The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has updated its “General Handbook” to include principled guidance on the use of artificial intelligence.
The handbook update, published on December 16, 2025, states that AI “cannot replace the gift of divine inspiration or the individual work required to receive it.” It also cautions that “interactions with AI cannot substitute for meaningful relationships with God and others.”
The text encourages Latter-day Saints to follow the example of Jesus Christ as they learn, teach and develop relationships.
“Jesus Christ taught with power and authority. He sought divine direction from His Father. He relied on the scriptures and prayer. He lived and taught only those things He learned from His Father,” the handbook says. It adds that Jesus “had a personal and sacred relationship with His Father. He prayed to His Father, learned from Him, and fulfilled His will. Jesus also had meaningful relationships with others. He listened to and talked with them, understood their needs, and ministered to them.”
The handbook also offers four principles to guide Latter-day Saints in the appropriate use of AI in their Church assignments.
- If members use AI, they should do so in positive, helpful, and uplifting ways that uphold the integrity, standards, and teachings of the Church.
- AI cannot replace the individual work and spiritual guidance required to prepare divinely inspired talks, lessons, prayers, or blessings. However, AI can be helpful for research, editing, translation, and similar tasks.
- Leaders should not rely upon AI to provide advice to members on medical, financial, legal, or other sensitive matters. If members need assistance beyond the spiritual guidance provided by Church leaders, competent professionals may be helpful.
- Sensitive information, such as Church records, personal member data, or confidential communications, should not be entered into AI tools that are not provided or managed by the Church.
In addition to this handbook update, Church leaders have taught the same principles about AI on several occasions over the past two years.
For example, in January 2024, Elder David A. Bednar told Brigham Young University (BYU) students that AI can be either good or bad, depending on how it is used. He encouraged them to use AI in ways that will strengthen their moral 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,” he said. “My beloved brothers and sisters, there are no spiritual shortcuts or quick fixes.”
In a follow-up to that speech a few months later, Elder Bednar invited Latter-day Saints to do two important things: “humbly and prayerfully (1) identify gospel principles that can guide their use of artificial intelligence and (2) strive sincerely for the companionship of the Holy Ghost and the spiritual gift of revelation.”
This is critical because, as Elder Bednar also taught, technological advancements such as AI “are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days.”
Fellow Apostle Elder Gerrit W. Gong has also given several speeches focused on AI. In a March 2024 address, he introduced guiding principles on the use of AI to Church employees. And speaking at BYU in August 2025, he taught that seeking the wisdom and understanding of God should be our highest priority. Like Elder Bednar, he said AI should support — not supplant — our connection with Deity.
“Artificial intelligence is not God and cannot be God,” Elder Gong said. “We can consciously choose and intentionally use AI as a tool for good [and] ... we can invite leaders and citizens across industry, research, civic and government bodies, and faith leaders to align rapid AI developments and enduring faith-based principles and moral values.”
Elder Gong emphasized that God will bless us with wisdom and understanding as we “intentionally desire and diligently seek wisdom and understanding.”
“Artificial intelligence cannot replace revelation or generate truth from God,” he said. “We have the responsibility to ensure the Holy Ghost can attest to the truth and authenticity of all we say and share — in our form and in our content.”
At a Vatican City summit of faith, thought and technology leaders on AI ethics in October 2025, Elder Gong reaffirmed the need for a Faith and Ethics AI Evaluation for artificial intelligence models.
“Portraying faith traditions accurately and respectfully is not an imposition of religion on AI. Rather, it is a public necessity,” Elder Gong said. “It is especially needed as increasing numbers of individuals ask AI about faith and belief, and as AI becomes a primary source of information about faith traditions.”
Latter-day Saints are encouraged to review Church leaders’ teachings on artificial intelligence and “General Handbook” section 38.8.47, “Appropriate Use of Artificial Intelligence.”