Church Releases Unprecedented Book Featuring Discourses by LDS Women for Free Online

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Church historians Jennifer Reeder and Kate Holbrook compiled more than 185 years of discourses from LDS women into the revolutionary book, At the Pulpit. Comprising more than 50 discourses from LDS women, the book spans from the Church's founding to present day and includes speeches from LDS women around the world.

And now, the book is available for free online, along with 22 original audio recordings of the talks.

In addition to reading these uplifting words from latter-day women online, Church members can now find these speeches in the LDS Gospel Library app under the "Church History" section.

The 54 talks "focus on doctrinal themes and were selected from every decade from 1831 to 2016," Mormon Newsroomexplains. "Reeder and Holbrook gathered the early talks by digging through old Relief Society minute books, newspapers, magazines, journals, conference reports and other resources."

Featuring women like Emma Smith, Lucy Mack Smith, Eliza R. Snow, Judy Brummer, Sheri L. Dew, and Chieko N. Okazaki, these speeches cover an array of speakers and topics.

At the Pulpit comes alive when people use it. While we know women gave great talks of doctrinal importance, we recognize the power and meaning of those words when we understand their lives that produced such testimony,” Reeder told Mormon Newsroom.

“I have felt strongly, while working on the book, while giving talks about the book and just while quietly reading from the book, that the words and the stories bring me closer to the power of God — the power to lead, to forgive and to persevere,” Holbrook told Mormon Newsroom.

This book illustrates the history of women's public preaching in the Church, but its most important feature is the actual words of Mormon women. 

Written to the high scholarly standards of the Church Historian's Press, the book provides a resource for contemporary Latter-day Saints as they study, speak, teach, and lead. Each discourse in this volume begins with an introduction that acquaints readers with the vibrant personalities of some of the women who have shaped the church. Introductions also provide glimpses into the circumstances and forces that shaped these women.

Read the book for free here. Or toown a beautiful hard copy of the book, purchase it here.

Lead image from Mormon Newsroom of Jennifer Reed and Kate Hollbrook
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