The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is a restorationist Christian movement founded by Joseph Smith in upstate New York in 1830. Members believe that Smith was called as a prophet to restore the original church established by Jesus Christ, and that the Book of Mormon is a companion scripture to the Bible.
The LDS Church is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in modern history. Distinctive beliefs include continuing prophetic revelation through a living prophet, temple ordinances including baptism for the dead and celestial marriage, a lay priesthood, and the Word of Wisdom health code. The Church operates one of the world's largest missionary programs, with approximately 50,000 full-time missionaries serving at any given time.
The tradition has generated significant scholarly and public interest regarding its historical claims, including the translation of the Book of Mormon, the historicity of the Book of Abraham, polygamy in early Church history, and the evolution of temple ceremonies. Both devoted members and those who have left the Church have created extensive resources exploring these topics from their respective perspectives.