Early Mormonism: The Nauvoo Period

Causes of the movement Great religious excitement in western New York in 1820s (Burned Over District) Joseph Smith prayed to God after he was confused on which religion he should follow God told him to join none, all churches were corrupt! Several years later, Smith has a vision that an angel informed him that “plates of gold” were buried in a nearby hill With “two seer stones” Smith translates the hieroglyphic, and eventually publishes this as the Book of the Mormon This book was the foundation of the Mormon movement April 6, 1830: Smith organizes Church of of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 6 members join

Timeline 1820s: Smith finds and translates gold plates on a hill after a vision from an angel March-April 1830: Smith published the translation and establishes a church, later settling it in Ohio. 1838-1842: 1838 Mormon War forces Mormons to flee to Nauvoo, Illinois after they’re forced out of Missouri June 1844: Joseph Smith arrested after rumors of practice of polygamy in Mormonism, and assassinated while in jail. Various leaders try to gain control following his death, most Mormons eventually choose to follow Brigham Young 1846-1847: The people of Nauvoo become less tolerant towards Mormons, Brigham Young leads Mormons to Utah 1852: Young publicly acknowledges practice of polygamy in religion.

Goals of the Movement To encourage higher standard of living among Latter Day Saints Leaders were concerned with purging them of sins Emphasized moderation, saving, hard work, and risk-taking Values of no drinking and gambling, polygamy was recognized in the early years Mormons weren’t welcome in most areas they settled, culminating in trek across country to Utah Practices of polygamy proved especially blasphemous to non-Mormons, putting major opposition on their views, and delayed Utah being admitted as a state

Key Leaders Joseph Smith: Founded Mormon religion after getting gold plates by an angel, and then writing the Book of Mormon and founding the Church of Latter Day Saints, later assassinated in prison Brigham Young: Notable for taking leadership over Mormons after Smith’s assassination and leading them across the country to settle in Utah Jebediah M. Grant: Sent by Young to deliver sermons throughout Utah territory and surrounding Mormon communities to persuade them to turn towards spiritual things

Quotes Regarding Movement “Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none”-Joseph Smith (History of the Church, 2:52) “Their is neither man or woman in the Church who is not on a mission. The mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness to teach the principles of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life”- Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses) “If we do not enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, there are reasons that we ourselves can assign for the absence of that Spirit. The practice of the Saints, if good, will always bring the Spirit of the Lord, and keep that Spirit with them day to day” Jebediah Grant 3:58

Earlier Attempt of Reformation (Joseph Smith) “In the early 1830s Smith settled his growing church in Kirtland, Ohio, experimenting with communitarian principles. He immediately sent missionaries to Jackson County, Missouri, which he later proclaimed to be the "center place" of Zion. He encouraged the Mormons to gather in Jackson County, where he joined them several years later. But angry neighbors forced the Mormons out of Missouri in 1838. They fled across the Mississippi to Nauvoo, Illinois, where the governor offered them a liberal charter and promised religious asylum” (Wade Clark).

Earlier Attempt of Reformation (Nauvoo) “In the early 1840s Nauvoo flourished, becoming the largest town in Illinois as Mormon converts gathered there from England, Scandinavia, and the eastern part of the United States.”(Wade Clark). All was good until Mormons organized a militia to protect themselves, destroyed an anti-Mormon printing press, as well as new rumors of Mormon leaders practicing polygamy This led to imprisonment of Joseph Smith, and later his assassination when awaiting trial Mormons were “shaken by the sudden loss of their prophet, especially since he had never designated a successor” (Wade Clark).

Major Opposition People mainly from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois Nature of religion antagonized people who were individualistic and believers of free enterprises Aroused even more anger by openly drilling militia for defensive purposes Practices of polygamy were even more blasphemous. Origins of Mormonism (angels with golden eggs) provoked ridicule from the masses In Kirtland, Ohio and Independence, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois Mormons were isolated from neighbors

Setbacks of the Movement Movement seemed to collapse after death of charismatic Joseph Smith “The Mormons were shaken by the sudden loss of their prophet, especially since he had never designated a successor” (Wade Clark) Many Mormons died during thousand mile walk to Utah, with many pulling handcarts of everything they owned After establishing themselves as religion, they faced ongoing battle with U.S. government over polygamy

Achievements of Movement Although it had its rough beginnings, Mormonism gradually drew increasing amounts of of members to their church, noteworthy at the time due to other new religions gradually losing steam in the 19th Century Even after somewhat establishing themselves in Utah, the road to Statehood proved tough, with Utah eventually getting admitted in 1896, after many attempts years earlier

Summary The Mormon religion began when Joseph Smith met an angel that gave him gold plates in hieroglyphics. Over a period of time, it gradually grew in increasing amounts, eventually running into many conflicts with neighbors around them, leading them to move settlements many times. In the end, this took the group across the country to Salt Lake City.

Personal Reflection This topic was important to me because of the nature of the religious movement, especially considering that Mormonism was one of the few religions that survived the test of time after many other new religions at the time began to lost steam. It’s interesting that the Mormon religion is the fastest growing in the world, and probably is one of the newest as well. As someone who is non religious, it’s always interesting to see how religious beliefs have ignited many conflicts in the past and present.

Related Movements The early Mormonism was a religious movement, so it draws parallels on things like: Millerism- people who shared religious beliefs that the Second Advent of Christ would occur in 1843 Jehovah’s Witness- Separate part of Christianity that began in 1870

Bibliography http://www.pbs.org/mormons/timeline/ Bonner, Jeremy. "Latter-Day Saints, Church of Jesus Christ of." Dictionary of American History, edited by Stanley I. Kutler, 3rd ed., vol. 5, Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003, pp. 53-55. Gale Virtual Reference Library, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=GVRL&sw=w&u=woodinvillehs&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CCX3401802328&it=r&asid=6feb4a540b47617080d0057c95cd5a4 4. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.