The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or LDS Church) is a Christian denomination founded in 1830 in the United States by Joseph Smith. The Church is based on the teachings of Smith and other early Latter-day Saints and promotes, among other values, a belief in deity, a restoration of New Testament Christianity, and the value of centering one’s life on Jesus Christ and his teachings. The Church has more than 16 million members, so it is one of the largest Christian denominations in the world. History In April 1830, Joseph Smith organized the Church with six original members. The Church grew quickly after Smith’s death in 1844, as missionaries spread the Church’s message across the United States and around the world. In 1890, after a period of intense controversy and deepening divisions, the Church changed its policy forbidding the ordination of black men and women of African descent to the priesthood. In 1978, a revelation was received allowing all male members of the Church to be ordained to the priesthood, regardless of race or lineage. Facts - The Church’s headquarters is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. - The Church has more than 16 million members around the world. - The Church’s official website is lds.org. - The Church has more than 85,000 full-time missionaries serving in over 350 missions around the world. Services The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is rooted in practical service and faith-promoting experiences. The Church provides many services to both its members and nonmembers. These range from regular worship services to education and humanitarian initiatives. Regular worship services follow a specified pattern. During services, members partake of the sacrament (communion), listen to talks on faith-related topics, pray aloud, sing hymns, and hear announcements. The Church also provides service opportunities in communities around the world. Congregations organize service projects such as meal packaging, volunteer work, compassionate service, and more. The Church also offers Hope and Healing, an online resource with ideas of ways individuals can come together to help those in need. Finally, the Church provides many education opportunities, from Sunday School classes and seminary programs to Institutes of Religion and online resources.