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 27 Collections and/or Records:

Hancock County records

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230236942]
Identifier: MSS SC 212
Scope and Contents

Film contains 22 items, including three collections: Nauvoo court records; Eudocia Marsh's Mormons in Hancock County : a Reminiscence; and the Strangite Papers, 1851-1963.

Dates: 1840-1963

Ida Blum diaries and historical research, 1804-1978

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1891 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains material collected by Ida Blum. Includes photographs, diaries, and papers. Most of the material is about Nauvoo and the surrounding area. Dated approximately 1804-1978.

Dates: 1804-1978

Ida Blum scrapbooks, periodicals, and other material, 1804-1978

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1891 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains materials collected and created by Ida Blum. Includes scrapbooks, photographs, periodicals, and clippings collected and compiled by Ida Blum. Most of material is about Nauvoo and the surrounding area. Dated 1804-1978.

Dates: 1804-1978

Charles Lambert autobiography

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230338193]
Identifier: MSS 927
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an autobiography. Lambert was born in England; converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1843; moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844; migrated to Utah in 1849; and served on missions in England in 1870 and 1882. He also writes about the "Utah War" and about problems with swarms of crickets.

Dates: 1883

William Law diary

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230324508]
Identifier: MSS SC 2526
Scope and Contents

Typewritten copy of a diary. The journal was kept from 1 Jan. to 28 June 1844 when Law was in Nauvoo, Illinois. Law writes about his excommunication from the Mormon Church, a visit from Hyrum Smith (1800-1844), and the operation of the Nauvoo Expositor newspaper. He also and gives his opinion of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and comments on his death.

Dates: 1844

G. C. Beamon letter to M. Badger and C. Hall

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230241421]
Identifier: MSS SC 459
Scope and Contents

Typescript of a letter from Beamon to Methodist Church leaders in New York, appealing for aid and giving a description of Nauvoo during the exodus of the Mormons.

Dates: 1846

Joseph Bates Noble papers

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 705
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letters, deeds, histories, newspaper clippings, and an autograph album. Family papers include an autograph album owned by Noble's wife, Mary Beeman Bates, which includes a prophecy by Wilford Woodruff about the end of the world. Also included are property deeds on a lot in Nauvoo, Illinois, and a bishop's court document from 1848 in Salt Lake City, Utah, which involves a dispute over foodsuffs in payment for services.

Dates: 1832-1897

The origin of Mormonism and reminiscences of the Mormons in Illinois

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230233634]
Identifier: MSS SC 89
Scope and Contents Prepared typescript of a series of ten articles written by J.H. Sherman which appeared in the Ithaca Daily Journal during April and May, 1886. The articles, decidedly anti-Mormon, tell of Joseph Smith's early life, the Solomon Spaulding manuscript from which Smith supposedly got the idea for the Book of Mormon, the organization of the Latter-day Saint Church, the settlement of the Mormons in Nauvoo, Illinois, death of Joseph Smith, mob violence in Illinois, expulsion of the Mormons from...
Dates: 1886

Records on Mormon polygamy

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230319045]
Identifier: MSS SC 2093
Scope and Contents

Handwritten sections of a document on Mormon polygamy compiled and written by an unknown author. The materials are fragments from a document that included pages numbered at least to 196 pages. The item includes an analysis of Mormon polygamy and copies of affidavits relating to the practice of polygamy taken in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1844.

Dates: 1844-1870

Samuel W. Richards papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2854
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of microfilmed copies of diaries, letters, notes, and financial records. Richards was born in Massachusetts in 1824 and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He migrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he served in the "Nauvoo Legion" militia. Richards married Mary Parker in Nauvoo and moved to Utah in 1849. He served as missionary and mission president for his faith in Great Britain, the East U.S., and Europe. He was made a patriarch in 1902 and died in 1909.

Dates: 1839-1909