Facts About Mormons

A homegrown religion originating in the late 1820s, Mormonism arose as a rejection of the existing Christian sects and a return to what the Mormons considered to be pure Christianity. Similarly, the members believed their desire for a new kind of government stemmed from their disillusionment with what they believed was a corrupt government and a desire for the reestablishment of true American values and the original intent of the founding fathers. This sentiment is epitomized by Joseph Smith’s presidential platform, which states “No honest man can doubt for a moment, the glory of American liberty is on the wane; and that calamity and confusion will sooner or later destroy the

No one has ever been able to articulate just what makes a cult, and what makes a religion different. Yet most people, when listing mainstream religions, name Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others. These religions have existed for thousands of years and have millions of followers; they have thus earned a degree of respect even from outsiders. However, Mormonism—the tradition of the Latter Day Saints movement—is considered strange, and by some, a cult. In the modern age, many consider its very premise a hoax. Mark Twain criticized the Mormon holy scripture, calling it “chloroform in print” (Turner 229), and Jacob Weisberg (editor of the Washington Post) called Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, “an obvious con man” (Ostling xv). Yet

Mormonism was founded in the 1820s’ by Joseph Smith. Smith, wanting to expand his religious following migrated to Illinois where he established a settlement that included a temple of worship and a village (Green 57). In Illinois the Mormon peoples’ were met with threats, violence, and occasionally they were even killed. This was the case for their leader Joseph Smith; Smith was met with disgust from non-mormons when he attempted to run for presidency and his church riddled with scandal when the word of polygamy got out. With his tarnished reputation, Smith was ultimately murdered by an outraged mob, who then threatened other Mormons that if they did not leave they would be met with the same fate (Mormons into the West). With that warning, the Mormons picked a new leader, Brigham Young, who wanted to flee the American Border. Young set for travel with his new followers to the Great Salt Lake, which at the time was located in Mexico.

Smith attempted to utilize first amendment religious rights to maintain the legal concept of polygamy, which was not established as legal illegal within by Illinois laws, but, unfortunately, it was established determined that free exercise rights did not extend to religion. 5 Some members of the Mormon community in Nauvoo were against the idea of polygamy and its abuse by religious leaders and thus seceded themselves to fight against the Mormon movement in Nauvoo. 6 The dissenting members that seceded filed adultery charges against Joseph Smith on the basis of plural marriage. 7 Joseph Smith was ultimately murdered by a mob when he was being held in a jail near Nauvoo, at Carthage 8 Incidentally, Thomas C. Sharp, author of the Warsaw Signal, was named as a defendant in the murder trial for of Joseph Smith, on account of his strong connection to the anti-Mormon movement. 9

Within this tidal wave of religious fervor the stage was set for the introduction of Mormonism in the 1820s by self-proclaimed prophet, Joseph Smith. Claiming the angel Moroni paid him a visit and guided him to a “set of buried golden plates,” Smith purported that God had blessed him with the ability to understand the ancient texts inscribed upon them (Gopnik 2). Because of this gift and God’s benevolence, Smith was able to translate the

The mormons weren’t the only ones in Utah when they arrived, There was American Indian, Explorers, Traders, and mountain men scattered around.

The Mormon faith otherwise known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was founded in the early 19th century in upstate New York. The mormon prophet and founder Joseph Smith found golden plates that introduced a previously unknown third section of the bible. However, Mormonism receives a heavy amount of criticism due to the fact that Smith told his disciples that only he could see the plates, consequently, there is no proof of the plates’ existence.

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith formally organized the church that became The Church of Latter Day Saints. Considered to be the first prophet in the end-time before the return of Christ, allegedly Smith was led by God to discover golden tablets that were the sacred word of God.

the future founder of the Mormon Church, claimed that he had visions. Whilst living in upstate New York in the 1820s, Joseph Smith said that an angel spoke to him to find something. That angel, Moroni, told him that there were inhabitants in America long ago and that there was a book about it. He claims that he was directed towards a buried book written on sacred golden plates that contained the religious history of the very ancient people. After finding the plates, he published a translation of the plates in 1830 named The Book of Mormon. Smith used seer stones, “Urim and Thummim” that were buried with the golden plates, to translate the plates into English. Smith was able to build a following because many people were amazed that somebody was able to talk to an

Where John Young and Abigail Howe met and got married. So Abigail turned to Abigail Howe Young. A while after there marriage in 1801, Abigail had Brigham Young, he didn't have a middle name. Anyway when he was about 3 or 4 his family needed to move because of wanting another child, so they moved to the beautiful and wondrous Salt Lake City, Utah. There he grew and had more and more responsibility, and as he grew older and smarter he started a job. He became a carpenter and painter. He started in 1817. A couple of years later, he found the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and was baptized 1832, and was ordained as an apostle in 1835. Him and Joseph Smith were really good friends and when a mob came after him, Joseph Smith, and his brother Hyrum Smith. They cornered them in a room, and shot, Sadly Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed, in 1844. Then Brigham Young was chosen as a prophet, a couple of weeks later and continued until death in 1877. This is the important part, in 1852 he was chosen to be the leader of the Illinois travel. He took over 16,000 Mormon from Salt Lake City to All over NM to Nauvoo, Illinois all on foot. They basically built Nauvoo, after that he returned to Salt Lake City, and took on his duties as a prophet until death in 1877. Now that we got though all the facts, I think I should tell you the story in detail, almost like a story

Like many individuals that are from Utah, my ancestors participated in polygamy after they trekked across the Mormon Trail to present day Salt Lake City, Utah. This is why it is important to me-I want to see what social justice movements are in place for women that are in the toxic confines of the FLDS Church.

First of all, we must explore the origin of Mormonism. In 1820, a 14 year old boy named, Joseph Smith, Jr., had a vision of what he thought was the

Mormons are well known for the missionaries that come door to door to proselyte non-believers, this is done in efforts to share the love of God and the mercy for His people. They want to unify the community in God because they are commanded to by their scripture and they believe this with better sustain society spiritually. I have known many Mormons in my life and while I never converted to Mormonism I do believe that their strong conviction to the family principals would definitely benefit society. We as a secular community have stayed from our traditions not only in faith & religion but with our funeral traditions that are dying out with cremation, “green burial”, and water resonation become increasingly more popular. Mormons place their traditions very high in the Mormon life.

“Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. (The Introduction of the Book of Mormon)”. President Benson taught that there are three reason why we need to study the Book of Mormon. First, it is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ. It recorded the teachings of Jesus’s during His visit to the America. Second, it is the keystone of the doctrine of the Resurrection. With the record of Jesus’s teachings, it shows that Jesus Christ indeed was resurrected. It also teaches very clearly what resurrection is; tells us what will happen after this life. Third, it is the keystone of testimony (Benson). Through reading the Book of Mormon, pounder on the teachings, and praying to ask God, we can all receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon (Moroni 10 : 3-5 ). “… The only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation. (Benson, A Witness and a Warning)” The Book of Mormon it the very key that hold every teachings of our church in

The Mormon religion was founded in the nineteenth century by a man named Joseph Smith. In 1890, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints banned the practice of polygamous marriages. As with many religions, when a main practice is resolved it can cause some parishioners to be upset. Some Mormons were not fond of the idea of dissolving the practice and moved to separate parts of the country to continue the practice. The most well known polygamous branch was given the name the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This group settled near the Arizona-Utah border (Andersen, 741). The group is mainly based in Colorado City and Hildale, Colorado (Urban, 62). The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day