The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is the largest Latter Day Saint denomination, tracing its roots to its founding by Joseph Smith during the Second Great Awakening. The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, and has established congregations and built temples worldwide. According to the church, as of 2023, it has over 17.2 million members of which over 6.8 million live in the U.S. The church also reports over 99,000 volunteer missionaries and 350 temples.
Temple Square is a 10-acre (4.0 ha) complex, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square. Contained within Temple Square are the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors' centers. The square was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, recognizing the Mormon achievement in the settlement of Utah.
The Washington D.C. Temple is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in Kensington, Maryland, United States, just north of Washington, D.C., near the Capital Beltway. The intent to build the temple was announced on November 15, 1968, by church president David O. McKay. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 7, 1968, with the dedication by Spencer W. Kimball on November 9, 1974. The temple was dedicated after an open house that attracted over 750,000 people. The temple was the first built by the church east of the Mississippi River since 1846, when the original Nauvoo Temple was dedicated.
The Oakland California Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland, California. Notable for its five-spire design influenced by Asian architecture, the temple stands on a hill with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area. The complex, sometimes referred to as Temple Hill, includes a visitors' center, a church employment center, a materials distribution center, an auditorium, an inter-stake center, a rooftop terrace, and gardens where photoshoots for quinceañeras and other celebrations take place.
The Portland Oregon Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located on 7 acres (28,000 m2) of land near the intersection of Highway 217 and I-5 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The intent to build the temple was announced on April 7, 1984 by church president Spencer W. Kimball, during the church's general conference. Dedicated in 1989, the Portland Oregon Temple was the church's first temple in Oregon and the 42nd in the church. Prior to its dedication by Gordon B. Hinckley, over 314,000 people attended the public open house.
Symbolism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the process whereby objects or actions have been invested with an inner meaning expressing church ideas. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its membership have adopted a number of symbols that differ from those typically used in Christianity.
Merrill Boyd Jenson is an American composer and arranger who has composed film scores for over thirty films including Emma Smith: My Story, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd, Legacy, Harry's War, and Windwalker. Many of the films Jenson composed music for were directed by Academy Award-winning director Kieth Merrill. Jenson has also composed several concert productions including a symphony that premiered at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has composed music for many television commercials including the acclaimed Homefront ads, music for three outdoor pageants, and several albums. Jenson lives in Provo, Utah with his wife Betsy Lee Jenson.
Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism today commonly refers to the religious practice of baptizing a person on behalf of one who is dead—a living person receiving the rite on behalf of a deceased person.
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Logan Square neighborhood of Philadelphia. Completed in 2016, the intent to construct the temple was announced on October 4, 2008, during the church's general conference by LDS Church president Thomas S. Monson. The temple is the church's first in the state of Pennsylvania, and the first temple between Washington, D.C., and New York City.
The Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant is an annual production of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entitled Jesus the Christ and staged on the grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple. This Latter-day Saint pageant is now the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Virginia refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Virginia. In 1841, there were 80 members of the Church. It has since grown to 96,748 members in 216 congregations.
In 2001, there were 1,073 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C. It has since grown to 3,168 members in 4 congregations.
Eric Dennis Huntsman is a religion professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) and was coordinator of the university's ancient near eastern studies program from 2012-2022. He is currently the academic director of the BYU Jerusalem Center
Christus is an 1833 white Carrara marble statue of the resurrected Jesus by Bertel Thorvaldsen located in the Church of Our Lady, an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was commissioned as part of a larger group, which includes 11 of the original 12 apostles and Paul the Apostle.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pennsylvania refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Pennsylvania. Joseph and Emma Smith lived in Northern Pennsylvania near the Susquehanna River just prior to the organization of the Church of Christ. Much of the translation of the Book of Mormon and revelation of the priesthood occurred here during that time.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maryland refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members in Maryland. The official church membership as a percentage of general population was 0.72% in 2014. According to the 2014 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, roughly 1% of Marylanders self-identify themselves most closely with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church is the 8th largest denomination in Maryland.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Garth William Smith is a pianist/composer/musician accomplished in several styles of music including rock, country, classical and jazz. His current endeavor is creating spiritually uplifting piano arrangements of popular LDS Hymns. After living for many years in Oceanside, California, he currently resides in Bella Vista, Arkansas, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A visitors' center is a building often near a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where missionaries teach visitors about the tenets of their faith and other community events are held. Visitors' centers often include a replica of Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue, exhibits, musical performances, devotionals, and a Family History Center (FHC).
