The release of Saints Volume 4 marks the end of a monumental literary project that spans over a decade of research, writing, and collaboration. It is also only the third multivolume historical work commissioned by the Church, following early histories published in the 1830s and 1930s. Elder Hugo E. Martinez closed the launch event by extending an invitation to readers worldwide to βstudy and find what we have found there β stories of people who follow Jesus Christ and find Him.β
As members and others delve into Volume 4, the Churchβs journey from a small, regionally-based organization to a global spiritual force becomes vividly clear. Through the real stories of men, women, and children, Saints Volume 4 serves as a bridge, connecting a new generation of readers with a profound legacy of faith and resilience, showing how Latter-day Saints around the world have found inspiration, guidance, and hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Event
On October 29, 2024, the final installment of Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days was unveiled in a significant gathering at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City. This concluding fourth volume, Sounded in Every Ear, takes readers on a journey through the Church’s development from 1955 to 2020, highlighting a transformative period marked by rapid global growth, monumental temple construction, and life-altering decisions by members across the globe.
Saints has become an integral work for understanding the history of the Church, driven by the contributions of numerous editors, writers, and historians. Elder Hugo E. Martinez, a General Authority Seventy, presided over the launch, expressing that this final volume illuminates the steadfast faith of members worldwide in following Christ’s teachings through decades of profound change and challenges.
Chronicling an Era of Global Growth and Revelation
From the first page, Volume 4 brings the period of 1955 to life, a time when the Church was primarily based in a limited number of countries. Through dedication, sacrifice, and revelation, Church membership began to flourish on a global scale. By 2020, members spanned over 150 nations. Elder Martinez emphasized that this book serves as more than a historical recounting; it represents a journey of faith, illustrating βhow [readers] can carry on the legacy of faith,β even amid modern challenges.
Historian Matthew J. Grow, managing director of the Church History Department, elaborated on the editorial goals. He noted that they aimed to maintain historical accuracy, infuse the series with a compelling narrative, and create a relatable work for both youth and adults. βThis volume tells an increasingly global story,β Grow shared, βa story of continuing revelation.β His hope, he added, is that members worldwide will βsee themselves in the story and ponder how they can carry on the legacy of faith.β
One of the editors, James Perry, remarked that the Saints series has been especially moving because it portrays membersβ dedication in diverse regions like Peru, Ghana, Hong Kong, and Germany. Perry stated, βOne of the most fulfilling aspects of Saints is seeing how individuals from all walks of life continue to choose to serve the Lord, sometimes at considerable personal expense and inconvenience.β
Personal Stories That Reflect a Global Church
The individual experiences in Volume 4 portray a Church that has become more diverse and inclusive, incorporating new technologies and adapting to modern needs. Highlights include the launch of FamilySearch, the Perpetual Education Fund, and increased temple construction across the globe. This history also covers monumental moments like the end of racial restrictions on priesthood ordination and temple ordinances in 1978, a pivotal event for inclusivity.
Isabel Santana, featured in the book and present at the event, reflected on her unique experience. As a young student at Centro Escolar Benemerito de las Americas, a Church-operated school in Mexico City, she found spiritual and academic guidance that shaped her life. βFor me, it was a privilege,β she said. βI grew up at Benemerito and in the Church. My grandparents were among the first members in our area.β Her story, like many in Saints, illustrates the Churchβs evolving influence on individuals and families.
The launch event also displayed artifacts that represent the era, including photographs and memorabilia from members like Santana. The Church History Library currently features exhibits dedicated to Volume 4, allowing visitors to explore these personal stories and artifacts firsthand.
The Purpose Behind Saints: Learning from Real Lives and Real Faith
Grow and his team have taken great care to create a series that doesnβt shy away from the complexity of the Churchβs history. They aimed to tell stories of real people who encountered struggles, messiness, and moments of doubt. βPeople donβt want a history that just tells the good. They want to know about the struggles and messiness of the past,β Grow emphasized. For him, Saints offers an honest and nuanced portrayal of the Churchβs evolution, showing that faith doesnβt mean the absence of challenges but rather the courage to face them.
In crafting Saints, the team also aimed to reach a global audience, bringing forward stories from diverse regions and addressing topics that resonate with members from different cultural backgrounds. According to Elder Kyle S. McKay, Church historian and recorder, βIn the final volume, we see historic revelation and a dramatic expansion of temple building throughout the earth, giving Godβs children increased opportunities to make and keep covenants that will strengthen them against the commotion and uncertainty of the world around them.β
Expanding Church History and Reaching New Audiences
With the completion of Saints, Church historians are turning to new projects that will expand on this work. The Churchβs fourth season of the Saints podcast, for instance, will delve into even more stories and historical insights. Additionally, the Church has released a multitude of supplementary Church History Topics, accessible through the Gospel Library app, offering readers further opportunities to explore specific events, people, and themes covered in Saints.
Saints, Volume 4 is available in both hard copy and digital formats. The digital edition can be downloaded in fourteen languages, with audio versions in select languages also accessible via the Gospel Library app. Since its inception, the Saints series has sold nearly 1.2 million copies, with millions more engaging through digital and audio formats.