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 9 Collections and/or Records:

Brent Ashworth collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS SC 1086
Scope and Contents

Miscellaneous assortment of photocopies of manuscripts related to the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Illinois and Utah, including financial and legal documents, letters, notes, and other documents. Materials dated 1830-1956, with the bulk dated from 1837 to 1892.

Dates: 1830-1956; Majority of material found within 1837-1892

Christian P. Christiansen autograph book

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232523511]
Identifier: MSS 5966
Abstract

54 photocopied leaves of an autograph book belonging to Christian P. Christiansen.

Dates: 1887

Church Committee letter to Governor William Owsley

 Item — Folder 1
Identifier: MSS SC 740
Scope and Contents

Contains a photocopy and transcription of a 4-page letter from Brigham Young and others (on behalf of the Church Committee) to "His Excellency" Governor William Owsley of Illinois, petitioning for more time to prepare to leave Nauvoo, dated April 30, 1845.

Dates: 1845 April 30

Harold B. Lee family histories, 1874-1977

 Series — Box 12: Series 5; Series 6; Series 7 [Barcode: 31197239126102], Folder: 13-18
Identifier: MSS 9392 Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains family histories of the Samuel Lee family. The series includes family group records with personal anecdotes, historical images, handwritten notes by Harold B. Lee, and an original poem written by Harold B. Lee. Materials are dated 1874 and 1977.

Dates: 1874-1977

History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the San Marcos branch, Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197232477601]
Identifier: MSS 6227
Abstract

This collection is a photocopy of a ninety-six page handwritten history of the San Marcos branch in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico from 1925-1926. It was written by Maria Guadalupe Monroy and details missionary efforts, conferences, and other events of the ward at the time. The included appendix was written in May 1962 and is Monroy’s conversion story and pieces of her testimony of the Church throughout her life.

Dates: 1962

Scott G. Kenney research materials

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2022
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of correspondence, minutes, journals, and subject research files of Scott Kinney. These materials relate to Joseph F. Smith (1832-1918) sixth President of the LDS Church. The bulk of the collection deals with the years 1870 to 1918. These research files are documentation for Kinney's proposed biography of Smith.

Dates: 1820-1984

Merry May Booth Talmage letters, 1890-1934

 Series
Identifier: MSS 1607 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of letters written to and from May Booth Talmage, dated October 11, 1890-July 9, 1934.

Dates: 1890-1934

Wilford Woodruff letters

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230342716]
Identifier: MSS 818
Scope and Contents This is a collection of photocopies of letters written by Wilford Woodruff and several miscellaneous items. Woodruff signed 14 of the letters as Lewis Allen, a pseudonym used by him during the time he was on the underground, hiding from federal officials. The letters were addressed to Thomas P. Cottam, at that time bishop of the St. George Fourth Ward and a prominent civic and LDS Church leader in St. George, Utah. Also enclosed are two letters to "Grand Pa Cottam" one of which is signed...
Dates: 1887-1889

Brigham Young letters to Thomas L. Kane

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 4096
Scope and Contents

Letters were handwritten by Brigham Young to Thomas L. Kane on October 30, 1854. In the letters Young asks Kane to serve as Utah's territorial delegate to Congress. The two letters are identical and were sent separately to ensure delivery. Collection also includes photocopies of the letters.

Dates: 1854 October 30