Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the "LDS Church" or the "Mormon Church", is the largest and best known denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement (a form of Christian Restorationism). The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Church leadership and the priesthood

The head of the church is the President, whom the members revere as the Prophet, seer, and revelator, and is entitled to receive revelation from God, and to guide the church and the world as His mouthpiece on the earth. Other general, area, and local authorities of the church include Apostles, Seventies, Stake Presidents, Bishops, and other quorum presidents. The president of the church serves as such until death, after which the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will meet, pray, and under the leadership of the senior apostle, receive revelation as to whom the next prophet should be. Although not specified by revelation, the senior apostle has historically become the new President of the church. General Authorities work full-time for the church, and those that need it receive a stipend from the church.

Related Topics:
President - Prophet - Apostle - Seventies - Stake President - Bishop - Quorum - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

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Lay clergy has a strong tradition in the church, as area and local authorities are unpaid and continue in their normal occupations while serving in leadership positions. Some positions are limited to priesthood holders, with qualifications usually related to the particular calling (e.g., women for the Relief Society, men for the priesthood quorums.) In 1978, an official declaration of the First Presidency reported that a revelation had been received by church President Spencer W. Kimball directing that all worthy men be allowed to receive the priesthood. From 1849 until 1978, men of African descent had not been permitted to receive the priesthood although they could become members and serve within the church. (Persons of other dark-skinned ethnicities not of African descent, such as the Maori, could receive the priesthood prior to this time, provided they were called by revelation. See Blacks and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

Related Topics:
Relief Society - 1978 - Spencer W. Kimball - 1849 - Blacks and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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As the church has no general salaried ministry, thousands of Latter-day Saints around the world participate in leading their congregations in their spare time for a period of a few years, while they continue their normal employment.

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See Priesthood (Mormonism) and Priesthood (Latter-day Saint); First Presidency; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; General Authority

Related Topics:
Priesthood (Mormonism) - Priesthood (Latter-day Saint) - First Presidency - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - General Authority

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