Church Organization
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, in order to meet the needs of all its members, is comprised ofregional units of various sizes. The most basic organizational unit is known as a ward and is placed under the direction of the local bishop, who has been delegated the authority to preside over that particular ward. A group of wards is known as a stake and is lead by a stake president. Above the stake level are regions, followed by areas, which have their own appointed leaders. The world is also divided into units known as missions which are under the direction of mission presidents. A geographical mission is the area to which Mormon missionaries are called and where they will serve. Missions can be so large that they contain a number of countries, or so small they include only a portion of a city. (Santiago, Chile, is made up of four separate missions.) Additionally, there are a number of auxiliary programs which operate at ward, stake, and Church-wide levels. These include the women's Relief Society, Young Women's Organizations, and the Primary for children under age 12.
Church-Wide Leadership
- First Presidency
- Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
- Seventy
- Presiding Bishopric
- Auxiliary Presidencies: Auxiliaries include the Sunday School, Relief Society, Young Women's, Young Men's, and Primary programs, each of which have their own presidencies
Local Leadership
- Stake President
- High Council
- Stake Auxiliary Leaders
- Bishopric
- High Priest's Quorum
- Elder's Quorum
- Young Men's Presidency
- Relief Society Presidency
- Young Women's Presidency
- Primary Presidency
More information can be found on the official Church Website
