Mormons

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS) began during the Second Great Awakening. During this era, a movement in America known as Restorationism or Christian Primitivism sought a return to “the ancient order of things,” the simple faith and practice of 1st century Christianity. The two most successful Restorationist movements were the Disciples of Christ (later the Church of Christ, or the Christian Church), led by Alexander Campbell, and the Latter-day Saints, led by Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith reported that in the spring of 1820, he went into a grove of trees in Palmyra, New York, to ask of God which, of all the existing churches in his area (specifically Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist), was right, and which he should join. He explained that in response to his simple prayer, he saw a heavenly vision in which God and Jesus Christ appeared, instructed him not to join any of the churches (for they believed in incorrect doctrines), but encouraged him to be patient and await the long-promised restoration [Page 1488]of all things. He was told that he would be an instrument in the hands of God in bringing to pass this restoration.

Joseph Smith's successor, Brigham Young, was the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) from 1847 untl his death in 1877. He founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah Territory.

In many ways, Mormonism represented a counterculture, and Mormons are considered by many even today to be religious outsiders. In speaking of the extant Christian traditions, God had declared to the young prophet that “all their creeds were an abomination in [God's] sight” and that the religious leaders in his area “were all corrupt.” Thus, from very early on, the wedge was driven between traditional or Orthodox Christians and LDS. The Mormons were not Catholic, nor did they identify with any of the Protestant faiths. They spoke of themselves as heirs of the New Testament church but were not a part of the historic Christian tradition. Rather, they defined themselves as “restored” Christianity, a faith community that rejoiced in the restoration of divine priesthood power, spiritual gifts, and plain and precious doctrinal truths that had been either lost or corrupted through the centuries.

Yet, Mormonism did seem to have a connection with existing churches. Its doctrine, especially that presented in the Book of Mormon, sounded very Protestant. On the other hand, like the Catholics, the LDS believed in apostolic power and succession, and it established a church with a priesthood structure, a line of authority from the newest convert to the prophet or president of the church.

For the most part, the Mormons proved to be a peaceful people, but they were also an insular and somewhat independent group. As early as 1831, Joseph Smith announced an economic system that came to be known as the Consecration and Stewardship of properties. Under this order, individual members consecrated or surrendered all that they possessed to the Church through local church leaders; that is, properties or funds were legally deeded over to the church. Individuals or families then received, also by legal deed, a stewardship or inheritance to manage.

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