OVERVIEW

Beliefs

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also referred to as the the Mormon Church. However, the former is preferred over the latter. The church is a Christian denomination that sees itself as the continuation of the first church that Jesus established. They have chapters and temples all throughout the world. The LDS Church headquarters is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States.

01

Although many Christians do not accept Mormonism as an official denomination, Mormons believe themselves to be Christians.

02

The Christian Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price are the four scriptures that Mormons accept.

03

Mormons think there are three different gods rather than one God as three people—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

History

The Origin of Latter-Day Saints

1820

Joseph Smith

The circumstances that led to the "restoration" of the early Church of Jesus Christ to the earth began when God came to a 14-year-old child called Joseph Smith in the spring of 1820, on the other side of the globe.

1823

According to Smith, he saw an angel by the name of Moroni. The Book of Mormon, a holy book named for Moroni's father, Mormon, and written somewhere in the 4th century, was revealed by Moroni to have been chosen for translation by Smith. In 1830, the Book of Mormon was translated and made publically available.

1844

Smith and his brother were killed on June 27, 1844. Smith's death caused the church to split. The Mormons increasingly turned to Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith.

1850

Young orchestrated a 16,000-person Mormon relocation from Illinois to Utah in the 1850s in order to escape ridicule. Young was appointed Church President, a position he held until his passing in 1877.

Leaders

The Chuch Hierarchy

The first presidency (president and two counselors)

The First Presidency is in charge of a variety of administrative duties, including educating and warning members, establishing new programs and organizations that better meet the Lord's purpose, and clarifying theology and Church laws. They have the power to assign work to others.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


Twelve men have accepted unique calls to serve as Jesus Christ's particular witnesses, making up the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Twelve help the First Presidency in making decisions affecting the Mormon Church.

The First Quorum of the Seventy


They frequently carry out a variety of tasks under the leadership of the Twelve Apostles, including visiting Church members across the globe, managing various Church organizations, and assisting with missionary efforts.