The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( LDS Church ) is the largest group in the Mormon movement . It was started in 1830 in New York by Joseph Smith . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( abbreviated as the LDS Church , and colloquially referred to as the Mormon Church ) is a restorationist Christian religion and the largest denomination originating from the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith , Jr. in Upstate New York in 1830 .