Why they were Persecuted Mormons Why they were Persecuted

Who are the Mormons? Mormon -the term most often refers to a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), which is commonly called the Mormon Church. The Mormon church was founded by a man named Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith and his family lived in upstate New York. The Smith family was a common poor family that had been forced to move around the New England area looking for work. 1830 Joseph Smith produces the Book of Mormon and the LDS church is born. He claims he was visited by heavenly messengers for a number of years. He said he was led to a hillside, found gold plates, translated them, and Mormons are those that believe this is the Book of Mormon.

Where does the name Mormon come from? The term "Mormon" has its origins in the Book of Mormon, which is believed by Latter Day Saints to be a religious and historical record translated from golden plates by Joseph Smith, Jr. into English by divine inspiration. Mormons believe that the Book of Mormon is another scriptural witness of Jesus Christ that is comparable to the Bible, which they also believe to be the word of God Bible=Christian Torah=Jewish Koran= Islam

The Mormon Church The LDS church spread rapidly in the first 10 years. The church moved to Ohio in 1830 because of the open land and the high conversion rates. Around this same time Smith had many followers start building a congregation in Independence Missouri.

Persecution Primary Sources LDS people (Mormons) were persecuted and had to move to many different states. Some of the worst persecution that Mormons experienced occurred in the state of Missouri. These two Primary Sources will help you make sense of the difference in opinions between Mormons and Non-Mormons. Source 1: Governor Boggs Background Information: The Governor of Missouri heard false rumors that Mormons were trying to rebel against the state government and that Mormons had broken laws and had caused violence. On Oct. 27, 1838 he wrote: “I have received… information of the most appalling character, which entirely changes the face of things, and places the Mormons in the attitude of an open and avowed defiance of the laws, and having made war upon the people of this state. Your orders are, therefore, to hasten your operation with all possible speed. The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your force, you are authorized to do so to any extent you may consider necessary.” - L.W. Boggs, Governor of Missouri. Executive Order 44, Oct. 27, 1838.

Source 2: John P. Greene Background Information An LDS (Mormon) representative wrote a response to what happened in Missouri a few months after the Executive Order was written. It was published by R.P books in Cincinnati, Ohio and distributed. “… An organized mob aided by many of the civil and military officers of Missouri, with Governor Boggs at their head have been the prominent actors in this business... against the Mormons by political hatred, and by the additional motives of plunder and revenge. They have [executed] their threats of extermination and expulsion, and fully wreaked their vengeance on a body of industrious and enterprising men, who had never wronged, nor wished to wrong them, but on the contrary had never [acted] as good and honest citizens, living under the same laws and having the same right with themselves of the sacred immunities of life, liberty, and property. “ -John P. Greene, Spokesperson for the Mormon Church, March 16, 1839.

Where do they start and where do they end up? 1. New York 2. Ohio 3. Missouri 4. Illinois 5. Iowa 6. Nebraska 7. Wyoming 8. Utah

6 Reasons for Persecution

#1 Mormon’s claim to be the only true church The Mormons told others that their church was God’s only true church. They accepted Joseph Smith as a modern prophet who had talked to God and had translated the Book of Mormon as Scripture from ancient brass plates. This upset people of other religions, who said Joseph Smith made up the things he was saying.

#2 Some Church Leaders in Illinois started living in Polygamy After the Mormons moved to Illinois, some church leaders secretly started living in polygamy. A man might be married to more than one wife. That way of living seemed very wrong to other people.

#3 They outnumbered their neighbors The Mormon belief in a gathering place meant that thousands of new settlers moved into a region. They often outnumbered their neighbors.

#4 Mormons voted together and neighbors feared Mormons would take over politically. In elections, all of the Mormons usually voted for the same people. Their neighbors were worried that Mormons could take control of state and local politics.

#5 Mormons were against slavery- Missourians wanted to be a slave state. Slavery was an issue. Many of the Mormons were from England and the northern States. They were against slavery. Missouri settlers, however, were mainly from southern states. They had grown up with the idea that slavery was necessary and acceptable.

#6 Mormons lived a communal lifestyle -they all gave what they had to the church. This gave leaders a lot of power. The Mormons in Ohio at first lived a communal, or cooperative, economic lifestyle, which meant that everyone gave what they had to the church for the good of the group. This gave the church leaders a lot of power.