Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The foundation tenet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that God, the Father, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Savior of the world: through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830 when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to a young man named Joseph Smith, Jr. in New York State. Like Abraham, Moses and Isaiah of old, Joseph was called by God and Jesus Christ as a prophet, through whom revelation, priesthood authority and living scripture would become available to all mankind. Among Joseph's earliest prophetic efforts was the translation of the sacred history of some ancient American peoples, now published as the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is regarded by Latter-day Saints as companion scripture to the Bible.
Since 1830, the Church has grown to a current membership of more than 11.4 million people in over 162 countries. Membership in the United States is 5,250,000. The Church operates with a lay ministry - religious activities throughout the world are led by male and female volunteers from among the local church membership. As in ancient times, a prophet and twelve apostles presided over the Church.
Faithful Latter-day Saints live by covenant; thus, children are not baptized prior to the age of eight years, the age of accountability; tobacco, alcoholic beverages, caffeinated hot drinks and illegal drugs are not used, chastity is practiced outside of marriage and fidelity within; members give one-tenth (the biblical tithe) of their income for the support of Church functions worldwide.
Among the most sacred of covenants made by Latter-day Saints is that of marriage between a man and a woman in one of the Church's 113 worldwide temples (distinct from meeting houses, of which there are several thousand). Latter-day Saints believe that the family is central to God's plan for his children and that sacred ordinances available in these temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God as families.
The above information was obtained from the N.C.C.J. The National Conference for Community and Justice
