Deseret Book
Deseret Book is the largest
Latter-day Saint book
publisher and also owns a chain of LDS
bookstores in the western
United States. Over 150 people work in its
Salt Lake City headquarters. During holidays, over 1000 employees work at over 30 Deseret Book store locations.
Owned wholly by
Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by the
LDS Church, Deseret Book is managed independently, but distributes uplifting media in accord with church doctrine. As a publisher, Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from
doctrine and
LDS fiction books, to electronic resources and sound recordings such as
Mormon Tabernacle Choir albums.
The Deseret Book Company merged from the
Deseret News Bookstore and the
Deseret Sunday School Union Bookstore in
1919 and formally adopted its name in
1920. Both of these
Utah bookstores trace their organizational roots to
George Q. Cannon, a
Latter-day Saint General Authority. The bookstore is named after "
deseret," a word from the
Book of Mormon.
George Q. Cannon & Sons
In early
1866 George Q. Cannon published the first issue of
Juvenile Instructor magazine. Dated
January 1, it was not distributed until later because of problems procuring
paper in
Utah Territory before completion of the
First Transcontinental Railroad. Printed on the
Deseret News press, the 8-page bi-monthly magazine was the first serial publication in Utah aimed toward youth. Cannon also organized the Deseret Sunday School Union, an LDS Church organization responsible for educating young Latter-day Saints. The Sunday School Union gained control of the
Juvenile Instructor after Cannon died in
1901.
Cannon opened the
George Q. Cannon & Sons bookstore in
1867 to sell this and other publications of an uplifting nature. Cannon perceived that novels taken across the plains did not reflect Latter-day Saint values. In the
1880s, Cannon expanded with a branch in
Ogden, Utah.
It's not known how many books Cannon & Sons actually published. In this era authors commonly
self-published, at least in part, to be distributed by others. However, the Cannon & Sons distributed several important volumes through bookstores 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 George Q. 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 effective
October 1,
1900, near the end of his life. The church grouped management of the two businesses, and the remaining Salt Lake City bookstore became the "Deseret News Bookstore."
Deseret News Bookstore
Notable books distributed by the Deseret News Bookstore:
House of the Lord, Great Apostasy, and Jesus the Christ, James E. Talmage.
The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo (1900) and Mormon Doctrine of Deity, B. H. Roberts
Ancient Apostles, David O. McKay
Gospel Doctrine: Sermons and writings of President Joseph F. Smith |
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 September,
1915, the initial 5000 print run was quickly consumed. The
First Presidency authorized the bookstore to produce many more copies for use in Sunday School. Seeking out a higher-capacity press in
New York City, Talmage is said to have made revisions for the second edition while on the train. Overseeing second edition in January
1916, Talmage began making revisions for the third edition by
February 5. The book went through innumerable printings, and was quickly translated into several languages.
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 Sunday School Bookstore sold
textbooks, minutes ledgers, sacrament trays, as well as popular books. Since
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, requested donations 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
Notable books distributed and/or published by Deseret Book:
Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (1930), B. H. Roberts
Truth Restored (1947), Gordon B. Hinckley
On the Way to Immortality and Eternal Life (1950), J. Reuben Clark
A Marvelous Work and Wonder (1950), LeGrand Richards
An Approach to the Book of Mormon (1957), Hugh Nibley, used as a Priesthood lesson manual
Answers to Gospel Questions (1960, five volumes), Joseph Fielding Smith
Meet the Mormons (1966), full-color Doyle and Randal Green book for non-Mormons
A More Excellent Way (1967), Neal A. Maxwell
Letters of Brigham Young to his Sons (1974), Dean C. Jesse
Building the City of God (1977), Leonard J. Arrington
Marriott (1977), a book on John Willard Marriott by Robert O'Brien, former editor of Reader's Digest
Under the Same Stars (1979), the first LDS fiction novel, by Dean Hughs
Charly (1980), Jack Weyland
Spiritual Roots of Human Relations (1970), Stephen Covey
The Promised Messiah (1978), one of a series of "Messiah" books by Bruce R. McConkie
*Coordinated new LDS-specific editions of the King James Bible (1979) and Book of Mormon/"Triple combination" (1981) |
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 present 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 the
Deseret Management Corporation, which manages several for-profit assets of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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 the 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
LDS 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 Salt Lake Valley. Wise subsequently produced
Temple Square, a 30-minute filmed tour of
Salt Lake City's
most popular tourist draw. Deseret Film recorded over 120
LDS General Conference talks over a six year period. Intended for rental to
wards, the conference talks are the first motion pictures of LDS Conferences.
In the
1950s,
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 greater
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 large late 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.
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,
James E. 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
LDS fiction for the first time in
1979. In
1986 it purchased Mormon Handicraft—a hand-made 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.
In August of 2006, Deseret Book will no longer allow Seagull Book and Tape to carry their products.
In
1999 Deseret Management Corporation acquired the LDS publisher Bookcraft, Inc., which was merged into Deseret Book. Since the merger, Deseret Book publishes under four differently marketed imprints:
*
Deseret Book — history and doctrine
*
Bookcraft — self-help, family, children, women's interests, LDS fiction
*
Eagle Gate — art, niche markets, library editions, and teaching aides
*
Shadow Mountain — general market for "values-based" publications
On
November 15,
2004, Deseret Book announced it will acquire
Excel Entertainment Group, a 10-year old company particularly known for its
LDS cinema productions. Jeff Simpson, the founder and president of Excel, becomes the merged company's new executive vice president. Both companies are privately held, so terms of the deal were not publicly released. However, Deseret Book management assures that it will take a hands-off approach to managing Excel. Although some Excel employees will be relocated to Shadow Mountain music at Deseret Book headquarters, most will remain at the separate Excel headquarters in Salt Lake City.
*Knowles, Eleanor (1991).
Deseret Book Company : 125 years of inspiration, information, and ideas. (1991) Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.
*
Deseretbook.com*
Merger may help Deseret Book 'Excel' with films —
Deseret Morning News*
Deseret Book's online publication site*
DeseretAuctions.com*
Seagull Book No Longer Allowed to Sell Deseret Book Products —
KSL
