LDS Church History

LDS Church History
1820 to 1831

Background, Founding, New York Period

Church History
1831 to 1844

Ohio, Missouri, and Nauvoo Periods

Church History
1844 to 1877

Exodus and Early Utah Periods

Chuch History
1878 to 1898

Late Pioneer Utah Period

Church History
1898 to 1945

Transitions: early Twentieth centiry period

Church History
1945 to 1990

Post World War II International Era Period

Articles on Church History

People in Church History
Biographies of some of the more eminent people in Church history.

Meaning, Source, and History of Doctrine
"Scripturally, then, the term "doctrine" means the core message of Jesus Christ—that Jesus is the Messiah, the Redeemer. All other teachings are subordinate to those by which all people "know how to come unto Christ and be saved"—that is, to the "points of doctrine," such as faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Economic History of the Church"From their beginnings Latter-day Saints have regarded economic welfare as an indispensable part of religion." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Intellectual History"The Church encourages its members to be learned in gospel principles and in every edifying branch of knowledge that supports a life of Christian service. Latter-day Saints value intellectual activity because it can develop and enrich life and faith, beautify the earth and ameliorate mankind's temporal suffering, and further the growth of the kingdom of God on earth."

Legal and Judicial History"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has usually relied upon the law for protection and has honored its judgments in principle and practice. The one significant exception was its resistance to antipolygamy laws before plural marriage was discontinued in 1890. Obedience to the law of the land is a tenet of LDS belief (see Politics: Political Teachings)."

Political HistoryA brief overview of LDS political history in the United States.

Social and Cultural History"As a people, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have over time taken on distinctive qualities as their beliefs and historical experience have given shape and force to their society." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Significance of History of Latter-day Saints"History plays a vital role in LDS thought, where it joins with theology and practical religion to answer many of life's questions and to make daily life meaningful, intelligible, and worthwhile." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Blacks"The history of black membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be divided between the era from 1830 to June 1978 and the period since then."

Plural MarriageLatter-day Saints can presently be married to only one woman at a time. However, during the nineteenth-century, LDS men were allowed to marry more than one wife under certain conditions.

Building Program"Throughout its history the Church has faced the challenge of providing adequate buildings to serve its growing membership for worship and for cultural, educational, and recreational activities." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Humor"Although LDS doctrines, practices, and experiences have in some circles evoked a measure of scoffing and laughter over the years, only since the 1970s has a body of published humor dealing with the Mormon experience appeared. Institutionalized LDS humor divides roughly into an early period when the Church was the object of outsiders' jokes and a modern period when members have become able to laugh at themselves."

Historical Sites"The sites of historical importance to Latter-day Saints include those associated with Christianity in general (the Holy Land, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jordan River, Mount of Olives, etc.), as well as those directly related to LDS beliefs."

History of the Mormon Church Worldwide

Membership Distribution
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has congregations spread throughout the world.

The Church in Africa
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been a presence in Africa since 1853, but for the first 125 years it was established only in southern Africa. Applications by the Church for admittance into central Africa in the 1960s were denied, but those in 1978 were approved, and growth of the Church there has been impressive."

The Church in Asia
The Church has grown steadily in Japan, but government prohibitions have hampered the Church's growth in other parts of Asia

The Church in Australia
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was introduced into Australia when a seventeen-year-old British convert, William James Barratt, emigrated from England to Adelaide in November 1840."

The Church in the British Isles
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to the British Isles when seven LDS missionaries landed at Liverpool, England, on July 19, 1837." Encyclopedia of Mormonism

The Church in Canada
"The ranks of Church members all across Canada have grown steadily, though not spectacularly."

The Church in Europe
"The Protestant countries of Western Europe—Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands—played a major role in the growth and success of the Church from the beginnings in the 1830s until well into the twentieth century."

The Church in Hawaii
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been in Hawaii since 1850, when Elder Charles C. Rich, an apostle, called ten LDS men from the gold mines of northern California to open missionary work in the Sandwich Islands, now Hawaii."

The Church in South America
"Where the Church originally had only one mission in all of South America, in January 1991 it had 43 missions, 381 stakes and districts, and 3,791 wards and branches serving over 1.35 million members.

The Church in the Middle East
The Church has small congregations in several Middle Eastern countries, mostly because of the influx of expatriate (mainly American) Church members working there.

Gathering and Colonization
A series of articles about the gathering of Israel and past colonization efforts.

Community
"For Latter-day Saints, community is an essential and eternal part of life in this world and in the world to come. From the time the Church was established (1830), its teachings have placed emphasis on principles of unity, cooperation, mutual assistance, and beautification of one's surroundings. The community of believers envisioned by the Prophet Joseph Smith continues today, based essentially on the principles he established."