An overview of the presence, growth, and contributions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world.
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Historical Overview
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in April 1830, when Joseph Smith met with a small group of believers in northwestern New York to restore the ancient Church of Jesus Christ. These Latter-day Saints believed Smith to be a modern prophet of God and readily shared their faith with family and friends. The fledgling church grew as its missionaries traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and then to the British Isles, to proclaim the message of the Restoration of Christ’s Church. Eventually, intense persecution led the Latter-day Saints to settle in what would later become Utah in the western United States. From there, missionaries embarked to preach in nations throughout the world. By the twenty-first century, the Church reported more Latter-day Saints living outside than inside of the United States, with congregations and temples on every continent.
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Growth of the Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized in a small log cabin in upstate New York in 1830. It took 117 years—until 1947—for the Church to grow from the initial six members to one million.
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Missionary Program
The missionary program is one of the Church’s most recognized initiatives. Latter-day Saint missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities throughout the world.
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Temples
Latter-day Saint temples are considered houses of God, places of holiness and peace where Church members can take a break from the anxiety and uncertainty of the world and focus instead on their relationship with God.
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Humanitarian Services
The Church’s humanitarian aid program collaborates with other aid organizations to provide emergency relief, build self-reliance, and implement development projects all over the world.
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Education
The Church Educational System (CES) was created to help students all over the world receive both spiritual and secular education. CES oversees Church-owned universities and colleges, the Church’s online certificate and degree program (BYU–Pathway), Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, and the Perpetual Education Fund.
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Genealogy
For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, genealogy is more than just learning about family history. Members of the Church believe families can be together after this life through ceremonies that are performed in Latter-day Saint temples.
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