What the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches and who leads it
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church or the Church) is a Christian denomination founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York. The Church teaches that God restored his church through Smith after a period of apostasy, and that additional scripture beyond the Bible—including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price—contains God's word. Members believe in continuing revelation, meaning church leaders receive divine guidance on doctrine and practice.
The Church is led by a president who serves as the head of the church and is believed by members to be a prophet. Below the president sits the First Presidency (the president and two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who together make up the senior leadership. The Church also has a lay priesthood structure, meaning most adult male members hold some level of priesthood authority and participate in leading local congregations called wards. Women do not hold priesthood office but serve in auxiliary organizations and leadership roles within those structures.
The Church operates temples in multiple countries where members perform sacred ordinances they believe are necessary for salvation. These temples are distinct from meetinghouses, where regular Sunday worship and community activities occur. Temple worship is restricted to members in good standing who have received a temple recommend from their local bishop.
Key Takeaways
- The Church teaches that God restored his church through Joseph Smith and that additional scriptures beyond the Bible guide doctrine and practice.
- The Church is led by a president (believed to be a prophet), the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with local congregations led by bishops and other lay priesthood holders.
- Adult male members hold priesthood authority and participate in leading their local wards; women serve in auxiliary leadership roles.
- The Church operates temples where members perform sacred ordinances, separate from regular Sunday worship in meetinghouses.
- Members are expected to follow specific lifestyle standards, including abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and coffee, and paying tithing (ten percent of income).
How membership works and what is expected of members
A person becomes a member of the Church through baptism, which typically occurs after a period of instruction and agreement with core doctrines. Children of members are usually blessed as infants in a formal ceremony but are not baptized until age eight, when the Church teaches they reach the age of accountability. Adults who join the Church are baptized after meeting with missionaries or local members and expressing belief in the restored gospel.
Once baptized, members are expected to live according to the Church's standards. The most visible standard is the Word of Wisdom, a health code that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea, and encourages healthy eating. Members seeking to enter a temple must also abstain from these substances and follow other behavioral expectations. Members are also expected to pay tithing—ten percent of their income—to support the Church's operations, buildings, and charitable work. Tithing is voluntary in the sense that no one is forced to pay, but it is presented as a religious obligation, and members who do not pay are not considered in full standing for temple worship.
Members are organized into geographic congregations called wards, typically containing 300 to 600 people. Each ward has a bishop who serves as the spiritual leader and handles member records, financial matters, and pastoral care. Members attend Sunday services in their assigned ward, though they may also attend other wards if they choose. The Church also organizes members by age and gender into auxiliary organizations—Primary (children), Young Women (girls ages 12 to 18), Young Men (boys ages 12 to 18), Relief Society (women), and Elders Quorum (men)—which hold separate meetings and activities.
Priesthood structure and roles in the Church
The Church teaches that priesthood is the authority to act in God's name. Male members typically receive priesthood ordination in stages beginning around age twelve. The first level is the Aaronic Priesthood, held by young men and some adult converts, which carries responsibilities like passing sacrament (communion) during Sunday services and collecting fast offerings. The second level is the Melchizedek Priesthood, typically conferred on male members in their late teens or early adulthood, which carries broader authority to lead congregations, perform blessings, and conduct temple ordinances.
Priesthood holders serve in specific roles within their ward. A bishop is a Melchizedek Priesthood holder assigned to lead a ward. He is assisted by two counselors, also priesthood holders. Below them are quorum leaders—the Elders Quorum president (for adult men) and the Young Men president (for teenage boys)—who oversee their respective groups. Priesthood holders also serve as home teachers, visiting member families monthly to provide spiritual support and report on their welfare.
Women do not hold priesthood office but lead the Relief Society (the women's organization), Primary, and Young Women through positions such as president, counselors, and teachers. These roles carry significant responsibility for spiritual instruction and community care, though they operate under the priesthood authority structure rather than holding priesthood themselves. This distinction is central to Church theology but is a point of ongoing discussion and debate both within and outside the Church.
Temple worship and sacred ordinances
Temples hold a central place in Church theology and practice. The Church teaches that temples are houses of God where sacred ordinances—rituals believed to be necessary for salvation—are performed. These ordinances include baptism for the dead (where living members are baptized on behalf of deceased ancestors), endowment (a ceremony where members make covenants and receive instruction), and sealing (a ritual that binds families together eternally, including marriage sealing).
Access to temples is restricted to members who hold a current temple recommend, a document issued by a bishop and stake president after an interview confirming the member's adherence to Church standards. The recommend is valid for two years. Non-members and members not in good standing cannot enter temples, though the Church does hold public open houses before dedicating new temples.
The Church operates over 300 temples worldwide, with more under construction. Temple worship is distinct from Sunday worship in meetinghouses and is considered the highest form of religious practice in the Church. Members are encouraged to attend temples regularly, though frequency varies based on proximity, personal circumstances, and individual devotion.
Missionary work and conversion
Missionary work is a central practice in the Church. Young men are encouraged to serve two-year missions beginning at age eighteen, and young women may serve eighteen-month missions beginning at age nineteen. Missionaries are unpaid volunteers who fund their own service (or receive support from family or the Church) and spend their time proselytizing, teaching the gospel to non-members, and performing service in their assigned geographic area.
The Church also sends senior couples (typically retired members) and family missions. Missionaries live in pairs, follow a strict daily schedule, and adhere to behavioral standards including no dating, limited entertainment, and modest dress. They teach potential converts using Church materials and scriptures, and conversion typically involves a period of instruction followed by baptism.
As of recent years, the Church reports that over 60,000 missionaries serve at any given time. Missionary service is not required for membership but is strongly encouraged and culturally significant—many Church members serve missions, and it is often seen as a formative experience. The Church has also adjusted missionary age requirements and policies multiple times in recent decades.
Doctrinal beliefs distinct to the Church
Several doctrinal beliefs distinguish the Church from mainstream Christianity. The Church teaches that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings (not a trinity as traditionally understood in other Christian churches). The Church also teaches that humans have the potential to become like God through obedience and the ordinances of the temple—a concept called exaltation.
The Church teaches that the Book of Mormon is a historical record of people who lived in the Americas and that it is scripture equal to the Bible. Members also believe in continuing revelation—that God speaks to the Church president today just as he spoke to biblical prophets. This means Church doctrine can change; for example, the Church changed its policy on Black members and priesthood in 1978, and changed policies on LGBTQ+ members and their families in 2023.
The Church also teaches the pre-mortal existence (that spirits existed before birth), the plan of salvation (a framework explaining the purpose of life and the afterlife), and that families can be sealed together eternally through temple ordinances. These beliefs shape how members understand purpose, family, and the afterlife.
Church organization and governance
The Church is organized hierarchically. At the top is the president and the First Presidency. Below them is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Together, these fifteen men make up the senior leadership and meet regularly to discuss doctrine and Church direction. Below them are the Seventy (additional general authorities who oversee regions), stake presidents (who oversee multiple wards in a geographic area), and bishops (who lead individual wards).
The Church also has a complex bureaucratic structure managing finances, real estate, education, media, and humanitarian work. The Church is incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is one of the wealthiest religious organizations in the world, though exact financial details are not publicly disclosed. The Church owns significant real estate, operates Brigham Young University and other educational institutions, and runs a global humanitarian aid program.
Decision-making at the highest levels is presented as revelation-based rather than democratic, though the Church does hold twice-yearly general conferences where members sustain (formally approve) the leadership. Members vote by raising their hands, and dissenting votes are rare and not publicly counted in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be born into the Church to be a member?
No. Anyone can join the Church through baptism after a period of instruction and agreement with core beliefs. The Church actively seeks converts through missionary work. Children born to Church members are blessed as infants but are baptized at age eight when they can make their own choice.
What happens if a member breaks Church rules like drinking alcohol?
Breaking Church standards does not automatically remove membership, but it affects standing. A member who violates major standards may lose their temple recommend and be restricted from certain roles. Serious violations may result in formal discipline, including disfellowshipping (loss of some privileges) or excommunication (removal from membership). The bishop handles these matters through private interviews.
Can women hold leadership positions in the Church?
Women lead auxiliary organizations (Relief Society, Primary, Young Women) and teach in various capacities, but they do not hold priesthood office or serve as bishops, stake presidents, or in the senior leadership. This is a core doctrine in the Church, though it remains a point of discussion and debate among members and outside observers.
Is the Church the same as the FLDS or other Mormon groups?
No. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest Latter-day Saint denomination. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) and other groups broke away over doctrinal disagreements, most notably over polygamy. The main Church discontinued polygamy in 1890 and excommunicates members who practice it.
What is the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse?
Meetinghouses are where members gather for Sunday worship, classes, and community activities. Temples are separate buildings where sacred ordinances are performed and are restricted to members with a temple recommend. Most members attend meetinghouses weekly but temples less frequently, depending on proximity and personal practice.