Skip to main content

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1830-

Biography

The Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (established 1830) is a restorationist Christian church with a world-wide membership. Originally established in Upstate New York by Joseph Smith, Jr., the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the past, it was commonly abbreviated as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church.

During the 1820s, the church's founder, Joseph Smith, experienced visions and was led to the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. The Church was officially founded by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830, in Palmyra, New York. The members of the religion faced a series of persecutions, and eventually fled to Utah for refuge beginning in 1847. The Church continued to grow and expand beyond Utah, and with membership later numbering over 16 million. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Presidents of the Church have included Joseph Smith Jr. (1832-1844), Brigham Young (1847-1877), John Taylor (1880-1887), Wilford Woodruff (1889-1898), Lorenzo Snow (1898-1901), Joseph F. Smith (1901-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), and Russell M. Nelson (2018- ).

Citation:
NUCMC data from Gallaudet Coll. Archives for Russell, G.O. Papers, 1919-1971 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Encycl. Amer. rel., 1978 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; org. 1830; carries on main theological & eccles. traditions of founder Joseph Smith; offshoots incl. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (formed 1860); Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) (org. 1862) and Church of the First Born of the Fulness of Times (formed 1855))

Van Noord, R. King of Beaver Island, c1988: CIP pref. (church headed by James Jesse Strang, orig. part of Church; Strangites)

Book of Mormon. Armenian. Girkʻ Mōrmōni, 1937: t.p. (Hisus Kʻristosi Verjin-Awur Srbotsʻ Ekeghetsʻwoyn) p. 6 (1st group) (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Book of Mormon. Turkish. Mōrmōněn Kʻitʻapě, c1906: t.p. (Hisus Kʻristosěn Akhěr-Kiwnlēr Mugattēslēri Kʻilisēsi) t.p. verso (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

Burke, L.H. History of the Washington, D.C. LDS Ward, c1990.

Book of Mormon. Vietnamese. Sách Mặc môn, 1987: t.p. (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Giáo hội các thánh hữu ngày sau của Chúa Giê su Ky tô)

Liahona (Armenian), Apr. 2000: t.p. (Hisus Kʻristosi Verjin Ōreri Srberi Ekeghetsʻi) p. 1 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Its Web site, viewed May 11, 2004 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Book of Mormon. Cebuano. 1998. Ang Basahon ni Mormon, c1998: p. 4 of cover (Simbahan ni Jésukristo sa mga Santos sa Ulahing mga Adlaw)

Book of Mormon. Bulgarian. 2003. Knigata na Mormon, c2004 t.p. (T︠s︡ŭrkvata na Isus Khristos na svetiite ot poslednite dni)

Book of Mormon. Hiligaynon. 2005. Ang Libro ni Mormon, c2005: p. 4 of cover (Simbahan ni Jesucristo sang mga Santos sa Ulihing mga Adlaw)

Kitāb al-mabādiʼ wa-al-ʻuhūd li-Kanīsat Yasūʻ al-Masīḥ li-Qiddīsī al-Ayyām al-Akhīrah, wa-yaḥtawī ʻalā ruʼyā uʻṭiyat li-Jūzif Smith, al-Nabī ... , 1989

Wikipedia, Oct. 13, 2010 (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (previously abbreviated as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church) is a restorationist Christian church and the largest denomination originating from the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr.; founded in Upstate New York on April 6, 1830, the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations (called wards or branches) worldwide)

Mārman̲ puttakam, 2009: t.p. (Iyēcu Kiristuvin̲ Tiruccapai; The Church of Jesus Christ)

Die Boek van Mormon, 1972: title page (Kerk van Jesus Christus van die Heiliges van die Laaste Dae)

Mormon nwoma no mu bi, 1988: title page (Jesus Christ N'ascr a Cwc Hc Ma Ekyrmba Ahotseweelfo)

Libri i Mormonit, 1999: title page (Kisha e Jezu Krishtit e Shenjtorëve të Ditëve të Mëvonshme)

Kitāb Mūrmūn, 1985: title page (Kanīsat Yasūʻ al-Masīḥ li-Qiddīsī al-Ayyām al-Akhīrah = كنيسة يسوع المسيح لقديسي الأيام الأخيرة)

Mormoni Girkʻě, 2000: title page(Hisus Kʻristosi Verjin Ōreri Srberi Ekeghetsʻu koghmitsʻ)

Mormonan kellkatapa, 1985: title page (Jesucriston Khep Khepürunacanquiri Kollananac Tamapan mistuyata)

Ri molaj tanaj richin ri Vuj richin ri Mormon, 1978: title page (Ri Ruk'ataj ri Jesucristo quichin ri Chojlaxela' chupan ri ruq'uisibel tak K'ij)

El libre de Mormó, 1981: title page (Església de Jesucrist dels Sants dels Darrers Dies)

Mormonova Knjiga, 1983: title page (Crkva Isusa Krista Svetaca Posljednjih Dana)

Mormón Kaiya Purba, 1981: title page (Esucristo ittoed nega esordamar napi puguad onosa)

www.mormon.cz, 20 October 2011 (Církev Jez̆ís̆e Krista Svatých posledních dnů)

Eglise de Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Kerk Van Jezus Christus Van De Heiligen Der Laatste Dagen, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Viimse Aja Pühade Jeesuse Kristuse Kirik, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Myöhempien Aikojen Pyhien Jeesuksen Kristuksen Kirkko, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Η Εκκλησία του Ιησού Χριστού των Αγίων των Τελευταίων Ημερών, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Az Utolsó Napok Szentjeinek Jézus Krisztus Egyháza, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Gereja Yesus Kristus Dari Orang-Orang Suci Zaman Akhir, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Kirkja Jesú Krists hinna Síđari daga heilögu, via WWW, 20 October 2011

La Chiesa di Gesù Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni, via WWW, 20 October 2011

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会, via www, 20 October 2011

Pēdējo Dienu Svēto Jēzus Kristus Baznīca, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa Świętych w Dniach Ostatnich, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Biserica lui Isus Hristos a Sfinților din Zilele din Urmă, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Церкви Иисуса Христа Святых последних дней, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Церкви Ісуса Христа Святих Останніх Днів, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Cirkev Jez̆is̆a Krista Svätých neskors̆ích dní, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Cerkev Jezusa Kristusa svetih iz poslednjih dni, via WWW, 20 October 2011

Jesu Kristi Kyrka av Sista Dagars Heliga, via WWW, 20 October 2011

MormonMongolia FaceBook page, viewed 2017-05-08 (Esu̇s Khristiĭn Khozhmyn U̇eiĭn Gėgėėntnu̇u̇diĭn Su̇m (Mormonchuud))

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, via WWW, Oct. 15, 2014 (History of the Church; founded April 6, 1830; LDS Church; Mormon Church; founder Joseph Smith; saw visions and found gold plates in the 1820s; persecution; fled to Utah in 1847; headquartered in Salt Lake)

Newsroom of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, via WWW, Oct. 15, 2014 (Statistical Report: April 2014 General Conference; membership over 15,000,000; prophet Thomas S. Monson)

Wikipedia, via WWW, Dec. 3, 2020 (over 16 million members; presidents: Joseph Smith Jr. (1832-1844), Brigham Young (1847-1877), John Taylor (1880-1887), Wilford Woodruff (1889-1898), Lorenzo Snow (1898-1901), Joseph F. Smith (1901-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), and Russell M. Nelson (2018- ))

Found in 43 Collections and/or Records:

Levi Savage diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 417
Scope and Contents Handwritten diaries. The original items are housed in two boxes while the photocopies of these materials are housed in three. There are many gaps in the entries including a sixteen-year gap from 1861 to 1877. Savage writes about his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to "Siam" (Thailand) from 1852 to 1856. He travelled to Rangoon from Salt Lake City, Utah, by way of San Francisco and Calcutta. He returned by way of Calcutta, England, and New York City. He was...
Dates: 1852-1903

John L. Smith papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 680
Scope and Contents Contains seven journals of John Lyman Smith, and other autobiographical manuscripts, as wells as a bound typescript volume of an autobiography/journal. The journals include accounts of persecutions in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, pioneering in Utah, Lyman's two missions to Europe, and his service as president of the Swiss-Italian and the Swiss-Italian-German missions. There is also a contemporary account of the cricket-and-seagull episode in Salt Lake in 1848, Lyman's service as a member of...
Dates: 1792-1950; Majority of material found within 1846-1900

Samuel H. B. Smith diary

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 870
Scope and Contents

The collection consists of photocopies of Smith's mission diary, his autobiography, some correspondence, and records of ordinances performed in the Endowment House in the 1870s. Smith kept his diary while serving on a mission to Great Britain (1860-1863). He recorded the activities and experiences of missionary life and activities. The autobiography is brief and covers from Smith's birth to 1857.

Dates: 1840-1889, bulk 1860-1863

John Henry Standifird papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233283396]
Identifier: Vault MSS 44
Scope and Contents

Handwritten diaries and letters. Standifird writes about his life in Bountiful, St. George, Kanab, Panguitch, Manti, and Moab, Utah. He also lived in Taylor and Alpine, Arizona. He gives information on the Utah Expedition, 1857-1858, his work on the St. George and Manti temples, his mission for the Mormon Church in Missouri, and his daily life in Utah.

Dates: 1857-1909

Richard Steele journal

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232512514]
Identifier: MSS 6074
Abstract

Journal of Richard Steele.

Dates: 1840-1876

Kanute Swensen diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 165
Scope and Contents

Handwritten diaries with bound photostat copies of the items. The first two volumes, covering the years 1857 to 1868, are in Danish, while the remainder are in English. Also included is a typewritten translation into English of the diaries for the years 1857 and 1858 when Swensen was serving a mission for the Mormon Church in Denmark. Swensen writes about his immigration to Utah and his life in Pleasant Grove.

Dates: 1857-1902

Ammon M. Tenney papers

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230305614]
Identifier: MSS SC 800
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of typescript. Includes a number of letters written to Tenney by such people as Brigham Young (1801-1877), Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898), and John W. Young (1844-1924) concerning the purchase of land at St. Johns, Arizona, for Mormon settlement, missionary work among the Indians, and obtaining work for Mormon settlers by bidding on raliroad contracts. Some of Tenney's replies are also included. Folder also includes typescript copy of Tenney's journal for 1875-1876.

Dates: 1874-1889

James Parshall Terry journal

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230242023]
Identifier: MSS SC 515
Scope and Contents

Handwritten biographical sketch of Terry's life which describes Mormon difficulties in Missouri, campsites during the exodus west, pioneer life in southern Utah, and Terry's mission to Canada and northeastern U.S., 1887-1888. Also an account of Terry's activities in Echo Canyon during the Utah War, 1857. The journal was written in a watermaster's log which included previous entries.

Dates: 1857-1890

Thomas Day papers, 1841-1893

 Series
Identifier: MSS 2071 Series 1
Scope and Contents note From the Collection:

The Thomas Day collection contains Day's journal (1843-1850), an account book (1843-1846), papers, and correspondence relating to his family, most all of which focuses on his LDS mission to England. He served in Lemington, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire. Within his mission papers is found several of Day's certificates of ordination to priesthood offices as well as several handbills listing lectures given by Elder Day and his companions.

Dates: Other: 1841-1893

John Van Cott papers

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230217678]
Identifier: MSS 1743
Scope and Contents

Correspondence, diaries, and a family history. The correspondence is between Van Cott and family members. Also included are handwritten and signed letters from Brigham Young, second president of the Mormon Church, to Van Cott. The diaries cover the time when Van Cott served as a missionary for the Mormon Church from 1852 to 1856 and from 1859 to 1862. He was in Iowa City, Iowa, when the first handcart companies left for Utah.

Dates: 1838-1913