Replica of Thorvaldsen's Christus in Temple Square visitors' center

The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or, informally, the Mormon Church) is a Christian restorationist church that is considered by its followers (often called Mormons) to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has established congregations (called wards or branches) and built temples worldwide. It is the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith during the period of religious revival in the United States known as the Second Great Awakening.

Nature of the church

An Euler diagram showing the relationship between Christianity, Mormonism, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (not to scale)

The LDS Church can be described as all of the following:

  • Belief system –
    • Religion –
      • Abrahamic religion –
        • Christianity –
          • Restorationism –
            • Latter Day Saint movement –
              • List of denominations –

Beliefs

Diagram of the LDS plan of salvation
Main article: Beliefs and practices of the LDS Church
See also: List of Mormon folk beliefs
  • Restoration
  • Priesthood
    • Aaronic
    • Melchizedek
  • Standard Works
  • God
  • Cosmology
  • King Follett discourse
  • Plan of salvation
    • Degrees of glory
    • Spirit world
  • Revelation
    • Non-canonical revelations
  • Ordinance
  • Covenant
  • Temple
  • Exaltation
  • Evolution
    • Timeline
  • Baptism for the dead
  • Suicide
  • Criticism of LDS Church

Social principles

Gender

  • Celestial marriage
  • Mormonism and women
    • Ordain Women
  • Gender minorities

Sexuality

Main article: Sexuality and Mormonism
  • Birth control and abortion
  • Masturbation
  • Soaking
LGBTQ people
Main articles: Homosexuality and the LDS Church and Gender minorities and the LDS Church
  • Homosexuality teachings timeline
  • Timeline of LGBTQ Mormon history
  • LGBTQ Mormon people and organizations
  • Sexual orientation change efforts and the LDS Church
  • BYU LGBTQ history
    • Timeline
  • LGBTQ Mormon suicides
  • LGBTQ rights

Race

Main article: Mormon teachings on skin color
  • Black people and Mormonism
    • Temple and priesthood policies
    • Joseph Smith's views on Black people
  • Slavery
  • Native Americans
    • Lamanites
  • Interracial marriage
  • Pacific Islanders
  • House of Joseph
  • Act for the relief of Indian Slaves and Prisoners
  • Act in Relation to Service
  • Indian Placement Program
  • Battle at Fort Utah
  • Battle Creek massacre
  • Bear River Massacre
  • Black Hawk War (1865–1872)
  • Bluff War
  • Fountain Green massacre
  • Salt Creek Canyon massacre
  • Ute Wars

Duties

  • Strengthening Church Members Committee
  • Law of consecration
  • Tithing (Latter Day Saints)
  • Temple garment
  • Calling
  • Family Home Evening
  • Word of Wisdom
  • Missionary

Ordinances

Main article: Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)
  • Purpose: Exaltation

Non-temple ordinances

  • Baptism in Mormonism
  • Confirmation
  • Baptism with the Holy Spirit
  • Priesthood
  • Chrism
  • Hosanna shout
  • Naming and blessing of children
  • Patriarchal blessing
  • Priesthood blessing
  • Setting apart
  • Shaking the dust from the feet
  • Common consent
  • Solemn assembly
  • Sacrament

Temple-only ordinances

  • Endowment (Latter Day Saints)
  • Endowment
  • Sealing
  • Washing and anointing
  • Celestial marriage
  • Law of adoption
  • Second anointing
  • Baptism for the dead
  • Right hand of Christian fellowship
  • Prayer circle

History

Main article: History of the Latter Day Saint movement

Early history

New York

  • Second Great Awakening
  • Burned-over district
  • First Vision
  • Golden plates
  • Church of Christ

Ohio

  • Kirtland, Ohio
  • Kirtland Temple
  • Sidney Rigdon
  • High council
  • School of the Prophets
  • Joseph Smith Papyri
  • Fanny Alger
  • Kirtland Safety Society

Missouri

  • Jackson County, Missouri
  • Zion (Latter Day Saints)
  • Far West, Missouri
  • 1838 Mormon War
  • Thomas B. Marsh
  • Liberty Jail

Illinois

  • History of Nauvoo, Illinois
  • Nauvoo Temple
  • University of Nauvoo
  • Nauvoo Legion
  • Second anointing
  • Anointed Quorum
  • William Law
  • Nauvoo Expositor
  • Killing of Joseph Smith
  • Succession crisis

Pioneer Era

  • History of the LDS Church

Utah

  • Mormon pioneers
  • Mormon Trail
  • History of Utah
  • Salt Lake City
  • Council of Fifty
  • Theodemocracy
  • State of Deseret
  • Utah Territory
  • Mormon Reformation
  • Jedediah M. Grant
  • Heber C. Kimball
  • Blood atonement
  • Utah War
  • Mountain Meadows massacre
  • Alfred Cumming
  • James Buchanan
  • United Order
  • Polygamy

Modern times

  • Wilford Woodruff
  • 1890 Manifesto
  • Joseph F. Smith
  • Second Manifesto
  • Spencer W. Kimball
  • 1978 Revelation on Priesthood
  • Good Neighbor policy
  • DezNat

By century

  • 19th century
  • 20th century
  • 21st century

Culture

Main article: Culture of the LDS Church

Education

  • Church Educational System
    • Brigham Young University
    • Jerusalem Center
    • BYU–Idaho
    • BYU–Hawaii
    • Ensign College
    • Sunday School
    • Institute of Religion
    • Perpetual Education Fund

Family history

  • Genealogical Society of Utah
    • Sealing
    • Family History Centers
    • FamilySearch
    • Granite Mountain

Music

  • Mormon music
    • Mormon Tabernacle Choir
    • Orchestra at Temple Square
    • Bells on Temple Square
    • Temple Square Chorale
    • Hymns of the LDS Church
    • Hymns in the LDS Church

Cinema

  • Mormon cinema

Mormon studies

Main article: Mormon studies
  • Association for Mormon Letters
  • Church Historian and Recorder
  • FairMormon
  • John Whitmer Historical Association
  • Mormon Historic Sites Foundation
  • Mormon History Association
  • Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
  • Sunstone
Journals and Literature
  • History of the Church
  • The Joseph Smith Papers
  • Journal of Discourses
  • Encyclopedia of Mormonism
  • Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia
  • BYU Studies Quarterly
  • Dialogue (journal)
  • James McLachlan (scholar)
  • Woman's Exponent
  • International Journal of Mormon Studies
  • Interpreter (journal)
  • Journal of Book of Mormon Studies
  • Mormon Studies Review
  • Utah State Historical Society

Polygamy

Main article: Mormonism and polygamy

Background

  • Origins
  • In the late-19th century
  • 1890 Manifesto
  • Second Manifesto
  • Council of Friends
  • 1886 Revelation

Current state

Main article: Current state of polygamy in the Latter Day Saint movement
  • Mormon fundamentalism
  • Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  • Apostolic United Brethren
  • Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act
  • Poland Act
  • Edmunds Act
  • Edmunds–Tucker Act
  • Reed Smoot hearings
  • Reynolds v. United States
  • Angus M. Cannon
  • Clawson v. United States
  • Davis v. Beason
  • Late Corp. of the LDS Church v. United States
  • Cleveland v. United States (1946)
  • Brown v. Buhman
  • Celestial marriage
  • Spiritual wifery
  • Polygamy in North America
  • Mormon colonies in Mexico
  • Latter-day Saint settlements in Canada
  • Short Creek raid
  • Lost boys (Mormon fundamentalism)
  • YFZ Ranch
  • Polygamy czar
  • Legal status of polygamy

In media

  • Big Love
  • Sister Wives
  • Sons of Perdition (film)
  • Under the Banner of Heaven

Lists

  • List of Joseph Smith's wives
  • List of Brigham Young's wives
  • List of Latter Day Saint practitioners of plural marriage
  • List of Mormon fundamentalist leaders
  • List of polygamy court cases

Schools

Brigham Young University

Main article: Brigham Young University
  • History
  • Academic freedom
  • Campus
  • Buildings

Colleges

  • David O. McKay School of Education
  • Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
  • BYU College of Family, Home and Social Sciences
  • BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications
  • BYU College of Humanities
  • J. Reuben Clark Law School
  • BYU College of Life Sciences
  • Marriott School of Management
  • BYU College of Nursing
  • BYU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
  • BYU Religious Education

Academics

  • Harold B. Lee Library
  • Ernest L. Wilkinson Student Center
  • Eyring Science Center
  • Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center
  • Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center
  • BYU Testing Center
  • Jesse Knight Building
  • Joseph Smith Building
  • Maeser Building
  • N. Eldon Tanner Building
  • Spencer W. Kimball Tower

Museums

  • Museum of Art
  • Museum of Peoples and Cultures
  • Museum of Paleontology
  • Life Science Museum

Student life

  • Student life
  • Church Educational System Honor Code
  • Ballroom Dance Company
  • Centennial Carillon Tower
  • BYU Cougars

Media

  • BYUtv
  • BYU Television International

Lists

  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Presidents

Other schools

  • Brigham Young University–Hawaii
    • Presidents of BYU-H
    • BYU–Hawaii Seasiders
    • BYU-H alumni
  • Brigham Young University–Idaho
    • Presidents of BYU-I
    • BYU-I alumni

Temples

Main article: List of temples (LDS Church)
See also: List of temples by geographic region (LDS Church) and Comparison of temples (LDS Church)
  • Kirtland Temple
  • Nauvoo Temple
  • St. George Utah Temple
  • Salt Lake Temple
  • Temple architecture

Institutions of the LDS Church

Priesthood

Main article: Priesthood (LDS Church)

Melchizedek

Main article: Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)
  • Elder
  • Seventy
  • High priest
  • Patriarch
  • Apostle

Aaronic

Main article: Aaronic priesthood (Latter Day Saints)
  • Deacon
  • Teacher
  • Priest
  • Bishop

Quorums

Main article: Quorum (Latter Day Saints)
  • First Presidency
  • Twelve Apostles
  • Presiding Bishop
  • Council on the Disposition of the Tithes
  • Common Council of the Church
  • Council of the Church
  • High council
  • Disciplinary council

Positions

Main article: General authority
  • President
  • President of the 12 Apostles
    • Acting President
  • Prophet, seer, and revelator
  • General authority
  • Temple president
  • Mission president
  • Stake
  • Church Historian and Recorder
  • Branch president

Defunct Positions

  • Assistant President
  • Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
  • Council of Fifty
  • Regional representative of the Twelve
  • Presiding Patriarch

Headquarters

Interior of the Conference Center where the church holds its general conferences twice a year
Main article: Temple Square
  • Salt Lake Temple
  • Tabernacle
    • Tabernacle Organ
  • Assembly Hall
  • Gardens
  • Conference Center
    • Conference Center Organ
  • Church Office Building
  • Joseph Smith Memorial Building
  • Church Administration Building
  • Relief Society Building
  • Brigham Young Complex
    • Beehive House
    • Lion House
  • Family History Library
  • Church History Museum
  • Church History Library

Historic sites

Hierarchy of leadership

Jesus Christ
General Authorities
The First Presidency:
President of the Church, 1st Counselor and 2nd Counselor
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and eleven other Apostles
Quorums of the Seventy
The Seven Presidents of the Seventy and several dozen Seventies
First Quorum of the Seventy Second Quorum of the Seventy
Area Presidencies:
Presidents and 1st and 2nd Counselors are filled by Seventies
Local Authorities
Third through Twelfth Quorum of the Seventy (Area Seventies) Temple Presidencies
Stake Presidencies and High Councils Mission Presidencies
Ward Bishoprics or Branch Presidencies Elders Quorums
Deacons Quorums Teachers Quorums Priests Quorums

Organization

Main article: Organization (LDS Church)
  • Primary
  • Relief Society
  • Sunday School
  • Young Men
  • Young Women

Geographical divisions

  Countries and territories with at least one LDS temple
  Countries and territories with no LDS temple, but with organized congregations and/or missionaries
  Countries and territories with no official LDS presence
  • Area
    • Mission (List of)
      • District
        • Ward
        • Branch

By country

In the USA

Texts and scriptures

Main article: Standard works
  • Criticism
Proposed map of the lands and sites of the Book of Mormon

Bible

Main article: Bible
  • LDS edition of the Bible
  • Joseph Smith Translation

Book of Mormon

Main article: Book of Mormon
  • Criticism
  • Small Plates of Nephi
    • First Book of Nephi
    • Second Book of Nephi
    • Book of Jacob
    • Book of Enos
    • Book of Jarom
    • Book of Omni
    • Words of Mormon
  • Mormon's abridgment of
    the Large Plates of Nephi
    • Book of Mosiah
    • Book of Alma
    • Book of Helaman
    • Third Nephi
    • Fourth Nephi
    • Book of Mormon
    • Book of Ether
    • Book of Moroni

Doctrine and Covenants

Main article: Doctrine and Covenants

Pearl of Great Price

Main article: Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)
  • Book of Moses
  • Book of Abraham
    • Criticism
  • Book of Joseph
  • Joseph Smith–Matthew
  • Joseph Smith–History
  • Articles of Faith

Other texts

  • History of the Church
  • Journal of Discourses
  • The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Important figures

LDS Church Presidents

=Overview

  • President of the Church (LDS Church)
  • Prophet, seer, and revelator
  • President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)
  • Teachings of Presidents of the Church
  • Salt Lake Temple
  • Holy of Holies (LDS Church)

Chronological List

Main article: List of presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Joseph Smith
  • Brigham Young
  • John Taylor (Mormon)
  • Wilford Woodruff
  • Lorenzo Snow
  • Joseph F. Smith
  • Heber J. Grant
  • George Albert Smith
  • David O. McKay
  • Joseph Fielding Smith
  • Harold B. Lee
  • Spencer W. Kimball
  • Ezra Taft Benson
  • Howard W. Hunter
  • Gordon B. Hinckley
  • Thomas S. Monson
  • Russell M. Nelson
  • Dallin H. Oaks

Central figures

  • Joseph Smith
    • Teachings
    • Prophecies
  • Brigham Young
  • List of presidents
    • Teachings of Presidents of the Church

LDS Church apostles

  • Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
    • Chronology of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
      • List of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Other influential figures

  • Book of Mormon witnesses
    • Three Witnesses
    • Eight Witnesses
    • Mary Whitmer
  • List of Latter Day Saints

Groups

  • Mormons
  • Cultural Mormon
  • Molly Mormon and Peter Priesthood
  • Less-active Mormon
  • Jack Mormon
  • Ex-Mormon
  • Anti-Mormon

Template of the LDS Church

Position of the LDS Church within the Mormon movement

  • v
  • t
  • e
Current denominations or sub-groups in the Latter Day Saint movement
        — (I.) Major two * —        
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 17.0 million (2022), about 98–99% of Latter Day Saint movement – Utah-based		 Dallin H. Oaks
presided 2025–present		 Thomas S. Monson
presided 2008–2018		 John Taylor
presided 1877–1887		 Brigham Young
presided 1844–1877
Joseph Smith Jr.
presided 1830–1844[a]
Community of Christ
 252,000 (2019), about 1–2% of Latter Day Saint movement – Missouri-based		 Stassi D. Cramm
presided 2025–present		 Wallace B. Smith
presided 1978–1996		 Joseph Smith III
presided 1860–1914
 
— (II.) With membership in the thousands * —
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)
 19,029 members (Dec. 31, 2012) – Pennsylvania-based		 Joel Gehly
presided 2018–present		 William Bickerton
presided 1862–1880		 Sidney Rigdon
presided 1844–1847[b]
Church of Christ With the Elijah Message
 over 12,000 members (1998) – Missouri-based		 William Draves
presided 1943–1994
Apostolic United Brethren
 approximately 10,000 members (1998)– Utah-based		 Mormon fundamentalism
John Woolley / Lorin Woolley
Council of Friends
(Short Creek Community)
presided 1918–1928 / 1928–1934
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
 approximately 10,000 members (2011) – Utah-based
Restoration branches movement which have created the
Joint Conference of Restoration Branches
 6,000–7,000 members[c] (2010) – Missouri-based
Fellowships of the Remnant
About 5,000–10,000 participants (2017). Organized 2013 worldwide by
adherents of a self-subscribed neo-LDS fundamentalist and neo-"Reorganized Latter Day Saint" and Reorganization-like Restorationism revealed through Denver Snuffer
(excommunicated from LDS Church under Monson)
Church of Christ (Fettingite)
 2,000 members (1988); Missouri-based		 Otto Fetting
presided 1927–1933
Church of Christ (Temple Lot)
 7,310 members (2013) – Missouri-based		 Granville Hedrick
presided 1863–1881
— (III.) Minuscule, founded in the 19th century *† —
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
 300 members (1998) – Wisconsin-based		 James Strang
presided 1844–1856
Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite)
 "one branch" (as of 2023) – Missouri-based		 Alpheus Cutler
presided 1853–1864


    *^  Membership worldwide; generally church-reported; with an occasional exception
    †^ Once larger

  1. ^ Organized the Church of Christ, the Latter Day Saint movement's original organization, of which multiple denominations currently believe themselves the true successor
  2. ^ See Rigdonite.
  3. ^ Members consider themselves as remaining adherents of the (historical) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (As of 2011, litigation by the Community of Christ against Restoration Branch individuals and entities generally established CofC's right to both the full and abbreviated RLDS name.)


Comparison with the Community of Christ

Main article: Comparison of the Community of Christ and the LDS Church

See also

  • Index of articles related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Outline of the Book of Mormon
  • Outline of Joseph Smith

References