What Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? A Beginner’s Guide

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian church founded by Joseph Smith in New York in 1830. Its headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it reported about 17.9 million members worldwide at the end of 2025.

If you are asking “what is the Church of Latter-day Saints?”, this guide covers the basics: what members believe, how it began, how it is organized, and what a typical Sunday looks like. It also points out where its teachings differ from other Christian traditions.

What Is the Church of Latter-day Saints?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describes itself as the restored church of Jesus Christ. Members believe Christ’s original church and authority were lost after the time of the apostles, then restored through Joseph Smith.

Other Christian traditions do not share this belief in a “Great Apostasy” and restoration.

The Church uses “Saints” in the New Testament sense of believers (see Ephesians 1:1). “Latter-day” refers to the time before Christ’s return.

What Is the Church’s Full Name?

People often search for it as “the Church of Latter-day Saints” or write it without the hyphen, as “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” The official name uses the hyphen and a lowercase “d.”

The Church asks to be called by its full name, “the Church of Jesus Christ,” or “Latter-day Saints,” not by the nickname “Mormon.”

Is It the Same as the Church of Christ?

No. The Churches of Christ are a separate group of Christian congregations that grew out of the 19th-century Restoration Movement in the United States. They are not connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Core Beliefs and Mission

Latter-day Saints say they worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, whom they call their Savior and Redeemer. The Church describes its mission in four efforts:

• Living the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Caring for those in need
• Inviting all to receive the gospel
• Uniting families for eternity

How the Church’s Beliefs Differ From Other Christians

The Church identifies as Christian. Some other Christians disagree, mainly because of these differences:

• Additional scripture: Latter-day Saints use the Bible alongside the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
• The nature of God: Members teach that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings united in purpose. Historic Nicene Christianity teaches one God in three persons.
• Ongoing revelation: The Church teaches that God still speaks through living prophets and apostles.

These are real differences. Readers are encouraged to compare them with Scripture themselves.

Read More: What Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Believe?

Joseph Smith and the Founding of the Church

Joseph Smith Jr. was born in 1805 in Sharon, Vermont, and later lived with his family in western New York. According to Church teaching, he saw a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ in the spring of 1820, when he was a teenager. Members call this the First Vision.

The Church teaches that Smith later received golden plates and translated them by the power of God as the Book of Mormon, published in 1830. The Church was organized on April 6, 1830, in the Fayette area of New York.

Historians and believers explain the origin of the Book of Mormon differently.

From New York to the Salt Lake Valley

The early Saints moved several times because of conflict and opposition:

• Kirtland, Ohio: an early gathering place where a temple was built
• Missouri: the scene of serious violence and expulsion
• Nauvoo, Illinois: a growing city on the Mississippi River

Joseph Smith was killed by a mob at Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844. Brigham Young then led most of the Saints west, and the first pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

Some other groups that trace their origins to Joseph Smith, such as the Community of Christ, chose different leadership.

Read Also: Is the Church of Latter-day Saints Mormon? Understanding the Connection

Church Headquarters and Global Presence

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its center is Temple Square, which includes the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, and the Conference Center, where general conference is held each April and October.

The Church is far larger than its Utah roots suggest. At the end of 2025 it reported 204 temples in operation and 172 more announced or under construction. It also reported 451 missions and about 78,600 full-time missionaries.

Where Members Live

According to figures reported by the Church and compiled in public sources, roughly 6.9 million members live in the United States, including about 2.2 million in Utah. A majority of members now live outside the United States.

Membership, Congregations, and Community Life

The Church reported 17,887,212 members as of December 31, 2025. It also reported 385,490 converts baptized that year and 91,835 new children of record.

These numbers count everyone on the Church’s membership records, including people who rarely attend. Independent surveys of weekly attendance show a smaller number of active members.

Members belong to local congregations based on where they live:

• Wards: congregations of a few hundred members, led by a bishop
• Branches: smaller congregations, led by a branch president
• Stakes: groups of several wards and branches, similar to a diocese, led by a stake president

The Church reported 3,695 stakes and 32,046 wards and branches at the end of 2025.

Giving and Lay Service

Local leaders are not paid. Members serve in assigned “callings,” such as teaching a class, leading the youth, or serving as bishop.

Members are also taught to pay tithing, which means giving a tenth of their income. Many Christians will recognize the principle from passages such as Malachi 3:10.

Read Also: 16 Where in the Bible Does It Say? Bible Verses and Answers

Leadership Structure and Church Organization

The Church is led by a President, whom members sustain as a prophet, seer, and revelator. He serves with two counselors in a group called the First Presidency.

As of 2026, the President of the Church is Dallin H. Oaks, who was sustained at a solemn assembly during the April 2026 general conference.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Other Leaders

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles serves under the First Presidency. Other leaders include the Quorums of the Seventy and the general presidencies for women’s, youth, and children’s organizations such as the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary.

Church leaders point to the New Testament pattern of apostles and prophets as support for this structure. Paul wrote:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11, KJV).

Other Christians agree this verse describes the early church, but they differ on whether the office of apostle continues today.

Sunday Worship Services and Religious Activities

Latter-day Saints meet each Sunday in local meetinghouses. The New Testament records believers gathering “upon the first day of the week… to break bread” (Acts 20:7, KJV), and members see their weekly sacrament meeting in that light.

Sunday worship in a ward lasts about two hours. The Church cut its Sunday schedule from three hours to two in 2019, as part of a “home-centered, Church-supported” approach to learning the gospel.

What Happens During Worship

A typical Sunday includes:

• Sacrament meeting: hymns, prayers, and talks by members, plus the sacrament of bread and water in remembrance of Christ
• Classes: Sunday School, Relief Society for women, and quorums for men, with Primary for children and classes for youth

Weekday Activities

Congregations also hold weekday activities such as youth gatherings, service projects, and social events. Members are encouraged to fast and pray, study scripture on their own, and attend temple worship.

Temples are separate from regular meetinghouses. Only members who meet certain standards may enter them after a temple has been dedicated.

Family Life and Community Service

Families are at the heart of the Church’s teaching. Members believe marriage and family relationships can continue beyond death through temple ordinances called sealings.

The Church’s 1995 statement, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” sums up its view of marriage and family.

Many families set aside a weekly evening, usually Monday, for family home evening, with a lesson, prayer, and activities. Members also follow a health code called the Word of Wisdom, which includes avoiding alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea.

Service and Humanitarian Work

Service is a big part of Latter-day Saint life. Members volunteer in their communities, and the Church supports humanitarian and welfare work through programs such as Latter-day Saint Charities.

Once a month, members skip two meals and give a fast offering to help those in need. This echoes Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40:

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (KJV).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Church of Latter-day Saints?

It is the common short way to refer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian church founded by Joseph Smith in 1830. Members believe it is the restored church of Jesus Christ.

How many members belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

The Church reported 17,887,212 members as of December 31, 2025. This number counts everyone on the Church’s records, including those who rarely attend.

Where is the Church headquartered?

In Salt Lake City, Utah. Its main buildings, including Temple Square and the Conference Center, are located there.

Is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the same as the Church of Christ?

No. The Churches of Christ are a separate group of congregations with a different history and organization.

Can visitors attend Latter-day Saints worship services?

Yes. Sunday services in local meetinghouses are open to everyone. No offering is collected, and visitors do not have to take part in the sacrament. Temples are not open to the public after dedication.

What happens during a typical Sunday service?

Sunday worship lasts about two hours. It begins with sacrament meeting, which includes hymns, prayers, the sacrament of bread and water, and talks by members. Classes for all ages follow.

Conclusion

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began in 1830 with Joseph Smith and has grown into a worldwide church of nearly 18 million members. It is built around local congregations, lay service, weekly worship, strong family life, and community service. Latter-day Saints consider themselves Christians who follow Jesus Christ.