The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christians. We believe that there is a God and that He is the Heavenly Father of all people on earth. We believe that His Son, Jesus Christ, performed a vicarious atoning sacrifice for the sins of all of God’s children, and those who believe in Him and repent will be able to return to God’s presence after this life. We believe that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected three days later—and because of this, all people will live again one day with a resurrected, immortal, perfect body.

Latter-day Saints believe that following the death of Jesus’s apostles, the authority to act in God’s name was lost from the earth, and with it went the fulness of truth and the Church of Jesus Christ. Through the prophet Joseph Smith in the early 1800s, the Church of Jesus Christ was restored once again. Central aspects of that restoration include the authority to do God’s work as well as greater knowledge of God’s plan of salvation, which answers questions about the purpose of life. Another central aspect is the discovery and translation of the Book of Mormon, a record of some of God’s dealings with the ancient people of the Western Hemisphere.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by prophets and apostles who receive revelation from God as did the prophets and apostles of old. These prophets and apostles counsel members of the Church and people worldwide to keep the commandments of God so they can receive the blessings He has in store for them. With more than 17 million members worldwide, the Church encourages its adherents to better themselves and the world around them through their faith.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the sponsoring institution of Brigham Young University, and most of the students and faculty at BYU are Church members. The university seeks to provide a high-quality, competitive education in an atmosphere conducive to the beliefs and standards of the Church. The devotional addresses given on campus and housed here at BYU Speeches generally reflect Church beliefs and are part of Brigham Young University’s effort to blend learning by study and by faith.