply to church leaders who are counseled not to rely on AI for advice when helping members with “medical, financial, legal or other sensitive matters.”
And these principles echo the sentiments that top church leaders have said about A.I. in recent years.
In January 2024, apostle David A. Bednar explained to students at church-owned Brigham Young University the benefits and drawbacks of A.I. He counseled them to use this new technology wisely, saying it was a powerful tool that had the potential to assist them in receiving blessings or to diminish their agency.
“Please do not allow the supposed accuracy, speed and ease of modern technologies to entice you to avoid or circumvent the righteous work that invites into your life the blessings you will need,” Bednar said. “... There are no spiritual shortcuts or quick fixes.”
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Gerrit W. Gong, center, talks with Father Paolo Benanti, right, and Father John Paul Kimes during a summit on A.I. ethics in Rome on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025.
Gerrit W. Gong, the faith’s first and only Asian American apostle, spent much of 2025 championing moral A.I. use in the church and other religious settings.
During BYU’s Education Week in August 2025, Gong spoke about the limited moral capabilities of the high-tech tool.
“A.I. cannot provide inspired divine truth or independent moral guidance,” he said. “As a creation of God, man can create A.I., but A.I. cannot create God.”
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Apostle Gerrit W. Gong speaks about artificial intelligence to church employees in 2024.
Gong also has spoken at global religious conferences in Turkey and the Vatican about the responsibility people of faith have to safeguard ethical, safe and moral A.I. usage.
“Even in a world influenced by secular thought, not only religious believers but citizens everywhere want religious and moral leaders to help ensure A.I. is safe and can be trusted,” Gong said in July at the Religions for Peace World Council in Istanbul.
Other fresh updates in the “General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” include:
• 18-year-olds may attend youth activities, camps and conferences.
• In their local congregations, a member of the children’s Primary presidency should attend weekly missionary coordination meetings and ward temple and family history coordination meetings.
• Information about calling patriarchs and receiving patriarchal blessings was updated changing the term “nonfunctioning” status to “not actively serving.” An explanation of the purpose of patriarchal blessings was also added with an updated list of resources.
• An update clarified the purpose of weekly missionary coordination meetings, emphasizing the use of the Covenant Path Progress report and aligning with the church’s “Preach My Gospel” study curriculum.
• Clarifying instructions were made about welfare assistance. The additions emphasized that all members receiving assistance are to use a self-reliance plan but lay bishops may provide assistance to members with urgent needs before their plan has been completed. Language was also added that members receiving welfare assistance should be making efforts to progress temporally and spiritually. “However, temporary assistance can be provided even if members do not yet attend church meetings or follow church standards.”
The recent handbook updates can be found here.