Lanthanum (La)-doped HZSM-5 and HZSM-5 catalysts were prepared to investigate the natural roles of La addition on the catalytic performance of HZSM-5 for decomposing methanethiol (CH3SH). Compared to HZSM-5, the incorporation of La species into HZSM-5 catalyst not only decreased the intrinsic activation energy (from 51.4 kJ/mol to 40.6 kJ/mol) but also largely improved the stability. Based on the characterizations of X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed desorption of carbon dioxide (CO2-TPD), temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD), and temperature programmed desorption of CH3SH (CH3SH-TPD), the promotional role of La species on the catalytic activity was demonstrated to be the contribution of the surface active oxygen species within lanthanum oxy-carbonates composites, which not only might act as new active sites for converting CH3SH into CO2 but also could decrease the activation temperature for the dehydrogenation of CH3SH into intermediate, dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3). The enhanced stability of La doped HZSM-5 was attributed to the synergistic effect of the decrease in the strong acid sites as well as the formed CO2 and surface lanthanum oxy-carbonates layer. The rapid deactivation of HZSM-5 was due to the formation of deposited coke irrespective of deposited sulfur species. The nature, amount and type of deposited coke were investigated in detail via the characterization of FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed oxidation of oxygen (O-2-TPO), thermogravmetric analysis (TGA). A facile and rapid regeneration method was used to regenerate spent La doped HZSM-5 and no significant deactivation was observed even after three cycles of deactivation-regeneration.