A Latter Day Saint (LDS) is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement and is a follower of Mormonism. The name "Latter Day Saint" should not to be confused with the different but similar term "Latter-day Saint", which is used to refer specifically to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the largest LDS organisation. The non-hyphenated term "Latter Day Saint" is often used by other sects within the movement, and refers more generally to all followers of Mormonism, whether those followers are members of the LDS Church or not.

Latter Day Saints trace their religious heritage through Joseph Smith, Jr., who claimed to have restored the original "Church of Christ", which had disappeared from the earth after a period of apostasy. Latter Day Saints consider themselves to be "saints" in the original sense of the word, meaning members of the original Christian church established in the First Century, AD.

Latter Day Saints are sometimes referred to as Mormons (a nickname taken from the title of the Book of Mormon). The dwarfing dominance of the LDS Church in the Latter Day Saint movement and significant differences of doctrine and practice between it and the next largest branch (Community of Christ), have led to the terms Mormon (as a noun or adjective) and Mormonism being generally understood as applying only to the LDS church, or less so to its 20th century schisms. The LDS Church strongly prefers applying the term solely to the LDS Church while at the same time encouraging the increased use of historic self-designations such as "Latter-day Saints", "Saints", and "Church of Jesus Christ" instead of Mormon. (See LDS Style Guide). Though using "Mormon" to describe the Church and its members was once a pejorative reference to the isolated Utah-based church, it has generally lost that sense for most people.

Beliefs

Below is passage known as the "The Articles of Faith", a summarization of the basic beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which Joseph Smith Jr. wrote after being asked to about the basic beliefs of the LDS Church.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon this the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

List of Latter Day Saint sects

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*
• Community of Christ†
• Restoration Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Church of Christ (Temple Lot)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
• Aaronic Order
• Church of Christ (Cutlerite)
• Church of Christ (Bickertonite)
• Church of Christ with the Elijah Message
• Church of Jesus Christ in Zion
• Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• Restored Church of Jesus Christ
• Sons Aumen Israel
• True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days

See also:

• Latter Day Saint movement
• Mormonism
• Mormon
• Latter-day Saint
• Church of Christ (Mormonism)

External links

• Official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mormon.org - Official Mormon site about basic beliefs
• Online version of the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Mormon Links and Resources About Mormon Doctrine