Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, Richmond

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Richmond has roots extending back to the original Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. The church originally bore the name "Church of Christ" when it was organized informally in 1829 in northwestern New York and later formally established on April 6, 1830. This organization marked the formal beginning of the Latter-Day Saint movement and was the first to practice the teachings found in Smith's Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith and his early associates proclaimed that their church was a restoration of the 1st-century Christian church, which, according to Smith, had lost God's favor and authority due to a "Great Apostasy." This belief in restoration was central to the church's identity and mission.

Following Smith's death in 1844, the church faced a significant leadership crisis. The majority of its members chose to follow Brigham Young to the Utah Territory, establishing what would become the main body of the LDS Church. However, several smaller factions chose to remain behind in Illinois or moved to other states like Missouri, each claiming to be the legitimate continuation of Smith's original Church of Christ.

Today, the LDS Church in Richmond, as part of this larger organization, continues to uphold the teachings and practices established by Joseph Smith. It considers itself a direct successor to the church Smith founded, maintaining a commitment to disseminate its interpretations of Christian doctrines and the authority it claims was restored by Smith in the early 19th century. The LDS Church in Richmond participates in the broader mission of the church, focusing on community service, missionary work, and promoting the values taught in the Book of Mormon and other church writings.