Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
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| Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) | |
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| Name | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Caption | Salt Lake Temple |
| Main classification | Restorationist Christianity |
| Founded date | 1830 |
| Founded place | Kirtland, Ohio |
| Founder | Joseph Smith Jr. |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Area | Worldwide |
| Members | 17 million (approx.) |
| Scripture | Book of Mormon, King James Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price |
Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a restorationist Christian denomination that originated in early 19th-century United States religious movements. Founded by Joseph Smith Jr. in Kirtland, Ohio and formally organized in 1830, the church asserts continuous prophetic revelation and has developed a distinctive canon, missionary program, and global institutional presence centered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over its history the church has interacted with figures and events such as Brigham Young, the Utah Territory, the American Civil War, and contemporary international institutions.
History
The church's founding in 1830 followed the publication of the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith said he translated after contact with the angel Moroni. Early headquarters shifted between Kirtland, Ohio, Independence, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois; these moves entangled the movement with conflicts like the Missouri Mormon War and the murder of Joseph Smith in 1844. Leadership under Brigham Young led to migration along the Mormon Trail to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 and the establishment of settlements throughout the American West, including Provo, Utah and St. George, Utah. The church's history includes controversial practices and legal confrontations, notably over plural marriage in the 19th century, culminating in the 1890 Manifesto and Utah statehood. Twentieth- and twenty-first-century developments involved global expansion, engagement with organizations like the United Nations, shifts under presidents such as Heber J. Grant, David O. McKay, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Russell M. Nelson, and policy changes on priesthood, outreach, and public relations.
Beliefs and Theology
Doctrinal foundations include the Book of Mormon as a companion scripture to the King James Bible, and modern revelation recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. Central theological claims involve Jesus Christ as Savior, restoration through a living prophet, and ordinances administered by priesthood authority traced to apostles such as Peter, James, and John in church teaching. Key doctrines encompass the Plan of Salvation, the nature of God as embodied in a resurrected body (contrasting with Nicene Creed formulations), and temple-centered covenants. The church teaches continuing revelation via its presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and it asserts unique teachings about pre-mortal existence, atonement of Jesus Christ, and postmortal degrees of glory.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
The church is led by a president, sustained as prophet, seer, and revelator, assisted by two counselors in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Administrative units include stakes, wards, and missions overseen by mission presidents. Lay leadership is emphasized, with offices such as bishop and stake president filled by unpaid members. Auxiliary organizations historically and presently include the Relief Society, the Young Women, the Young Men, and the Sunday School. Global governance involves area presidencies and general authorities who coordinate with local leaders; corporate entities such as Deseret Management Corporation manage temporal affairs and humanitarian arms like LDS Philanthropies.
Practices and Worship
Worship centers on weekly sacrament meetings, where ordinances such as baptism and the sacrament (communion) are administered according to priesthood authority. Missionary service, often by young adults and older couples, is a distinctive practice supported by institutions like Missionary Training Center facilities. Members observe the Word of Wisdom health code and participate in family-centered practices, including home evening and family history work facilitated by organizations such as FamilySearch. Religious education occurs through Sunday School, Institute of Religion programs, and seminary for youth. The church maintains programs for humanitarian aid and disaster relief, often in collaboration with civic bodies like American Red Cross and international agencies.
Temples and Sacred Sites
Temples are distinct from meetinghouses and are used for ordinances such as endowment, sealing, and proxy baptisms for the dead. Prominent temples include the Salt Lake Temple, the Laie Hawaii Temple, and newer temples worldwide such as the Rome Italy Temple and the Taipei Taiwan Temple. Historic sacred sites include Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the Hill Cumorah in Manchester, New York. Access to temples requires membership and a recommend; temple architecture and ritual have been subjects of scholarly study by authors like Richard L. Bushman.
Demographics and Distribution
Membership has grown from a few thousand in the 19th century to about 17 million global adherents, with significant populations in United States, Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, and Chile. The largest concentrations remain in the Intermountain West of the United States, particularly Utah, Idaho, and Arizona, while rapidly expanding areas include parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Demographic patterns show high rates of missionary service, distinctive family size statistics, and migration related to education and employment, intersecting with institutions like Brigham Young University campuses in Provo, Utah, Idaho, and Hawaii.
Social and Cultural Impact
The church exerts cultural influence through media outlets, educational institutions, humanitarian initiatives, and participation in public debates over issues such as marriage and religious liberty. Cultural productions and figures associated with the church include artists, scholars, and politicians who engage with entities like PBS, National Endowment for the Humanities, and national legislatures. The Relief Society and other auxiliaries have engaged in welfare and disaster relief, collaborating with organizations such as World Health Organization and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Scholarship on the church includes works by historians such as D. Michael Quinn, Fawn M. Brodie, and Jan Shipps, and it remains a subject in studies of American religious history, migration, and diaspora.