BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Latter-day Saints: beliefs, Sunday worship and temples
Religious Values guide · Updated
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understands itself as a restoration of Christ's church. Its members follow Jesus Christ, use the Bible and additional scripture, and recognize continuing revelation through church leadership. Its beliefs and institutional life need to be distinguished from other churches that also trace their origins to the Latter Day Saint movement.
This guide concerns the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints specifically. Community of Christ is a separate church with different teachings and practices.
Scripture, restoration and continuing revelation
The Articles of Faith identify the Bible and the Book of Mormon as scripture and affirm continuing revelation. They also describe faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Priesthood authority belongs within this understanding of restoration. These commitments explain why an LDS congregation cannot be understood simply as another Protestant church with a different worship style.[1]
How the church understands the Godhead
Latter-day Saints affirm the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as distinct beings united in purpose. The church teaches that the Father and the risen Jesus Christ have glorified physical bodies, while the Holy Ghost is a spirit. This differs from the Nicene Trinitarian account used by Catholic, Orthodox and many Protestant churches. Explaining the distinction precisely is more useful than assuming that shared Christian words always carry the same meaning.[2]
Sunday meetinghouses and temples have different purposes
Sunday worship takes place in meetinghouses, where visitors can attend services that include prayers, talks, hymns and the sacrament. Temples have a separate role in covenant making and ordinances, including family sealing. Temple participation involves preparation and a temple recommend. Someone exploring the church should therefore begin by learning about a local congregation's Sunday meetings rather than treating a temple as its ordinary weekly service location.[3][4]
Common questions
Can someone visit a Sunday service before joining?
Yes. Meetinghouse services welcome visitors. Ask the local congregation about meeting times and what happens during the service. Temple participation follows different expectations, so an invitation to Sunday worship should not be confused with temple entry.[3][4]
Is Community of Christ another name for this church?
No. It is a separate organization within the wider history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Our related guide explains its Trinitarian beliefs, sacraments and emphasis on peace, which differ from the church described here.
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Church of Jesus Christ: Articles of Faith
The church's summary of scripture, restoration, ordinances and revelation.
- 2.Church of Jesus Christ: Godhead
Explains the church's understanding of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
- 3.Church of Jesus Christ: Temples
Distinguishes meetinghouses from temples and explains temple purposes.
- 4.Church of Jesus Christ: Introducing the temple to our friends
Explains preparation for temple participation and welcoming visitors elsewhere.