<P> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( known as the LDS Church or , informally , the Mormon Church ) is a Christian restorationist church that is considered by its members to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ . The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City , Utah , and has established congregations and built temples worldwide . According to the church , it has over 70,000 missionaries and a membership of nearly 16 million . It is ranked by the National Council of Churches as the fourth - largest Christian denomination in the United States . It is the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith during the period of religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening . </P>
<P> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( known as the LDS Church or , informally , the Mormon Church ) is a Christian restorationist church that is considered by its members to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ . The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City , Utah , and has established congregations and built temples worldwide . According to the church , it has over 70,000 missionaries and a membership of nearly 16 million . It is ranked by the National Council of Churches as the fourth - largest Christian denomination in the United States . It is the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith during the period of religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening . </P>
who founded the church of latter day saints
who founded the church of latter day saints
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith