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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 757 Collections and/or Records:

John Henry Smith letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230348168]
Identifier: MSS 1364
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, addressed to Joseph Ellis Wilson, composed in Salt Lake City, Utah, and dated 1 Oct. 1893. Smith expresses grief over the death of Wilson's mother.

Dates: 1893 October 1

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

John Smith papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 803
Scope and Contents

Collection contains papers related to Smith's mission to Denmark, life in Utah with family, and his position as Presiding Patriarch of the LDS Church. Includes diaries, letters, articles containing references to John, his personal patriarchal blessing, sheep accounts, family history notes, and copies of patriarchal blessings pronounced by himself. Dated 1848-1962.

Dates: 1848-1962

John Smith patriarchal blessings

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230317155]
Identifier: MSS SC 1895
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of three handwritten items. The documents are two copies of the same patriarchal blessing given to Charles Hawkins on 12 Aug. 1888 and a copy of a patriarchal blessing given to Susan Sophia Hawkins on 2 Aug. 1888. The blessings assure Charles and Susan Hawkins that they are noble spirits who will be able to go to heaven.

Dates: 1888 August

Joseph F. Smith letter and affidavit

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2489
Scope and Contents Handwritten and signed letter dated 7 Oct. 1889. The item was addressed to Samuel Russel. Smith had asked Russell to take charge of the sawmill connected with the Hawaiian colony in Skull Valley, Utah and expresses regret that Russell turned him down. Smith said, "I had no special manifestations of the Spirit about it." Also included is a typewritten affidavit dated 6 June 1906 and signed by Smith stating that he "had been duly elected to the office of President and Director of the...
Dates: 1906 June 6; 1889 October 7

Joseph F. Smith letters

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2497
Scope and Contents Handwritten and typewritten letters dated 6 May 1881 and 17 Dec. 1914. The handwritten item is addressed to Charles Coulson Rich of Paris, Idaho. Smith tells Rich about the activities of John Taylor, third president of the Mormon Church, and about financial matters. The typewritten item is addressed to Francis W. Kirkham who is called to be the president of the New Zealand Mission for the Mormon Church. This letter is signed by Smith and the other two members of the First Presidency of the...
Dates: 1914 December 17; 1881 May 6

Joseph F. Smith letters

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197225563102]
Identifier: MSS 2056
Abstract

Letters written by Joseph F. Smith to his wife Mary Taylor, 1884-1918.

Dates: 1884-1918

Joseph Fielding Smith letters

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197230237643]
Identifier: MSS SC 725
Scope and Contents Correspondence between Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) and his son Milton E. Smith (1927- ). The collection covers two timeframes: July 1945 to July 1946 and April 1947 to December 1949. The first group covers the time when Milton E. Smith served in the United States Navy, and the majority of them were written by Milton E. Smith to his family. The second group were written by Milton E. Smith to his family. The second group were written while Milton E. Smith was a missionary serving the LDS...
Dates: 1945-1949

Joseph Fielding Smith letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230311349]
Identifier: MSS SC 1357
Scope and Contents

Typewritten copies of eleven letters addressed to Niel H. Purdie. The documents all discuss elements of Mormon doctrine or history.

Dates: 1938-1945

Joseph Smith, Jr. letter

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232487535]
Identifier: MSS 288
Scope and Contents

Photocopy and photostat copy of a handwritten letter. Smith writes in his capacity as the leader of the "Nauvoo Legion" of the Illinois state militia. He informs Wilson Law to keep the militia in readiness "as may be necessary to compel obedience to the ordinances of said city (i.e. Nauvoo) and secure the peace of the citizens." The item was notarized by W. W. Phelps.

Dates: 1843