Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)

A Christian denomination that originated from the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830. The Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations and temples worldwide, with approximately 13 million members on its rolls.

Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that four authoritative books of scripture contain the word of God: the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

According to their beliefs, Jesus is the Divine Son of God the Father, delivered to the earth by the virgin Mary. They believe Jesus lived a sinless life, and that his suffering at Gethsemane, the shedding of his blood, his crucifixion, his death and resurrection were sufficient to satisfy the demands of eternal justice and make an infinite atonement for the sins of all humanity. They believe in Jesus' literal, bodily resurrection, and that he currently sits at the right hand of God the Father. They believe Jesus is united in purpose with the Father, but that the Father and the Son are distinct, glorified beings of flesh and bone, rather than solely spirit.

The Church teaches that sometime after the events depicted in the New Testament, there was a Great Apostasy, or loss of authority to lead Christ's Church, to preach the Gospel, and administer the ordinances of the Church. Jesus Christ is viewed as the head of the Church, leading it today through revelations given to a hierarchy of priesthood leaders to whom the authority has been restored. The highest-ranking leader is the President of the Church, who is considered to be a prophet and an apostle.

The Church distinguishes itself from other Christian denominations by its practice of temple ordinances, eternal marriage, and teaching that Jesus visited and preached in the Americas after his resurrection, as related in the Book of Mormon.