When was lds founded

It is also the source of the common nickname for the church and its followers, Mormons. Read More. Joseph Smith claimed to have begun receiving messages at age 14 from God, Jesus Christ and other heavenly messengers. Mormons consider themselves to be Christians. They set up civilizations, and centuries later witnessed an appearance by Jesus Christ after his crucifixion and resurrection.

They believe that God sent many prophets to spread his word after Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. The church is led by a prophet who also serves as president of the church.

The president serves for life. Children are baptized at age eight. New members are also baptized. There are two orders of priesthood. A young man 12 or older can enter into the Aaronic priesthood, seen as an earthly priesthood. Melchizedek priesthood can be obtained when a man turns This entails spiritual and heavenly duties. The Baptist laid hands on the heads of Smith and his colleague Oliver Cowdery and gave them the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Joseph set about building the restored church, continuing to receive direct guidance from God on how to do it. During the rest of his short life he translated further scriptures , and wrote down further revelations from God, which form a major part of Church doctrine today. He also founded the missionary programme of the Church, built several towns and was a candidate for US President. He suffered much persecution, being jailed over thirty times although never found guilty , as well as being tarred and feathered.

The persecution eventually led to his death at the age of Joseph and his brother Hyrum were shot on 27 June by a mob of men while they were jail in Illinois on charges of riot and treason.

Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets CSS if you are able to do so. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Shortly thereafter, three of the original apostles -- Peter, James and John -- appeared to Joseph and Oliver and gave them the authority of the apostleship and the Melchizedek , or higher, Priesthood.

With the restoration of priesthood authority, Joseph organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with six initial members. In the mid-nineteenth century, converts were encouraged to gather with the members in America. Swelling ranks of immigrants from Europe and the eastern United States soon provided fuel for growing opposition as well.

To escape the escalating turmoil, Church headquarters moved from New York to Ohio, then to Missouri and later to Illinois.

In the Latter-day Saints established the community of Nauvoo Illinois on a tract of inhospitable swampland bordering the Mississippi River. Under the leadership of Joseph Smith, they drained the swamps and began erecting a community of beautiful homes, prosperous farms and businesses. They also built a temple. By Nauvoo rivaled Chicago in population. But mounting suspicion and anxiety within neighboring communities fed an atmosphere of extreme agitation and distrust. Newspapers in neighboring towns began to call for the Latter-day Saints' extermination.

At the height of this turmoil, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were shot to death by an armed mob in nearby Carthage, Illinois. Mobs attacked Latter-day Saint settlements in the region, burning crops, destroying homes and threatening to exterminate the people.

Church leaders knew a move was once again at hand. This one would become one of the most visionary and prodigious journeys in American history. Sometime during the day baptisms were held. These ordinances may have been performed in nearby Seneca Lake, although this is not certain. Another impressive event of the day was the receiving of a revelation by the Prophet Joseph Smith, which has become the twenty-first section of the Doctrine and Covenants. In this revelation the Lord manifested his acceptance of the Church and his recognition of those who were called to be its presiding officers.

More than years have passed since that April day in The Church, which began so humbly with six members, has grown until it now has a membership of more than three million. The faithful of the Church bear testimony of the divinity of the work and agree with that which was written of Joseph Smith soon after his martyrdom on June 17, Before beginning the important events of the day, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery meet in the upstairs room of the Peter Whitmer farm home, where the Book of Mormon was translated.

Joseph Smith, Sr. David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, was one of the six incorporators of the Church of Jesus Christ in this dispensation. Joseph Smith, twenty-four years of age, presides over the organization proceedings.

At his side is Oliver Cowdery, who acted as his scribe during the translation of the plates. The sacred meeting is opened by solemn prayer. In attendance are the six men who are to formally organize the Church and a number of specially invited guests—perhaps not more than thirty in all. Establishing the principle of common consent in the Church, participants in the organization unanimously vote by the uplifted hand to organize the Church and to sustain Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as presiding officers.

Following this, Oliver ordains Joseph to the same office. Prayers are used that were received by revelation. Even though Joseph and Oliver and others had previously been baptized, they repeat this ordinance, signifying their entry into the Church of Christ, which has just been organized.

Peter Whitmer, Sr. Joseph and Oliver ordain Peter Whitmer. The Prophet Joseph Smith, perhaps in the presence of the five other young men who are participating in the organization, receives a revelation from the Lord, which becomes the twentieth section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

In it the Lord manifests recognition of the presiding officers. January Gospel Forum Marion G. Thomas S. Arab-Israeli Conflict Herbert F.

The sum of our decisions … Richard L.