The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, commonly known as the "LDS Church" or the "Mormon Church," stands as the largest and most prominent denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement.

Established in the United States by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830, adherents of the Latter-day Saints recognize Christ as the leader of their church and identify themselves as Christians.

However, they do not align with the Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant traditions.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Church is considered the fourth-largest religious body in the United States.

It exemplifies a thriving new religious movement, marked by sustained growth attributed to active missionary endeavors.

Joseph Smith, Jr. – The Visionary Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The inception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints can be traced back to April 6, 1830, when Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805 – 1844), along with five associates, officially founded the church in Fayette, New York.

At the age of fourteen, Smith declared a profound religious encounter wherein both God the Father and Jesus Christ spoke to him, instructing him to distance himself from any existing denomination.

Three years later, an angel named Moroni visited him, revealing the existence of gold plates that were buried, and Smith was entrusted with their protection.

In 1827, Smith purportedly unearthed the gold plates and commenced the arduous task of translating their inscriptions.

On March 26, 1830, the culmination of his dictation resulted in the publication of the Book of Mormon, later subtitled "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

Subsequently, on April 6, 1830, Smith established the inaugural Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

To escape mounting conflicts and persecution arising from his claims, Smith and his followers relocated to Kirtland, Ohio, in early 1831.

Despite the construction of the church's first temple in Kirtland, tensions persisted, culminating in an incident where Smith was tarred, feathered, and left for dead in 1832.

Seeking refuge from hostility, Smith, and his followers migrated to Missouri in 1838, where revelations identified western Missouri as Zion.

Missouri

The ensuing period in Missouri was marked by violent conflicts and legal challenges as local inhabitants viewed the Latter Day Saints with distrust and resentment.

The Mormon War erupted in 1838, with skirmishes such as the Battle of Crooked River intensifying hostilities.

In response, Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs issued the infamous "Extermination Order" on October 27, 1838, declaring the Mormons as enemies to be "exterminated or driven from the State."

The order remained in effect until its official rescindment in 1976.

Forced to leave Missouri in 1839, Smith and his followers settled in Nauvoo, Illinois, renaming the town.

Despite facing adversity, including the revocation of Nauvoo's charter, Smith sought redress for the persecution through meetings with President Martin Van Buren in 1839, but to no avail.

Construction of a temple in Nauvoo commenced in 1840, symbolizing a period of relative peace.

However, tensions escalated, leading to Smith's presidential candidacy announcement in 1844. Violent threats culminated in Smith's incarceration in Carthage, Illinois, where he was killed by a mob on June 27, 1844.

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Brigham Young & Joseph Smith III emerging as a leader

The aftermath saw a succession crisis, with Brigham Young emerging as a leader, leading many Mormons to follow him.

The Community of Christ church, led by Joseph Smith III, also emerged. Mob violence persisted, prompting the exodus of the Latter Day Saints to Utah, establishing the foundation for the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

What Are the Fundamental Tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints?

Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, articulated, “The fundamental principles of our religion are … concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 49).

In addition to the above, Latter-day Saints affirm the following core beliefs:

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of our loving Heavenly Father.

Latter day Saints uphold the belief that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior to redeem all humanity from their sins (see John 3:16). T

hey perceive God as a compassionate Heavenly Father who knows each individual, listens to and answers their prayers, and exhibits compassion toward them.

Although Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are distinct beings, they, along with the Holy Ghost, are united in will, purpose, and love.

Worship of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer is central to the lives of Latter-day Saints.

They embrace His grace and mercy, striving to emulate His example by undergoing baptism (see Matthew 3:13–17), offering prayers in His holy name (see Matthew 6:9–13), partaking in the sacrament or communion (see Luke 22:19–20), performing acts of kindness (see Acts 10:38), and bearing witness of Him through both word and deed (see James 2:26).

Christ’s Atonement allows humankind to be saved from their sins and return to live with God and their families forever.

Latter-day Saints assert that God has a plan for His children to reunite with Him and become “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

Within the Church, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ occupies a central role in God’s plan for human happiness. Despite inevitable mistakes and sins, Latter day Saints perceive mortal life as an opportunity for growth and learning.

By adhering to Christ’s teachings, embracing His mercy, and partaking in ordinances such as baptism, believers hold that they are cleansed from sin through Christ’s grace, paving the way to reunite with God and their families eternally.

Christ’s original Church as described in the New Testament has been restored in modern times.

Members of the Church maintain that Christ established His ancient Church on the “foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20; see also Ephesians 4:11–14), characterized by “one faith, [and] one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

They posit that this unifying foundation eroded gradually following the apostles' demise. Consequently, the original authority to lead the Church was lost and required restoration (see Acts 3:21).

Presently, believers proclaim that the Lord has indeed reinstated His Church with living apostles and prophets, commencing with Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Church members regard families as the fundamental unit of society.

In adherence to Christ's teachings and commandments, those who follow Him are promised the opportunity to dwell eternally with their families in divine and everlasting relationships.

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Frequently Asked Question the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints
Are Latter day Saints Christians?

Certainly. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is unequivocally a Christian church, representing a restoration of the original Church of Jesus Christ as established by the Savior in the New Testament of the Bible.

Latter day Saints affirm their belief that God dispatched His Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue humanity from death and individual sins.

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