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Deseret Book Company
Deseret Book Company
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Deseret Book (/ˌdɛzəˈrɛt/ ⓘ)[3] is an American publishing company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that also operates a chain of 38 bookstores throughout the United States which includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the holding company for business firms owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[4] Deseret Book is a for-profit corporation registered in Utah. Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from works explaining Latter-day Saint theology and doctrine, fiction, electronic resources, and sound recordings such, as The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square albums.

Key Information

History

[edit]
Deseret Book logo (1980–2010)

The Deseret Book Company was created in 1919 from a merger of the Deseret News Bookstore and the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore.[4] Both of these Utah bookstores trace their roots to George Q. Cannon, an LDS Church general authority. "Deseret" is a word from the Book of Mormon that is said to mean "honeybee."

George Q. Cannon & Sons

[edit]
Some books distributed by Cannon & Sons:

George Q. Cannon published the first issue of Juvenile Instructor magazine in 1866. Cannon organized the Deseret Sunday School Union, an LDS Church organization responsible for educating young church members, and the magazine was the first church periodical oriented toward youth. Cannon opened the George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in 1867 to sell the magazine and other publications of an uplifting nature. Cannon believed that secular novels did not reflect Latter-day Saint values. In the 1880s, Cannon expanded with a branch in Ogden, Utah.

It is not known how many books Cannon & Sons actually published itself. In that era, authors commonly self-published their books, which were then distributed by others. However, Cannon & Sons distributed several important books through their stores and mail order (see table).

The company had extensive ties to the LDS Church-owned newspaper, the Deseret News. Five of Cannon's sons held important positions in the paper, and Cannon himself was editor between 1867 and 1872, and again while temporarily owning the paper from 1892 to 1898. Nearly every George Q. Cannon & Sons book was printed on the Deseret News press. Cannon sold the bookstore to the LDS Church in 1900, near the end of his life. The church combined the two businesses, and the remaining Salt Lake City bookstore became Deseret News Bookstore.

Deseret News Bookstore

[edit]
Notable books distributed by the Deseret News Bookstore:

By 1906, Deseret News press had a Linotype machine and dedicated book press. Many significant volumes were published and distributed through the Deseret News Bookstore. Of these, the most successful was James E. Talmage's Jesus the Christ. Published in 1915, the book quickly went through numerous printings as the LDS Church's First Presidency authorized its use in its Sunday School program.

Meanwhile, the Deseret Sunday School Union, still publishing the money-losing Juvenile Instructor, struggled to maintain its distribution center, the Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore. Aimed at church supply, the bookstore sold textbooks, minutes ledgers, and sacrament trays, as well as popular books. Beginning in 1891, the non-profit Union asked for yearly five-cent contributions from Sunday school pupils on "Nickel Sunday." Facing over $12,000 in debt in 1914, donations requested increased to ten cents, and 1919 a committee formed to study the organizations solvency. Led by Talmage, the committee recommended consolidation of the Sunday School Bookstore with the Deseret News Bookstore.

Deseret Book

[edit]
Notable books distributed and/or published by Deseret Book:

By 1920, both antecedent bookstores were closed and a single new Deseret Book Company building was constructed in downtown Salt Lake City at site of the future, now demolished, ZCMI Center Mall. Ownership of Deseret Book was split between the Deseret News (70%) and the Deseret Sunday School Union (30%). However, the Union would manage the bookstore until 1932 when Deseret Book was incorporated for-profit as the "Utah Company". The Deseret News bought out the Sunday School Union in 1948 to become sole owner of the bookstore, but both the Deseret News and Deseret Book are now subsidiaries of DMC, which manages for-profit assets of the LDS Church. Deseret News Press printed nearly all Deseret Book publications until the 1960s when the company began seeking other competitive bids.

Through the 1930s, the bookstore focused mostly on Sunday school needs such as lesson manuals. Though the bookstore introduced relatively few new authors, several important works were published in this period. Notably, B. H. Roberts' magnum opus, the six-volume Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1930. Deseret Book did not accept manuscripts for publication until the 1940s when the company made a push for new authors.

Deseret Book expanded into motion picture equipment and photographic supplies in the 1940s. Winning an exclusive contract to distribute for Bell & Howell in Utah and parts of Idaho and Wyoming, Deseret Book supplied 16 mm film projectors to the LDS Church. Becoming a film distribution and rental outfit, the Deseret Book "Censorship Committee on Films" was established in 1946 because regular employees were unable to review all the films it handled. By 1950, 18 members sat on the committee.

Preceding modern Latter-day Saint cinema by over 50 years, Deseret Book founded Deseret Film Productions in 1947. The first film, produced by Frank Wise, was Where the Saints have Trod, an 80-minute film celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Mormon pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley. Wise subsequently produced Temple Square, a 30-minute filmed tour of Salt Lake City's most popular tourist location. Deseret Film recorded over 120 general conference talks over a six-year period. Intended for rental to wards, the conference talks are the first motion pictures of the church's conferences.

In the 1950s, Brigham Young University (BYU) established a motion picture department which attracted Frank Wise. Deseret Film Productions was gradually disbanded. Soon, KSL-TV began covering general conferences.

Deseret Book's downtown location remained the only store until 1959 when site for an Ogden, Utah branch was donated. Stores in Orange, California and Salt Lake County opened in malls in 1962. In the 1970s, the original location was torn down to make way for the ZCMI Center Mall where the store reopened on April 2, 1976, during a general conference to attract large crowds. Several more mall locations opened in the 1970s; in Northridge, California, Boise, Idaho, and many more locations in Utah. In 1997, Deseret Book opened its first Washington state location in the city of Bellevue. By 2004, Deseret Book operated over 33 stores in 9 western US states. Expanding its reach in eastern Idaho, the chain also purchased Beehive Book Stores, located in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Blackfoot, Idaho. Deseret Book already operated in Idaho Falls at the Grand Teton Mall and in Rexburg. The new store in Rexburg has expanded merchandise selection from the prior two stores.

Deseret Book headquarters (2010)

In the late 1970s, Deseret Book coordinated publication of new editions of the King James Version of the Bible and the Book of Mormon/Doctrine and Covenants/Pearl of Great Price "Triple combination". The 1979 publication of the Bible was the first geared toward Latter-day Saints. A comparably styled "triple combination" was introduced in 1981. With notes from the Joseph Smith Translation, Talmage's scripture commentary, and an index and "topical guide", the new editions are now standard in the LDS Church. Typesetting for the volumes was done by Cambridge University Press.

Deseret Book began publishing Latter-day Saint fiction for the first time in 1979. In 1986, it purchased Mormon Handicraft–a handmade crafts store–from the Relief Society. As inventory and distribution was centralized in 1984, Deseret Book expanded its lines to include items such as CTR rings and more popular music.

In 2002, Sheri L. Dew became the first female CEO and president of Deseret Book.[5]

Deseret Book established new corporate offices and downtown Salt Lake City retail space during the redevelopment of the Crossroads Plaza Mall into City Creek Center. In 2007, the corporate headquarters, with around 160 employees, moved into the top seven floors of the Utah Woolen Mills Clothiers building across the street from Temple Square.[6] In April 2010 Deseret Book opened its "Flagship" store in the City Creek Center. This new store sits almost exactly on the same location as the first Deseret Book Location.

Acquisitions

[edit]

Bookcraft

[edit]
Main article: Bookcraft

In early 1999, Bookcraft was acquired by Deseret Book. This allowed them to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other DMC entities (the Deseret News, and Bonneville International) and church entities (such as BYU and the Church Educational System).[7]

Excel Entertainment Group

[edit]
Not to be confused with Excel Entertainment.

On November 15, 2004, Deseret Book announced that it had acquired Excel Entertainment Group, a 10-year-old company based in Salt Lake City which was known for its Latter-day Saint cinema productions as well as its record labels, including Highway Records, Joyspring Records, and Embryo Records (later renamed to Lumen Records). Jeff Simpson, the founder and president of Excel, became the new executive vice president of the merged company.[8][9] Both companies are privately held, so terms of the deal were not publicly released. Although some Excel employees were relocated to Shadow Mountain music at Deseret Book headquarters, most remained at the separate Excel headquarters in Salt Lake City.[10]

List of feature releases

[edit]

Subsidiaries

[edit]
  • Lumen Records (formerly Embryo Records)
  • Joyspring Records
  • Highway Records (formerly Lightwave Records)
  • Little Stream Records
  • Excel Motion Picture Distribution
  • Excel Retail Distribution

Seagull Book and Covenant Communications

[edit]
Main article: Seagull Book
Seagull Book logo
Covenant Communications logo

In July 2006, Deseret Book threatened to discontinue sales with another Latter-day Saint bookstore chain, Seagull Book & Tape, citing marketing differences.[11] Seagull claimed that their discounted prices on Deseret Book's products was the reason for the threat.[11] Seagull Book & Tape competed with Deseret Book's retail operation, but depended on the company's published work, which reportedly accounted for most of its sales. Deseret Book later opted to renegotiate its distribution contract with Seagull.[12] On December 28, 2006, it was announced that Deseret Book was buying both Seagull Book & Tape and the publisher Covenant Communications, from Lewis Kofford. Company officials said they intended to continue running all three businesses as separate entities.[13]

In April 2025, Deseret Book announced it would close all Seagull Book stores by the end of 2025 and make Covenant a Deseret Book brand.[14]

Deseret Book imprints

[edit]

After Deseret Book acquired Bookcraft in 1999, it divided its publishing into four differently marketed imprints: Deseret Book for history and doctrine; Bookcraft for self-help, family, children, women's interests, and Latter-day Saint fiction;[15] Eagle Gate for art, niche markets, library editions, and teaching aides; and Shadow Mountain for "values-based" publications for a national audience. A decade later, the only imprints that remained in use were Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain.[16] In 2012, the Ensign Peak imprint was created for Latter-day Saint religious writings for a national audience.[17][18]

After acquiring Covenant Communications in 2006, Deseret Book Company did not make it an additional imprint, but continued its independent operations as a publisher alongside Deseret Book Publishing.[16]

Shadow Mountain Records

[edit]

The Shadow Mountain Records label, owned by Deseret Books, releases music aimed at Latter-day Saint audiences and reflecting Latter-day Saint themes.[19] Releases by Shadow Mountain Records have ranked in top spots on the Billboard charts, including violinist Jenny Oaks Baker,[20][21][22][23] and pianist Josh Wright.[24]

Artists

[edit]

The following artists have released albums on Shadow Mountain Records:

Other business

[edit]

Deseret Book operates further business units in addition to its publishing and retail activities. Under the name Zion's Mercantile it produces home decor and religious art and holds events such as women's conferences in the United States and Canada. LDS Living is an LDS lifestyle magazine in print and online. Deseret Book Direct sells publications through catalogs, e-mail, and the DeseretBook.com website.[41] From 2000 to 2009 it also operated an auctions website for Latter-day Saint books.[42] Crafts and other handmade items are sold under the name of Mormon Handicraft (a brand purchased from the LDS Church's Relief Society in 1986) and food is sold through The Lion House Pantry brand. It also provides the texts of many of its books online with paid subscriptions at GospeLink.com.

In 2009, selected Deseret Book locations partnered with the LDS Church's Distribution Center and began selling official church items, such as temple garments, which had originally been available only in church distribution centers.[43] That working relationship has expanded and now half of Deseret Book's 39 stores have been "integrated" and are half Deseret Book and half Distribution Centers.[citation needed]

References

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Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Deseret Book Company

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from Grokipedia
Deseret Book Company is a Salt Lake City-based publisher, distributor, and retailer specializing in books, music, media, art, and lifestyle products designed to foster faith, family unity, and personal virtue among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tracing its roots to 1866, when apostle George Q. Cannon founded George Q. Cannon and Sons Company as a publishing and bookselling venture, the firm evolved through mergers, including its formal establishment as Deseret Book Company in 1919 from the combination of the Deseret News Bookstore and the Deseret Sunday School Union bookstore. Owned by Deseret Management Corporation, a for-profit entity affiliated with the church, Deseret Book has maintained its position as the leading provider of such doctrinal and inspirational materials, expanding via acquisitions like Bookcraft in 1999 and operating retail chains until recent consolidations such as the phase-out of Seagull Book stores by late 2025.

History

19th-Century Origins

In 1866, established George Q. Cannon & Sons in as a bookseller and publisher specializing in Latter-day Saint (LDS) materials, marking an early effort to provide church members with access to doctrinal and inspirational literature amid the isolation of . The firm imported books from the while beginning local printing operations, reflecting pioneer emphasis on economic and cultural self-sufficiency to reduce dependence on non-Mormon suppliers. Cannon, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leveraged his experience from earlier missionary work and editing the Juvenile Instructor magazine to prioritize works that reinforced faith and church teachings. The company's publications in the late 1860s and 1870s included hymnals, scriptural commentaries, and educational texts tailored to Mormon needs, such as manuals for Sunday schools and youth instruction, which supported church growth by disseminating approved content without external editorial influence. This focus addressed the scarcity of suitable reading materials in a setting, where pioneers sought to foster and orthodoxy through self-produced resources rather than relying on potentially unsympathetic publishers. Parallel to Cannon's venture, the , the church's primary newspaper since 1850, operated a bookstore from the onward, expanding in the and to distribute printed works via its own press, including the first Utah editions of the and other doctrinal volumes. This outlet exchanged books for rags to sustain paper production, underscoring resource ingenuity in a rag-based printing economy, and prioritized church-sanctioned items like hymnbooks and pedagogical aids to educate settlers isolated from broader American markets. By the 1890s, these operations had solidified a network for disseminating Mormon-specific texts, laying groundwork for consolidated publishing amid ongoing territorial challenges.

Formation and Early 20th-Century Development

The Deseret Book Company was established on October 1, 1919, through the merger of the Deseret News Bookstore—successor to & Sons, which had been acquired by the —and the Deseret Union Bookstore. This consolidation aimed to centralize the production, , and distribution of materials supporting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, eliminating redundant operations among church-affiliated entities. The new entity formally adopted the name Deseret Book Company in 1920, marking its transition to a unified retail and publishing operation. The merger occurred during a period of institutional stabilization for the LDS Church, following the financial strains of the post-polygamy era and the need for efficient dissemination of doctrinal resources. Deseret Book prioritized the publication of affordable editions of Latter-day Saint scriptures, lesson manuals for auxiliaries like Sunday schools, and other educational materials to support church programs and member edification. This focus addressed the demand for standardized, cost-effective resources amid growing church membership and organizational centralization under church presidents like and . In the early 1920s, Deseret Book consolidated its physical presence in , closing the antecedent stores and constructing a new centralized building in downtown to house retail, publishing, and warehousing functions. Initial expansions included limited additional retail outlets in the area, alongside the issuance of its first product catalog in 1922, which featured church-approved books, hymns, and supplies. These developments solidified Deseret Book's role as the primary vendor for LDS literature, emphasizing and alignment with church teachings during a time of doctrinal uniformity efforts.

Post-World War II Expansion

Following , Deseret Book Company consolidated its ownership structure when the bought out the Deseret Sunday School Union in 1948, enabling sole ownership and streamlined operations to support expanded publishing amid surging church membership. This restructuring coincided with the church's demographic boom, driven by the and missionary efforts, as membership grew from approximately 959,000 in 1945 to 1.1 million by 1950 and nearly 1.5 million by 1960. Print runs for general conference addresses and family-oriented doctrinal publications increased accordingly, with talks routinely compiled into bound volumes and disseminated through church magazines like the Improvement Era, reflecting demand from expanding families and wards. In the and , Deseret Book adapted to technological advancements in church education by incorporating audio recordings and visual aids, such as filmstrips and projectors for lesson materials, to enhance teaching in Sunday schools and . These resources, including catalogs of audio-visual media for ward libraries, supported the efforts to standardize instruction amid postwar recovery and international outreach. By the 1970s, as church membership approached 2.9 million, Deseret Book developed more formalized distribution systems to supply materials to proliferating U.S. and overseas wards, leveraging its role as a primary provider of correlated publications and aids. This scaling ensured efficient reach to a globalizing membership base without relying on ad hoc shipments.

Late 20th and Early 21st-Century Growth

In the , Deseret Book experienced notable expansion in its publishing catalog, capitalizing on heightened demand for authorized biographies of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leaders and volumes that integrated doctrinal principles with personal improvement themes, in alignment with the Church's ongoing correlation program to standardize teachings and materials. This period saw the company respond to broader cultural emphases on individual development and historical reflection by prioritizing content that reinforced faith-based resilience amid secular self-improvement trends, without venturing into uncorrelated speculative works. By the early , Deseret Book continued strategic adaptations, including enhanced distribution of correlated resources that supported home-centered gospel study initiatives introduced in subsequent decades. In response to the Church's August 2018 guidance emphasizing the full name "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and discouraging informal terms, Deseret Book announced a policy to gradually phase out titles containing "Mormon" or "LDS" from its inventory, impacting both in-house publications and third-party offerings carried in its stores; existing stock would be sold through, but new acquisitions and reprints avoided such terminology to reflect official nomenclature preferences. In 2024, Covenant Communications—a longtime LDS-focused publisher whose titles are prominently distributed through Deseret Book channels—shifted strategy to recommit to core Church-themed books, curtailing prior efforts at market diversification into general-audience genres after nearly two decades of experimentation that yielded mixed results. This refocus underscored a broader trend among affiliated publishers toward doctrinal fidelity over commercial broadening, amid evolving reader preferences for content directly tied to Church teachings rather than diluted crossovers.

Ownership and Governance

Ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Deseret Book Company operates as a wholly owned of (DMC), the that manages select for-profit entities affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. DMC, in turn, is owned by the church, positioning Deseret Book within a that integrates commercial publishing with the church's religious objectives. This ownership ensures that the company's activities align with church priorities, as DMC's subsidiaries are guided by a mission to serve as "trusted voices of light and truth" in line with church values such as faith, family, and human virtues. As a for-profit entity under this umbrella, Deseret Book generates revenue through sales of books, media, and merchandise, with proceeds retained within the church-affiliated business framework to sustain operations and support broader aims rather than being distributed as external dividends. This structure insulates the company from purely secular market demands, allowing it to prioritize publications and products that promote doctrinal fidelity and spiritual growth among church members, even when commercial viability is secondary. For instance, Deseret Book commits to offering resources explicitly designed to build faith and strengthen families, reflecting the church's emphasis on materials consistent with prophetic teachings. The company's operational ties extend to distributing official church-produced materials, such as scriptures and curriculum, through consolidated arrangements that integrate Deseret Book stores with church distribution services since 2011. While not all titles undergo formal church review—a ensuring doctrinal uniformity—Deseret Book's publications as a church-owned publisher inherently emphasize alignment with established church doctrine to avoid deviations that could undermine religious instruction. This integration fosters a non-profit-like in practice, where financial support from the parent entity enables the promotion of faith-affirming content over high-risk commercial ventures.

Leadership and Corporate Structure

Sheri L. Dew has served as CEO of Deseret Book Company since March 2002, becoming the first woman in that role, while Laurel C. Day assumed the presidency in June 2021 after 23 years with the company. Day reports to Dew, reflecting a structure where executive oversight enforces alignment with church values. These positions have traditionally been held by lay members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with deep institutional ties, such as , a former counselor in the General Presidency, and predecessors like Ronald A. Millett, who later served as a mission president. This selection prioritizes leaders capable of upholding doctrinal fidelity amid commercial operations. An editorial advisory board, chaired by Dew, scrutinizes manuscripts and products for orthodoxy, ensuring content remains within church-approved bounds, with Day holding final authority on key decisions. The company's divisional organization—separating publishing, retail, and media entities like Shadow Mountain and —facilitates growth while channeling decisions through this centralized review to maintain doctrinal control. Under recent leadership, Day has affirmed openness to scholarly treatments of , including works addressing past teachings like Brigham Young's statements on race or the priesthood ban, provided they support faith-building narratives consistent with standards, aligning with the church's post-2020 push for historical transparency without disavowing prior doctrines.

Publishing Operations

Imprints and Product Categories

The Deseret Book imprint primarily publishes nonfiction works for Latter-day Saint audiences, focusing on genres such as gospel teaching, doctrinal exposition, , and inspirational self-improvement literature. This includes titles on scripture study aids, biographies of church leaders, and resources for family and personal faith development. The Shadow Mountain imprint extends to a values-oriented general market, emphasizing , youth literature, and content that aligns with wholesome themes, including historical novels, stories for young readers, and inspirational narratives. Shadow Mountain also oversees music production through its associated records label, releasing albums by LDS artists featuring inspirational and contemporary genres. Product categories span core religious texts like editions of the , , , and Pearl of Great Price, often available in genuine or simulated leather bindings with personalization options. Offerings include compilations of talks by church general authorities, such as general conference addresses in print and audio formats. Youth fiction encompasses middle-grade and young adult titles under Shadow Mountain, promoting moral and adventurous storytelling. Lifestyle products feature religious art prints, home decor items like candles and wreaths with scriptural motifs, and gifts including journals and note cards. Since the early 2000s, Deseret Book has incorporated bundles combining print books with digital audiobooks and e-books, delivered via apps like Deseret Bookshelf and subscription services such as Bookshelf+, which provide access to over 4,000 e-books and unlimited LDS audiobooks. This adaptation supports engagement among digital-native users through integrated audio talks and video content.

Editorial Standards and Church Correlation Process

Deseret Book's editorial standards require all publications to align with the doctrines and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, focusing on content that is faith-promoting, uplifting, and suitable for family and audiences. Manuscripts must demonstrate a clear premise, logical structure, and positive tone that strengthens readers' in the restored , excluding materials promoting unorthodox , , or explicit content. The company's publishing process incorporates mandatory review by Church correlation committees, which evaluate materials for doctrinal accuracy and consistency with current prophetic teachings. Established as part of the broader , this mechanism originated from early 20th-century efforts to unify Church instructions and publications, evolving into systematic manuscript reviews to eliminate speculative interpretations or views diverging from revealed authority. These reviews prioritize prophetic guidance over academic novelty, ensuring outputs adhere to "G-rated" standards free of dissenting narratives and standardized in portrayals of foundational events like the Restoration. For instance, has historically filtered auxiliary publications to maintain unified scriptural and historical accounts across Church materials.

Acquisitions and Business Expansion

Key Publishing Acquisitions

In April 1999, , the parent entity of Deseret Book Company, acquired Bookcraft Inc., an independent publisher specializing in Latter-day Saint doctrinal, historical, and scriptural commentary titles. This merger integrated Bookcraft's established catalog into Deseret Book's operations, consolidating resources and reducing fragmentation among smaller LDS publishers by centralizing production and distribution of conservative-leaning doctrinal works that had previously competed in the . On December 28, 2006, Deseret Book completed the acquisition of Covenant Communications, a prominent LDS fiction publisher, along with its affiliated retailer Seagull Book & Tape, which operated regional distribution networks for LDS media. The purchase absorbed Covenant's focus on inspirational novels, youth literature, and regional titles, while incorporating Seagull's outlets to streamline supply chains and expand Deseret Book's reach into discount and secondary markets previously served by independent entities. These acquisitions markedly centralized control over LDS publishing, positioning Deseret Book as the preeminent entity in the sector by merging key competitors' catalogs and infrastructures, which prior to 2006 had controlled over 60% of the market but expanded dominance through reduced independent outlets.

Media and Entertainment Acquisitions

Deseret Book Company acquired Excel Entertainment Group on November 15, 2004, marking a significant expansion into and distribution aligned with faith-based content. This purchase integrated Excel's capabilities in producing and distributing media focused on Latter-day themes, such as historical narratives exemplified by the 2011 film 17 Miracles, which dramatized events from the Mormon pioneer handcart companies. The acquisition, announced by Deseret Book's board chairman Robert Garff, combined the company's established and retail strengths with Excel's track record in visual media, enabling broader dissemination of inspirational stories without venturing into secular entertainment. Post-acquisition, Excel's subsidiaries enhanced Deseret Book's multimedia operations, including DVD distribution and event production tied to film releases. This integration allowed for coordinated efforts in packaging doctrinal and historical content for home viewing and live events, amplifying reach among church members. The move supported the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' preference for media that reinforces spiritual teachings over commercial or entertainment-driven projects, as evidenced by Excel's prior output under independent ownership shifting seamlessly into Deseret Book's correlated framework. Strategically, the acquisition fit Deseret Book's mission to prioritize content that upholds church-approved inspirational themes, avoiding depictions that might conflict with official narratives. Company statements emphasized expanded production of "quality LDS music and media choices," reflecting a deliberate focus on doctrinal reinforcement through accessible formats. No further major media acquisitions have been documented beyond this, underscoring Excel's role as the cornerstone of Deseret Book's non-book entertainment ventures.

Media Productions

Shadow Mountain Records and Music

Shadow Mountain Records operates as the dedicated music imprint of Deseret Book Company, producing recordings centered on inspirational content that reflects the teachings, hymns, and scriptural themes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The label emphasizes arrangements of sacred hymns from the church's official hymnal, alongside original compositions designed to uplift listeners through faith-based narratives and melodies. Key releases include albums by signed artists such as violinist , who joined the label in 2004 and has recorded instrumental renditions of hymns and carols, like those on Noel. Vocal group Jericho Road's Deeper Still (2003) exemplifies original tracks drawing from doctrinal themes of perseverance and divine guidance. Similarly, performer Alex Boyé's Be Still My Soul: Classic Hymns and Folk Songs integrates traditional LDS hymns with folk elements, offering contemporary accessibility to historical musical forms. Many albums tie into church general conference themes, with strategic timing to align with these semiannual events; for example, pianist Josh Wright's release was advanced to a on April 5, 2011, coinciding with conference weekend to capture elevated spiritual engagement. This approach underscores the label's role in channeling conference-inspired demand, as its artists—among the most recognized in LDS circles—sustain output through consistent catalog expansions. The imprint contributes to cultural preservation by documenting and reinterpreting oral traditions, such as pioneer-era folk songs, within modern arrangements that maintain doctrinal fidelity while appealing to contemporary audiences.

Excel Entertainment Films and Subsidiaries

Excel Entertainment Group, acquired by Deseret Book Company on November 15, 2004, functions as the entity's dedicated division for , distribution, and licensing of features aligned with Latter-day Saint historical and moral themes. Originally founded in 1995 as an independent outfit, it expanded into theatrical releases starting with the 2000 distribution of God's , subsequently handling a portfolio of over 20 titles by emphasizing stories of faith-driven heroism and pioneer endurance targeted at church member audiences. These ventures prioritize verifiable accounts from church archives, such as rescue operations during the 1856 handcart migrations, to depict causal sequences of and human agency in early Mormon settlement. A flagship release, Ephraim's Rescue (2013), directed by , chronicles the exploits of frontiersman in aiding stranded pioneers from the Willie and Martin companies, incorporating documented details like Hanks' providential procurement of buffalo meat and his faith healings as recorded in contemporary journals and church histories. The film grossed approximately $1.2 million domestically, deriving the bulk of its revenue from screenings and LDS-centric marketing, illustrating a model of niche viability sustained by congregational viewership rather than broad commercial appeal. Other productions, such as the series (2003–2014), portray principled conduct amid combat through the lens of an LDS serviceman's experiences, drawing on declassified military records and veteran testimonies to underscore themes of integrity and sacrifice. Subsidiary operations under Excel include specialized licensing for and digital streaming via Deseret Book's platforms, alongside co-production partnerships that facilitate budgeted outputs around $1–3 million per feature, enabling consistent annual releases without reliance on secular studio financing. This structure supports prosocial narratives—featuring familial loyalty, service, and redemptive struggle—that contrast with mainstream cinema's prevalent , achieving profitability through targeted demographics comprising over 16 million global church adherents who prioritize content reinforcing doctrinal realism over entertainment escapism. Titles like The Errand of Angels (2008) exemplify this by dramatizing sister challenges in , grounded in aggregated mission logs and convert stories to affirm personal transformation via covenant-keeping.

Retail and Commercial Activities

Store Network and

Deseret Book maintains a network of approximately 38 physical retail stores in the United States, concentrated in regions with high concentrations of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as and surrounding mission fields in the western states. Of these, 19 are in , including locations in , American Fork, and St. George, reflecting the state's dominant share of the church's U.S. membership. Additional stores are situated in (5), (3), Washington (3), (2), (2), and single outlets in , , , and , enabling localized access to church-aligned books, media, and gifts. These outlets often host in-person events like author signings and product demonstrations geared toward LDS families and individuals. Complementing the physical footprint, DeseretBook.com serves as the company's primary platform, offering a wide array of products with domestic and international shipping options to reach church members worldwide. The site's development marked a significant expansion in accessibility, building on early online initiatives like a 2000 feature and evolving into a full retail portal by the early . Features include free U.S. shipping on orders over $49 and partnerships with carriers like UPS and for global delivery, supporting remote purchases of scriptures, conference materials, and lifestyle items. The retail strategy employs a hybrid approach, leveraging stores for in core demographics while relying on for broader dissemination, including to international audiences without physical outposts abroad. Physical locations draw heightened foot traffic during biannual general conferences, as visiting members stock up on talks, journals, and related resources at flagship sites like the store. Online sales similarly align with these events through dedicated conference product sections, facilitating purchases for global users via shipping. In April 2025, the company announced the closure of its Seagull Book chain by year-end, streamlining the network amid shifts toward digital preferences but preserving the blended model.

Financial Performance and Market Dominance

Deseret Book Company, as the primary publisher and retailer of Latter-day Saint-themed content, derives its revenue streams from book publishing, music and media production, and physical and online retail sales. Estimates place its annual at approximately $193 million, reflecting sales of doctrinal works, inspirational , and lifestyle products targeted at church members. These figures encompass contributions from imprints like Shadow Mountain and retail channels, including e-commerce platforms that have grown amid broader industry shifts toward . As a for-profit of (DMC), Deseret Book's earnings are retained within DMC's portfolio, which manages church-affiliated businesses and directs surpluses toward operational reinvestment and church-supported initiatives. The company's competitive edge stems from its close affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, enabling exclusive distribution of titles authored or endorsed by church leaders, such as apostles' devotional books, which command premium loyalty among the church's 17 million members worldwide. This doctrinal alignment, enforced through the church's correlation process, creates a barrier to entry for competitors, as faithful consumers prioritize materials perceived as officially sanctioned, empirically evidenced by Deseret Book's acquisition of rival imprints like Covenant Communications to consolidate market control. Independent analyses describe this as bordering on monopoly status in the LDS niche, with Deseret Book capturing an estimated 75% or more of relevant sales by the mid-2000s, a position sustained through strategic buyouts and retail expansion. In the digital era, Deseret Book has demonstrated resilience by leveraging its captive audience to outperform secular publishers in the religious subcategory, where physical book declines have been offset by digital adaptations like audiobooks, apps, and online exclusives tailored to church curricula. This niche dominance yields higher per-unit margins than broader markets, as evidenced by sustained estimates amid industry-wide contractions, with the loyal base ensuring consistent demand for correlated content over commoditized alternatives. Competitors, including smaller independents, struggle against this entrenched position, often facing supply restrictions or co-option, reinforcing Deseret Book's empirical lead in both volume and profitability within the sector.

Controversies and Criticisms

Claims of Publishing Monopoly and Stifled Competition

Deseret Book's acquisition of Bookcraft in April 1999 consolidated its position in LDS publishing by absorbing a major independent publisher focused on inspirational and self-improvement titles, reducing the number of viable competitors in doctrinal and historical segments. This was followed by the December 2006 purchase of Covenant Communications—a key rival in and media—and its affiliated Seagull Book & Tape retail chain, which had operated over 20 stores as the second-largest LDS bookstore network. These moves effectively diminished the market share available to remaining independents, as Deseret Book, backed by the LDS Church's , controlled distribution channels including church-owned stores and online platforms, making it harder for smaller firms to achieve or widespread shelf space. Critics, particularly within LDS literary circles, have argued that this dominance post-1999 and 2006 hindered diverse voices by crowding out riskier or innovative works that smaller publishers might champion. A analysis on the Motley Vision blog contended that Deseret Book's scale limited book availability, as retailers prioritized its titles over those from independents due to guaranteed demand and promotional support, effectively stifling niche or experimental LDS literature. Similarly, a Times & Seasons post described Deseret Book as a barrier to broader Mormon cultural development, asserting its market control impeded non-doctrinal or boundary-pushing content that independents had previously sustained. By 2009, panelists at the Sunstone Symposium, including publisher Greg Kofford, highlighted Deseret Book's "unparalleled" monopoly in religious publishing, which fostered uniformity but at the expense of varied perspectives, with smaller houses struggling to compete on marketing or advances. A 2011 Motley Vision discussion further noted that authors bypassed weakened independents for , underscoring how Deseret's preeminence eroded mid-tier publishers' viability for all but formulaic titles. Proponents of Deseret Book's structure counter that its church affiliation enables efficient scaling of doctrinally aligned materials, preventing market fragmentation by unorthodox or fringe views that independents might amplify without centralized oversight. Ownership by the LDS Church, as noted in critiques themselves, positions Deseret Book to prioritize "safe" and orthodox content, ensuring broad accessibility through unified distribution while avoiding the inefficiencies of inter-publisher within a niche faith-based market. This approach, they argue, sustains high-volume production of core LDS texts—such as scriptures and general authority works—without diluting focus, a benefit amplified post-acquisitions when consolidated resources supported expanded imprints for targeted audiences.

Editorial Control and Content Sanitization

Deseret Book's editorial process involves rigorous review to align publications with doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often through the church's Correlation Department, which evaluates content for doctrinal accuracy and faith-promoting intent prior to approval. This mechanism rejects manuscripts introducing narratives or interpretations diverging from established revelations, such as those emphasizing female-centric perspectives in the , where traditional readings center male prophets and leaders. In 2023, author Terrie Petree Hollands publicly detailed her manuscript's rejection after over 100 submissions since 2019, citing Deseret Book's feedback that a story featuring a during events risked "undermining" scriptural by speculating on underrepresented roles, despite her intent to highlight women's agency within orthodox bounds. Similar complaints from authors portray this as suppression of nuanced scholarship exploring historical ambiguities, like potential female influences or unresolved textual discrepancies, favoring streamlined accounts that prioritize spiritual edification over empirical scrutiny. Critics, including former contributors, contend this normalizes "sanitized" histories that elide discomforting facts—such as polygamy's complexities or early church leadership disputes—in favor of narratives reinforcing , as evidenced by selective emphasis in Deseret Book's historical titles that align closely with correlated church manuals. Such practices, per these testimonies, stem from institutional incentives to maintain doctrinal uniformity, potentially marginalizing works reliant on archival data challenging revelatory primacy. Defenders counter that revelation constitutes causal reality surpassing academic conjecture, as articulated in church teachings emphasizing affirmative scriptural witness over speculative deconstructions to preserve communal cohesion. This approach, they argue, safeguards against erosion from unverified hypotheses, with editorial selectivity reflecting stewardship over truth dissemination rather than censorship, though sources like progressive Mormon literary forums exhibit biases toward expanding interpretive boundaries beyond correlated .

Notable Public Incidents

In July 2006, Deseret Book severed its distribution relationship with Seagull Book & Tape over disputes regarding marketing practices and discounting, prompting immediate backlash from industry observers who warned of diminished competition in the LDS book market and potential homogenization of available content. This move, which restricted Seagull's access to titles from approximately 140 Mormon authors, fueled fears that Deseret Book's growing dominance could stifle diverse voices in Mormon literature. The tensions escalated when Deseret Book acquired and its affiliate Covenant Communications in December 2006 for an undisclosed sum, without layoffs or store closures, but drawing criticism for consolidating control under church-owned auspices and risking a narrower range of doctrinal and cultural expressions. On September 29, 2023, amid allegations against , founder of Operation Underground Railroad, Deseret Book removed his published titles—such as those on American founding principles—from its online platform and stores, signaling rapid doctrinal separation from the discredited author. In October 2025, online outrage, particularly on Reddit's ex-Mormon communities, targeted Deseret Book for stocking children's books by authors like perceived as advancing themes, with critics questioning the company's vetting rigor and consistency relative to the Ballard response; the titles were subsequently pulled following the uproar.

Cultural and Religious Impact

Achievements in Disseminating LDS Doctrine

Deseret Book Company has significantly contributed to the of Latter-day Saint doctrine by and distributing correlated resources aligned with church curricula, including supplementary texts and manuals that facilitate consistent teaching in and home-centered settings. These materials, developed in coordination with church efforts, emphasize orthodox interpretations of scripture and prophetic teachings, ensuring doctrinal uniformity across global congregations. A landmark example is the 1915 publication of Jesus the Christ by apostle James E. Talmage, a comprehensive doctrinal exposition on the life and Christ that has endured as a core reference for LDS theological study and remains in continuous print. This work, along with other volumes explaining Latter-day Saint theology, has amplified primary accounts from church prophets and s, providing accessible defenses against external interpretations by prioritizing scriptural and revelatory sources. In support of global dissemination, Deseret Book partnered with LDS Humanitarian Services in 2004 to distribute children's books containing basic gospel principles to developing nations, with the company covering administrative costs to enable widespread access to orthodox teachings beyond traditional markets. This initiative extended doctrinal resources to underserved areas, promoting self-reliance and faith-building through literature. Following the 2011 consolidation agreement, Deseret Book expanded its role in retailing church-produced items like Preach My Gospel, the standard manual, further aiding international proselytizing and personal study.

Influence on Mormon Thought and Community Practices

Deseret Book Company has exerted considerable influence on Mormon thought by prioritizing publications that reinforce core doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including works by general authorities and aligned scholars, which help maintain interpretive consistency amid global expansion. This focus supports the church's correlation efforts since the , disseminating supplementary materials that complement standardized curricula and reduce variations in local teachings. For instance, doctrinal references like Robert L. Millet's LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference provide accessible syntheses of teachings drawn from , fostering uniformity in personal and communal study. While praised for bolstering doctrinal fidelity, Deseret Book has faced critique from some faithful LDS intellectuals for potentially constraining cultural and theological depth through selective publishing. Decisions such as ceasing reprints of Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon Doctrine in 2010, despite its historical role in defining conservative interpretations, highlight editorial preferences for materials avoiding outdated or contentious phrasing, which critics argue may sideline nuanced historical analysis. Such choices, while aligning with current leadership, have prompted discussions in LDS scholarly circles about balancing accessibility with rigorous exploration of tradition. These concerns are offset by evidence of sustained engagement, as Deseret Book's output correlates with stable church retention rates and high demand for faith-building resources amid membership growth to over 17 million worldwide by 2023. As a primary disseminator of literature upholding traditional values like family centrality and moral virtue, Deseret Book functions as a bulwark against secular pressures in pluralistic environments, echoing J. Reuben Clark's view of religious literature as a guardian of spiritual ideals. Titles addressing resilience, such as Finding Strength in the : Emotional Resilience, equip members to navigate modern challenges while preserving doctrinal anchors, contributing to LDS communities' adaptability without compromising core identity. This legacy underscores its role in cultivating enduring conservative thought resilient to external cultural shifts.

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