Church of Jesus Christ: Beliefs, Leadership, and Key Facts

Most of us have heard the nickname “Mormon,” but the official story behind that label is more layered than it first appears. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it has been formally known since 1838, is a Christian denomination with over 17 million members worldwide, led by President Russell M. Nelson.

Members worldwide: over 17 million ·
Founded: 1830 ·
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA ·
Current leader: Russell M. Nelson (since 2018) ·
Official name used since: 2018 (emphasis on full name)

Seven facts that define the Church’s identity, scope, and leadership structure:

Is the Church of Jesus Christ the same as Mormon?

Official name vs informal nickname

The Church’s own position is unambiguous: the official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to the Church’s official About Us page, the name was given by revelation in 1838, citing the scripture: “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (BYU Religious Studies Center).

• “Mormon” began as a casual shorthand based on the Book of Mormon, which members accept as scripture alongside the Bible.
• News organizations and the general public have used “Mormon Church” for decades, though church leaders have consistently pushed back since at least the early 2000s.

Reasons for the “Mormon” label

The nickname stuck because the Book of Mormon is the most distinctive element of LDS scripture — no other Christian denomination uses it. In a BYU Studies analysis, a March 2001 First Presidency letter formally asked members, news organizations, and others to use the Church’s full name and avoid “Mormon Church” or “LDS Church.”

2018 style guide change

When Russell M. Nelson became president in 2018, he issued a renewed directive: the Church should be referred to by its full name, and “Mormon” should be reserved for members of the ancient Book of Mormon prophets, not used as a label for the Church itself. The Church’s official site now leads with the full name on every page.

The implication: any reference to “Mormon Church” now carries an official correction from leadership.

What religion is the Church of Jesus Christ?

Christian denomination status

The Church identifies itself unequivocally as Christian. Its Come unto Christ beliefs page opens with the statement that every person is a son or daughter of a loving God and that Jesus Christ saved the world from sin and death. The About Us page describes the Church as “a worldwide faith of over 17 million members” centered on Jesus Christ.

Distinctive doctrines

• Godhead: LDS doctrine teaches that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings united in purpose, not one substance — a nontrinitarian view (Wikipedia overview).
• Additional scripture: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price are accepted as canon alongside the Bible.
• Continuing revelation: Members believe the Church president is a modern-day prophet, seer, and revelator (BYU Religious Studies Center).

Relation to mainstream Christianity

Four key differences between LDS doctrine and mainstream Christian (Catholic/Protestant) teaching:

Five doctrinal topics, one pattern: LDS teaching diverges from mainstream Christianity on the Trinity, scripture, salvation, afterlife, and continuing revelation.

Who runs the Church of Jesus Christ?

Prophet and President

The Church’s highest leader is the President, whom members sustain as a prophet, seer, and revelator. The General Church Leadership page describes the First Presidency as the highest governing body, consisting of the President and his two counselors. The current President, Russell M. Nelson, has served since January 2018.

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second governing body. According to BYU Religious Studies Center, the Twelve serve as special witnesses of Jesus Christ and collectively hold authority to govern the Church after the death of the president, including installing a new president.

• General Authorities include the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, General Authority Seventies, and Presiding Bishopric (General Church Leadership page).
• General Officers oversee auxiliary organizations: Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, and Young Men.

Local leadership structure

Each geographic area is assigned a General Authority Seventy by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve to serve as area president, as outlined in the General Handbook. Local congregations (wards) are led by a bishop, and groups of congregations (stakes) are led by a stake president.

The catch: while the structure is centralized, local leaders have significant autonomy in day-to-day pastoral care.

What are the main beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Godhead

LDS doctrine teaches that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings. The Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bone; the Holy Ghost is a spirit. This differs from the traditional Trinity doctrine of one substance (Wikipedia overview).

Plan of salvation

• Pre-mortal life: Every person lived as a spirit child of God before birth.
• Mortality: Earth life is a time of learning, testing, and growth.
• Afterlife: Death leads to the spirit world, then resurrection and judgment, with three degrees of glory depending on faithfulness and ordinances received.

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Members believe that Jesus Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross paid for the sins of all people, enabling resurrection for everyone and conditional salvation for those who repent and follow His commandments (Come unto Christ beliefs page).

Ordinances and covenants

Essential ordinances include baptism by immersion, confirmation, sacrament (communion), and temple ordinances such as eternal marriage and sealing of families. The About Us page states that these ordinances are performed by priesthood authority restored through Joseph Smith.

What this means: outsiders should understand that LDS doctrine is not static, even if core teachings remain stable.

Can Mormons be LGBTQ?

Official stance on same-sex attraction

The Church’s doctrine opposes same-sex marriage and sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman. However, the General Handbook distinguishes between orientation and behavior: members who experience same-sex attraction can participate fully in the Church if they remain celibate.

Policy on same-sex marriage

• 2015 policy: Children of parents in same-sex relationships could not receive blessings or baptism until age 18 and had to disavow same-sex marriage.
• 2019 reversal: The First Presidency rescinded that policy, allowing children of same-sex parents to receive ordinances with standard parental consent.

Celibacy expectations

Members with same-sex attraction are expected to live the law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relations outside a legal marriage between one man and one woman. The Come unto Christ page frames chastity as a commandment for all members, regardless of orientation.

The pattern: the Church maintains a fixed moral standard while adjusting pastoral application over time.

Timeline of key events

• 1820 — Joseph Smith reports the First Vision, seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ. (BYU Religious Studies Center)
• 1830 — The Church is formally organized in Fayette, New York, with six initial members. (Church’s About Us page)
• 1844 — Joseph Smith is killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois; a succession crisis follows. (Wikipedia overview)
• 1847 — Brigham Young leads pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley, establishing the new headquarters. (Wikipedia overview)
• 1890 — The Manifesto officially ends the practice of polygamy within the Church. (BYU Religious Studies Center)
• 1978 — Revelation extends the priesthood to all worthy male members regardless of race. (Come unto Christ beliefs page)
• 2018 — Russell M. Nelson becomes President; emphasizes the use of the full church name. (General Church Leadership page)

BYU Religious Studies Center provides a full historical treatment of these events.

The implication: each pivot marks a shift in the Church’s relationship with the broader world.

Clarity breakdown

What’s confirmed

• The official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, given by revelation in 1838 (Church’s About Us page).
• The Church believes in continuing revelation through a living prophet (BYU Religious Studies Center).
• The current prophet and president is Russell M. Nelson (General Church Leadership page).
• Global membership exceeds 17 million (Church’s About Us page).

What’s unclear

• The exact fulfillment timeline of Jesus’s statement about “this generation not passing away” (Matthew 24:34 / Joseph Smith–Matthew) is debated among members and scholars.
• Folk expressions such as “shaking the bed” in Mormon cultural context have no official doctrinal explanation and are not addressed in Church handbooks or teachings.
• Exact membership breakdown by country is not publicly available.
• Total number of temples currently operating is not listed in this article.

The pattern: the gaps tend to involve eschatological interpretation and folk practices, not core doctrine.

Perspectives from leadership

“The Lord has made it clear that the name by which His Church should be called is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

— Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, 2018

“We ask that the full name of the Church be used when possible. ‘Mormon’ is not an acceptable substitute.”

— First Presidency letter, published March 2001 (reported by BYU Studies)

The Come unto Christ site frames the Church’s core invitation: “Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.”

For the global membership of over 17 million people in 31,000 congregations across the world, the distinction between the official name and the cultural nickname carries real weight. The About Us page states the Church’s primary purpose: “to invite all to come unto Christ.” Whether that invitation reaches someone searching for a church near them or a student comparing doctrines, the organization behind it operates with a clarity of identity that its leaders continue to press into public awareness. For anyone trying to understand where the LDS Church fits on the Christian map, the trade-off is straightforward: accept its self-definition as a restored Christian denomination with open canon and nontrinitarian theology, or classify it as a distinct restorationist movement. Either way, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not hiding what it teaches.

The implication: the Church’s self-understanding is publicly available; the choice of how to classify it lies with the observer.

For a comprehensive overview of the church’s core doctrines and organizational structure, see our detailed guide on LDS Church beliefs and leadership.

Frequently asked questions

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