Picking out a new set of scriptures should feel exciting, but the choices add up fast: quad or triple, regular or large, leather or softcover, plain or personalized. This guide walks you through each decision so you can find LDS scriptures that fit the way you, or the person you are shopping for, actually reads and studies. Take it one question at a time and the right set usually becomes clear.
Start With What Is Inside: Quad, Triple, Bible, or Book of Mormon
The Church's current English scriptures are the 2013 edition, and they are sold in a few combinations. The first decision is simply how many books of scripture you want bound together.
- Quad (quadruple combination): the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price in one volume, along with study helps like the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, cross-references, and maps. Browse the full range of quad scriptures.
- Triple combination: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, with an index, maps, and a Church history chronology. Most people pair a triple with a separate Bible. See all triple combination scriptures.
- Bible on its own: the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Version, with the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, and footnote references to the Joseph Smith Translation.
- Book of Mormon on its own: includes footnotes, cross-references, and the Guide to the Scriptures.
A quad is the simplest choice if you want everything in one book for church, seminary, or personal study. A triple plus a Bible splits the weight into two smaller books, which some readers find easier to hold and carry. A single Book of Mormon is a wonderful first book for a young reader, an extra copy to mark up, or a copy to share with a friend.
A dependable everyday quad with all four books of scripture in one volume. It has a simulated leather cover made from reconstituted leather fibers, lightweight acid-free paper, gilded page edges, and ribbon markers, and it offers name personalization.
If you would rather carry the Bible separately, this 2013 edition triple has a simulated leather cover, gilded page edges, ribbon markers, and thumb-indexing in the regular 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inch size.
The familiar blue softcover Book of Mormon includes footnotes, cross-references, and the Guide to the Scriptures. It is a practical choice for daily reading, sharing, or keeping an extra copy you can mark freely.
Pick the Right Size
Size affects how easy a set is to read and how easy it is to carry, so think about where it will be used most.
- Regular: about 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches for quads, triples, and Bibles. This is the most common size and fits easily in a church bag.
- Large: about 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches. Larger pages make a roomier book for home study.
- Extra large: the softcover triple and softcover Bible are also available at about 8 1/2 x 11 inches, in black only.
- Pocket: the Pocket Size Book of Mormon measures 5 x 3 1/4 inches, and the Pocket-Size Scripture Set puts all of the standard works in black softcover books about 3 3/8 x 5 1/8 inches.
For large print readers: if regular-size scriptures feel hard on the eyes, start with the large or extra large options. Keep in mind that bigger books are heavier and take up more room in a bag, so many readers keep a large set at home for study and a regular set for Sundays.
All four books of scripture in the larger 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch size, with a simulated leather cover, acid-free paper, gilded edges, and ribbon markers. This size is available in black.
At about 8 1/2 x 11 inches, this economy softcover triple is the biggest format available. It has a glued binding and no thumb indexes, and it comes in black.
Compare Cover Materials
Genuine Leather
Genuine leather has a classic look and feel and is a popular choice for a set you plan to use for many years. Not sure whether real leather is worth it for you? Our article on the difference between simulated and genuine leather scriptures compares the two side by side.
The 2013 edition quad bound in a genuine leather cover, with lightweight acid-free paper, gilded page edges, and ribbon markers, in the regular 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 inch size.
Simulated Leather
Simulated leather covers are durable and look sharp, which makes them a common pick for kids, youth, and anyone who is hard on their books. The regular simulated leather quad and triple shown above both use this material.
Hardcover and Softcover
Hardcover and softcover editions, like the Hardcover Book of Mormon and the Hardcover Triple, are economy editions. The triples and Bibles in these covers have a glued binding rather than a sewn one and are not thumb-indexed. They work well as a first set for a child, an extra copy for the car or classroom, or a book you want to mark up without worry.
Hand-Bound Color Scriptures
If you want something more personal than black or brown, our hand-bound color scriptures come in genuine leather, simulated leather, and patterned covers. Our complete guide to color scriptures covers every option in detail.
A buttery-soft simulated leather cover with stitching details and an imprinted spine, hand-bound at our local offices. It includes thumb indexes and two ribbons in your choice of color, and you can add name embossing on the front.
Thumb Indexes and Scripture Tabs
Thumb indexes are the small notches cut into the page edges that help you flip straight to a book. Sets like the simulated leather triple and our hand-bound scriptures include them, while the economy softcover and hardcover editions do not. If your scriptures do not have thumb indexes, or you want a more decorative look, scripture index tabs are an easy fix.
Elegant floral index tab stickers with detailed instructions for adding them to your quad. Tabs are also available in an earth tone design and for the Bible, Book of Mormon, and triple combination.
Make Them Personal
Personalization turns a set of LDS scriptures into a keepsake. Here are the main ways to do it:
- Name personalization: offered on standard sets such as the simulated leather quad.
- Personalized designs: our personalized quads let you personalize five different areas. The standard design places a symbol or outline and one line of text in the bottom right corner, and you can add more lines of text or center the design.
- Color and ribbons: hand-bound sets let you choose your cover color and ribbon colors, and you can add extra ribbons.
A favorite baptism keepsake with a symbol of your choice, including a Christus symbol, and a line of text on the cover. You can personalize five different areas of the quad.
The standard design features the outline of the mission state or country plus a line of text, and you can add gold fill for extra contrast. A meaningful gift for elders and sisters.
Which LDS Scriptures Fit Whom?
Baptism
For a child getting baptized, a personalized quad or a colorful hand-bound set makes the day feel special and gives them scriptures to grow into. A hardcover or softcover Book of Mormon is a good simple option for younger readers. For more ideas, see our LDS baptism gift guide.
Missionaries
Missionaries use their scriptures every day, so durability matters. A regular-size simulated or genuine leather quad is easy to carry, and a personalized missionary quad adds a lasting reminder of where they served. Pocket Books of Mormon are handy for missionaries to carry. Our LDS missionary gift guide has more ideas.
Youth
Many youth are ready for their own quad around the time they start seminary. Let them choose a color or pattern they love, and add scripture tabs, marking pencils, or stickers to make study more inviting.
Adults
Adults often want a set that lasts for decades. Genuine leather, a personalized temple quad, or a large quad for home study are all good choices.
Large Print Readers
Start with the large 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch sets, or the extra large 8 1/2 x 11 inch softcover triple and Bible if size matters more than looks.
Shop More
Shop Color Scriptures by Type
Ready to choose? Browse our full collection of LDS scriptures, from economy softcovers to hand-bound leather sets. If you are shopping for a special day, our LDS baptism gifts collection has even more ideas to go with them.