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The Latter Day Saint movement

The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the LDS movement, LDS restorationist movement, or Smith–
Rigdon movement) is the collection of independent church groups that trace their origins to a Christian
Restorationist movement founded by Joseph Smith in the late 1820s.

Collectively, these churches have over 16 million members, although the vast majority of these—about
98%—belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The predominant theology
of the churches in the movement is Mormonism, which sees itself as restoring the early Christian church
with additional revelations.

A minority of Latter Day Saint adherents, such as members of Community of Christ, have been
influenced by Protestant theology while maintaining certain distinctive beliefs and practices including
continuing revelation, an open canon of scripture and building temples. Other groups include the
Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which supports lineal succession of leadership from
Smith's descendants, and the more controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, which defends the practice of polygamy.

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest
office of the church. It was the office held by Joseph Smith, founder of the movement, and the office
assumed by many of Smith's claimed successors, such as Brigham Young, Joseph Smith III, Sidney
Rigdon, and James Strang. Several other titles have been associated with this office, including First Elder
of the church, Presiding High Priest, President of the High Priesthood, Trustee-in-Trust for the church,
Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and Translator. Joseph Smith was known by all of these titles in his lifetime
(although not necessarily with consistency).

Smith died in 1844 without having indisputably established who was to be his successor. Therefore, his
death was followed by a succession crisis in which various groups followed leaders with succession
claims. Years later, the office of President was reorganized in many of the resulting, the largest of which
are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the Community of Christ (formerly the
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite).
Some smaller denominations, such as the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), reject the office as an
unscriptural creation.