Summary
Highlights
Joseph Smith was born in 1805 into a religiously fervent yet folk-magical upstate New York. At 14, he claimed a 'First Vision' of God the Father and Jesus Christ, who told him all existing churches were incorrect and called him to restore the true church. Later, an angel named Moroni directed him to golden plates, which he translated into the Book of Mormon using seer stones. This book tells the story of ancient Jews who migrated to the Americas, and its translation established Smith as a prophet, leading to the church's founding in 1830.
Joseph Smith's theology diverged significantly from mainstream Christianity, introducing concepts like a corporeal God with a wife, and the possibility for humans to become gods. He envisioned a utopian society called Zion, a 'New Jerusalem,' to be built in preparation for Jesus's Second Coming. Initially, followers settled in Ohio, but religious and cultural clashes led to violence. Smith declared Jackson County, Missouri, as the true site of Zion, leading to mass migration and further persecution. Mormons were driven out of Missouri by a governor's extermination order, eventually settling in Nauvoo, Illinois.
In Nauvoo, given a special charter by Illinois, the Mormons established a self-governing city. Here, Joseph Smith introduced polygamy, eventually taking 40 wives. This practice, kept largely secret initially, and Smith's increasing political power (including a presidential bid), fueled growing animosity. His destruction of an opposition newspaper's printing press led to his arrest. In 1844, he was killed by a mob in jail at age 38, becoming a martyr for his followers. His death prompted the church to seek a new, distant home for Zion.
Following Joseph Smith's death, Brigham Young led the Mormons on a grueling thousand-mile journey to what was then remote Mexican territory, building their utopian society in the mountains near Salt Lake. They quickly established a network of settlements, employing innovative irrigation and communal living, adopting the beehive (Deseret) as their symbol of industry. After the US acquired the land from Mexico, the Mormons proposed a massive state of Deseret. Although denied, they were granted the Utah Territory, with Brigham Young as governor, allowing them a degree of self-governance but also placing them back under US scrutiny.
In 1852, Brigham Young publicly announced and endorsed polygamy as a divine law, a practice he himself embraced with 56 wives. This immediately sparked outrage in the US, with lawmakers equating it to slavery. The federal government viewed the Mormon's theocratic society and polygamy as an open rebellion. This escalating tension led to the Utah War, a period of military confrontation where Mormon militias engaged in insurgent tactics, including acts like the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Though a full-scale battle was avoided, Brigham Young was replaced as governor. Federal laws were passed outlawing polygamy, leading to imprisonments and threats to seize church property. Eventually, in 1890, pressured by the government, the church officially ended polygamy, leading to the formation of fundamentalist breakaway groups like the FLDS, who continued the practice.
After officially ending polygamy, the Church embarked on a 'hyper-Americanization' effort to shed its rebellious image. They promoted mainstream American ideals, emphasized the nuclear family, strictly enforced dietary codes (no alcohol, coffee, tea), and demonstrated patriotism, even fighting in World War I. This rebranding included efforts to make BYU a legitimately accredited university. However, academic inquiry into the historicity of the Book of Mormon, the 'keystone' of the faith, caused concern among church leaders who feared a diluted, less literal interpretation. This led to a push for a standardized, literal, and controlled theology, emphasizing obedience and certainty, as articulated by leaders like J. Reuben Clark.
The church's rebranding extended to appearance, abandoning long beards for a clean-cut image, codified in grooming standards like BYU's Honor Code. This 'brand' was exemplified by missionaries, who, especially after WWII, were sent globally to spread the faith, leading to rapid church growth in many countries. This global expansion, however, created new challenges, as diverse cultural backgrounds threatened to fracture the standardized message. In response, the church intensified its 'correlation' movement in the 1960s, centralizing all manuals, doctrine, and procedures under the Salt Lake-based leadership (the Priesthood), ensuring consistent teaching worldwide. This also involved subordinating women's organizations and actively demonizing 'anti-Mormon literature' to maintain control over the narrative and history.
Access to the temple, essential for eternal salvation in Mormon theology, requires a 'Temple Recommend,' obtained through interviews where members affirm their obedience, belief in the prophet, and payment of a full 10% tithing. Beginning in the 1970s, under the guidance of business-minded leaders like N. Eldon Tanner, the church revolutionized its financial strategy, investing heavily in stocks, bonds, and real estate. This transformed the church into an immense financial power, with estimated assets exceeding $200 billion, making it one of the wealthiest religious organizations globally. While some funds go to humanitarian aid and education (like BYU, which produces devoted, tithing-paying members), the vast majority is reinvested. Recent scrutiny, including SEC fines for concealing assets, has drawn attention to its immense wealth. In modern times, the church faces challenges from members leaving, but continues global expansion, adapting culturally while maintaining its core, high-commitment doctrine and centralized control.