I Am Joseph Smith, But You May Call Me

In the seventeenth and eighteenth century, religious toleration in the American colonies increased steadily. This was due in part to numerous factors like tolerant ideas and practices expressed and practiced by religiously communities, economic necessities, and The Great Awakening. The Great Awakening occurred in the early 18th century and can be depicted by enthusiastic and fervent worship in a series of revivals that spread throughout the American colonies. The type of revivalism that was found within the colonies during the Awakening was not necessarily the intended outcome of religious freedom, but nonetheless it produced a train of thought that opposed the idea of an act or a church as a single truth for all. As preachers visited town after town, sects, moved by the oration of these reverends and ministers, began to break off from larger churches and a multitude of Protestant denominations sprouted. As we see in Nathan Cole’s description of the excitement in hearing George Whitefield preach at Middletown, “ [he] felt the spirit of God drawing [him] by conviction; [he] longed to see and hear him and wished he would stay.” During the eighteenth century, uncertainty in politics and the economy depicted life in the New World and, in doing so, shifted attention away from Puritanism and other religious duties. Cole’s description serves to demonstrate the anticipation and open-mindedness of many to hear and accept what was being preached to them. The Great Awakening promoted an individualistic way of life. We see this in Reverend Charles Woodmason writing- that among the congregation he visited, “not one had a Bible or common prayer.” Of what he witnessed in the backcountry of South Carolina, people were “educated in the principles of [his faith]” but, because of how individualistic each person of faith was,

Today, religious tolerance is considered a social norm. However, it hasn’t always been this way, and some groups were certainly more persecuted than others. In the early 1960s people of America connected with their religious roots, exercising a freedom that was under threat by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Two decades later in the mid-eighties, certain groups, conservative followers of Reagan and the moral majority in particular, rushed forth the ideas of a wholesome modest family, contrasting from the changing social climate. More recently in the 2000’s people have begun to relinquish and get away from their religious roots, which some could attribute to the increasingly immoral behavior. It seems the pattern history takes with religion

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) or more commonly referred to as the ‘Mormon church’ was one of the later founded religions that continues to be practiced today. Mormons believe that after Jesus was crucified he resurrected in America to speak to the native Indians who they believed descended from the Israelites. This took place during a civil war between the Nephites and the native Indians in upstate new york. Mormon recoded the event on golden plates and gave them to his son Moroni, the last Nephite, and he buried them on a hill. Joseph Smith dug up these plates in 1820 and these became The Book of Mormon (see appendix 4). Joseph was told by God to spread the religion because the church had been corrupted and thus, the

Emotive responses were common as the movement took hold. Rather than this being an incident of isolated denominational basis, this movement of the Spirit crossed religious party lines, bypassed pre-conceived notions and changed lives.

Mormonism is the term used to describe the religious beliefs and practices of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The congregations, or the group of people assembled for religious worship, are frequently referred to as Mormons. This religious movement, which was founded in the year 1830, argues that the Mormon Church is a restoration church originally created by the Saviour Jesus Christ and He chose the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. to restore it (Hughes, 2014). From that day, Joseph labored in God’s service, working to establish The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to build up God’s kingdom on earth in the latter days. Jesus directs His Church today through revelation to a prophet on the earth, and Joseph Smith was that such prophet.

In 1770, there were less than 1000 Methodists in America. A half century later, there were more than 250,000 members. Throughout his book, Taking Heaven by Storm, John Wigger tries to explain how a relatively unknown religion exploded into one of the largest Protestant religions there is today. He brings to light the significance of this substantial religious movement. He also goes into great detail the reasons that this particular religion became so popular so quickly. Not only does he emphasize the social influences that affected Methodism, he also tries to explain how the religion itself shaped the culture as well. Throughout the book, he portrays this movement not as ordinary and predictable, but as modern and mercurial – “boiling hot”,

In the book Managing Church Conflict, Hugh Halverstadt highlights a few sources of conflict amongst Christians.

The scriptures give us accounts of prophets from Abraham and Moses to Joseph Smith that asked God doctrinal questions. Joseph Smith’s spiritual journey from boy to prophet began with a question he posed to God after reading “If any of

With the mention of religion, what first comes to mind? Despite the initial thought, image, opinion, or experience that makes itself known, the response likely varies, even across time and place, and this can be reflected in the fact that America has no specific definition of religion. However, to assist in laying a foundation, the definition made clear in Dr. Koch’s Religion in America class lecture is “a discourse, a set of practices, a community, and/ or an institution” in which allows for analysis, discussion, practice, and thought to then take place in order to make sense of how this man made principle was woven into the foundation of American society (Koch). Studying the history of religion in America, a common theme prevails: the relationship between religion and modernization. This theme is still present today as St. Agnes Cathedral Community in Springfield, exhibits the relationship and how religious communities’ are striving to keep their traditional practices alive amidst modern America, creating a subtle contrasting undertone within their church.

Brigham Young became the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Founder Joe Smith was killed in Illinois. He led the church followers from Illinois to Utah and developed the church it into an institution that still continues to give today. He was the fourth son of nine children born to Abigail and John Young. His father a tenant farmer and the family did not have a lot of money. With his family being poor Brigham had no formal education and he worked from an early age. He married when he was 23, and he worked in a factory. The family joined the Methodist Church after their marriage.

My observation of a neighborhood provided assistance for measuring the development of its physical and racial composition. Any follow-up reaction was towards the remarkable similarity of its racial and faith constitution to the county at hand. There were an approximate of ninety religious organizations within the boundaries of this city in Broward County with particularly one sparking my interest (Church Finder, n.d.). This area held numerous bus stops available at every corner to cut passengers’ walking distance ranging from the nearby plaza, churches, and the Festival Flea Market Mall. Ultimately, this tour would ensure the comparison of a familiar location between two different periods of time.

His followers. In our experience as a community from Joseph Smith Junior forward, we have

Upon this course’s examination of the revelations and truths brought forth by the prophet Joseph Smith I set on a quest for greater light and knowledge. It became more apparent the value and importance of the revelations brought forth by the Prophet of the Restoration as I decided to delve deeper into an area of interest that has been touched on but with some controversy. Where did we come from?

The Mormon faith was founded by a man named Joseph Smith. He was born in Vermont on December 23rd, 1805. He was the fourth child of Lucy and Joseph Smith. He and his family moved to New York during a time when no one knew which religion to choose; even his family was struggling to find a religion. When Joseph turned fourteen years of age it was time for him to pick a religion and be baptized. Struggling to find the right faith, Joseph turned to his bible for answer. He read a verse in the bible and it said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and unbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (Bible, Book of James chapter one verse five.) After reading this Joseph decided to go to the woods near his home and pray to God for answers of which faith to choose. This is when Joseph said he had a revelation from God and was told that all the faiths were wrong and

With this week’s reading, I found that Joseph Smith’s life had parallels and similarities not only from the analogy Joseph draws between himself and Paul, who was also persecuted for his witness of the living God, but also with prophets and disciples from nearly every dispensation. I found that there were connections between the conversion of Alma the younger and deliverance of Joseph Smith from the adversary, as Alma describes being racked with