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How Mormon Fundamentalism And Provide A Brief History Of Tenets And Practices Of The Religion

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This essay will discuss Mormon fundamentalism and provide a brief history of the tenets and practices of the religion. The term Mormon fundamentalist refers to a religious group, sect, or individual who believes the teachings of the Mormon scriptures, and follows the teachings of early Mormon leaders. In Western New York in 1830, Joseph Smith Jr. organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church. Other early leaders of the church include Brigham Young and John Taylor, who along with Joseph Smith Jr., are accepted by Mormon fundamentalists as prophets of God. There are an estimated 38,000 Mormon fundamentalists living in North American territories, though the estimate is only based on the number of people who openly distinguish themselves as such. The majority of reported Mormon fundamentalists are located in the western states of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Idaho.

One of the most significant principles of this religion is plural marriage, which Mormon fundamentalists refer to as the Divine Principle. The founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith Jr., claims to have received direction from God to live a polygamist lifestyle. According to Smith, a man had to have a minimum of three wives to be able to reach the highest level of heaven. Members of the LDS Church practiced polygamy in relatively small numbers of approximately 30 percent between 1852 and 1890. The practice of plural marriage has been a controversial topic within the Western society of the

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