President of the Church (Mormonism)

In Mormonism, the President of the Church is the head of a Latter Day Saint denomination or church. Several other titles are associated with this office, including First Elder of the church, Presiding High Priest, President of the High Priesthood, Trustee-in-Trust for the church, Prophet, Seer and Revelator (in a few cases Prophet, Seer and Translator, Prophet, Priest and King or King Priest and Ruler over Israel on Earth). The movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., the first president of the church, was known by all of these titles in his lifetime.

Related Topics:
Mormonism - Latter Day Saint - Joseph Smith, Jr.

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A succession crisis followed Smith's assassination in 1844. Different successors organized church hierarchies, making use of some or all of these titles and functions. Today, the largest two denominations are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ ? and the office of president of the church has evolved distinctly in both of these traditions as well as in many other, smaller Latter Day Saint traditions.

Related Topics:
Succession crisis - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Community of Christ - Latter Day Saint

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