If you don't have a smart device at all, the Church continues to provide scriptures and other core content in print format. If you are on an older device, you can access the newest content by browsing LDS.org, by downloading PDFs to your device, or using an e-book reader. The Church doesn't require members to use the newest technology to study the gospel – Gospel Library is provided as a tool for those who are able to benefit from it. If your device doesn't support the newest Gospel Library, don't feel obligated to buy a new device.

The Church is a continual target for those who want to do harm, so keeping security standards up to date, while it provides inconvenience at times, protects the Church and its members. Older versions of Android and iOS don't support the latest security standards, so they are no longer able to authenticate with the Church's servers for sign-in, annotation sync, or role-based content. For example, recently the Church servers were updated to newer security protocols ( to TLS 1.2). In addition to content format changes, sometimes changes are made on the Church servers that prevent older devices from establishing a connection. For a little while, as users transition from the old version of the app to the new, the content team produces both (continuing the analogy) a PowerPoint and a Word file of each content item, but eventually, the old file type is phased out to focus resources on providing more and better content in the new format. The new format allows us to do more, but is not compatible with the old app. As an analogy, you can think of this as switching content from PowerPoint files to Word files.

The content format used by the app changes with major app releases to support new features. Only the newest versions of Gospel Library will continue to receive the newest content (new general conferences, magazines, devotionals, curriculum, editions of the scriptures, etc.). Unfortunately, as mobile ecosystems change, it's impossible to continually improve the app while supporting older devices indefinitely. Availability of Church content is a priority for those who support the Gospel Library app.

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