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Leadership

The top level leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They are based in Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah.

All officers of the Church below this level serve on a voluntary unpaid basis.

The First Presidency

The Church is led by the President of the Church, who is assisted by two counsellors. Together these three individuals make up the First Presidency.

The President is a prophet through whom God can reveal his guidance to the Church.

The President of the Church holds office until his death, when the senior apostle (by length of service) becomes President.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

These are twelve full-time officers of the Church who, like the Apostles of Christ 's day, leave their professions to serve Christ full time. If needed, they can receive a modest living allowance, but this does not come from donated Church funds.

Mormons regard this group as another example of the literal restoration of the church established by Jesus Christ.

Areas

The Mormon world is divided into 22 Areas, supervised by unpaid leaders.

Britain is part of the Europe West area, together with Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya.

Stakes

A stake is a group of local wards (see below). It's like a diocese or a circuit in some Christian churches and is the large-scale unit of Church organisation.

A stake will have around 2,000 - 4,000 members and will be led by a Stake President.

Wards

Local Mormon congregations are called Wards. They are led by a bishop (another unpaid volunteer and nothing like the sort of bishop found in some churches).

Find out more

• Living prophets