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129-699: Missourian victory Anti-Mormon vigilantes Mormons The 1838 Mormon War , also known as the Missouri Mormon War , was a conflict between Mormons and their neighbors in Missouri . It was preceded by tensions and episodes of vigilante violence dating back to the initial Mormon settlement in Jackson County in 1831. State troops became involved after the Battle of Crooked River , leading Governor Lilburn Boggs to order Mormons expelled from

258-575: A Manifesto that officially suspended the practice of polygamy. Although this Manifesto did not dissolve existing plural marriages, relations with the United States markedly improved after 1890, such that Utah was admitted as a U.S. state in 1896. After the Manifesto, some Mormons continued to enter into polygamous marriages, but these eventually stopped in 1904 when church president Joseph F. Smith disavowed polygamy before Congress and issued

387-508: A prophet , while under inspiration, is considered to be the word of God. Thus, the Bible, written by prophets and apostles, is the word of God, so far as it is translated correctly. The Book of Mormon is also believed to have been written by ancient prophets and is viewed as a companion to the Bible. By this definition, the teachings of Smith's successors are also accepted as scripture, though they are always measured against and draw heavily from

516-559: A " Second Manifesto " calling for all plural marriages in the church to cease. Eventually, the church adopted a policy of excommunicating members found practicing polygamy, and today actively seeks to distance itself from " fundamentalist " groups that continue the practice. During the early 20th century, Mormons began reintegrating into the American mainstream. In 1929, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir began broadcasting

645-727: A 1978 reversal that was prompted in part by questions about mixed-race converts in Brazil. In general, Mormons greeted the change with joy and relief. Since 1978, black membership has grown, and in 1997 there were approximately 500,000 black church members (about 5 percent of the total membership), mostly in Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Black membership has continued to grow substantially, especially in West Africa, where two temples have been built. Some black Mormons are members of

774-497: A culture of their own. As the faith spread worldwide, many of its more distinctive practices followed. Mormon converts are urged to undergo lifestyle changes, repent of sins, and adopt sometimes atypical standards of conduct. Practices common to Mormons include studying scriptures , praying daily, fasting regularly, attending Sunday worship services, participating in church programs and activities on weekdays, and refraining from work on Sundays when possible. The most important part of

903-657: A farming community in the desert. From 1849 to 1852, the Mormons greatly expanded their missionary efforts, establishing several missions in Europe, Latin America, and the South Pacific. Converts were expected to "gather" to Zion, and during Young's presidency (1847–77), over seventy thousand Mormon converts immigrated to America. Many of the converts came from England and Scandinavia and were quickly assimilated into

1032-452: A group of armed men forced Asahel Lathrop from his home, where they held his ill wife and children prisoner. Lathrop wrote "I was compeled [ sic ] to leave my home my house was thronged with a company of armed men consisting of fourteen in number and they abusing my family in allmost [ sic ] every form that Creturs [ sic ] in the shape of human Beeings [ sic ] could invent." After more than

1161-490: A horse for a pregnant Mrs Taylor and her children to ride to safety. Ironically, as a result of his kindness, he was the only Mormon who was positively identified to have participated in the home burnings. After several non-Mormons made statements to the authorities that Johnson had acted as a moderating influence on the Danites , he was allowed to escape rather than stand trial. Many Latter Day Saints were greatly troubled by

1290-543: A majority of Mormon fundamentalists have never been members of the LDS Church. Liberal Mormons, also known as Progressive Mormons, take an interpretive approach to LDS teachings and scripture. They look to the scriptures for spiritual guidance, but may not necessarily believe the teachings to be literally or uniquely true. For liberal Mormons, revelation is a process through which God gradually brings fallible human beings to greater understanding. A person in this group

1419-610: A man and a woman. Same-sex marriages are not performed or supported by the LDS Church. Church members are encouraged to marry and have children, and Latter-day Saint families tend to be larger than average. Mormons are opposed to abortion, except in some exceptional circumstances, such as when pregnancy is the result of incest or rape or when the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy. Many practicing adult Mormons wear religious undergarments that remind them of covenants and encourage them to dress modestly. Latter-day Saints are counseled not to partake in any form of media that

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1548-789: A mob in Carthage, Illinois . Because Hyrum was Smith's logical successor, their deaths caused a succession crisis , and Brigham Young assumed leadership over most Latter Day Saints. Young had been a close associate of Smith's and was the senior apostle of the Quorum of the Twelve . Smaller groups of Latter-Day Saints followed other leaders to form other denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. For two years after Joseph Smith's death, conflicts escalated between Mormons and other Illinois residents. To prevent war, Brigham Young led

1677-480: A mob had taken Mormons prisoner and were threatening to execute them, an armed party was quickly assembled to rescue these prisoners and drive the mob out of the county. Mormons Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism , the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844,

1806-400: A people with a strong sense of unity and commonality. From the start, Mormons have tried to establish what they call " Zion ", a utopian society of the righteous. Mormon history can be divided into three broad periods: (1) the early history during the lifetime of Joseph Smith , (2) a "pioneer era" under the leadership of Brigham Young and his successors, and (3) a modern era beginning around

1935-740: A period of relative peace. According to an article in the Elders' Journal , a Latter Day Saint newspaper published in Far West: "the Saints here are at perfect peace with all the surrounding inhabitants, and persecution is not so much as once named among them...". John Corrill , one of the Mormon leaders, remembered: Friendship began to be restored between (the Mormons) and their neighbors, the old prejudices were fast dying away, and they were doing well, until

2064-591: A political and economic threat. With the Kirtland-based presidency now in control of the Missouri church, a leadership struggle emerged between the arriving and the previously established Missouri church leadership. Many of the oldest and most prominent leaders of the church, including Oliver Cowdery (one of the Three Witnesses and the church's original "second elder"), David Whitmer (another of

2193-543: A regiment." On October 9, A. C. Caldwell returned to De Witt to report that the Governor's response was that the "quarrel was between the Mormons and the mob" and that they should fight it out. On October 11, Mormon leaders agreed to abandon the settlement and move to Caldwell County. On the first night of the march out of Carroll County, two Mormon women died. One woman died of exposure, the other (a woman named Jenson) died in childbirth. Several children also became ill during

2322-531: A religious duty, with the number of plural marriages reaching a peak around 1860 and then declining through the rest of the century. Besides the doctrinal reasons for plural marriage, the practice made some economic sense, as many of the plural wives were single women who arrived in Utah without brothers or fathers to offer them societal support. By 1857, tensions had again escalated between Mormons and other Americans, primarily due to accusations involving polygamy and

2451-498: A request for assistance to Governor Boggs, noting that the mob had threatened "to exterminate them, without regard to age or sex". On October 1, vigilantes burned the home and stables of Smith Humphrey. The citizens of De Witt sent non-Mormon Henry Root to appeal to Judge King and General Parks for assistance. Later that day, the vigilantes sealed off the town. The besieged town resorted to butchering whatever loose livestock wandered into town in order to avoid starvation while waiting for

2580-584: A result of being expelled from their homes in Missouri. All of the conflicts in the Mormon War occurred in a corridor 100 miles (160 km) to the east and northeast of Kansas City . In the early 1830s, an influx of members of the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saint) , then headquartered in Kirtland, Ohio , began settling in Jackson County, Missouri . According to Mormon belief, Independence, Missouri and

2709-446: A united family that lives and progresses forever is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine, and Mormons place a high importance on family life. Many Mormons hold weekly Family Home Evenings , in which an evening is set aside for family bonding, study, prayer, and other activities they consider to be wholesome. Latter-day Saint fathers who hold the priesthood typically name and bless their children shortly after birth to formally give

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2838-415: A week, a company of armed Mormons assisted Lathrop in rescuing his wife and two of his children (one had died while prisoner). Lathrop's wife and remaining children died shortly after their rescue. On September 20, 1838, about one hundred fifty armed men rode into De Witt and demanded that the Mormons leave within ten days. Hinkle and other Mormon leaders informed the men that they would fight. They also sent

2967-531: A weekly performance on national radio, becoming an asset for public relations. Mormons emphasized patriotism and industry, rising in socioeconomic status from the bottom among American religious denominations to the middle class. In the 1920s and 1930s, Mormons began migrating out of Utah, a trend hurried by the Great Depression , as Mormons looked for work wherever they could find it. As Mormons spread out, church leaders created programs to help preserve

3096-443: Is a job for us!" which rallied the Mormons and allowed them to drive off their opponents. The crowd dispersed, and the Mormons returned to their homes. The skirmish is often cited as the first serious violence of the war in Missouri . Rumors among both parties spread that there were casualties in the conflict, however, when Joseph Smith and volunteers rode to Daviess County to assess the situation, they discovered there were no truths to

3225-469: Is far larger than all the others combined. People who identify as Mormons may also be independently religious, secular, and non-practicing or belong to other denominations . Since 2018, the LDS Church has emphasized a desire for its members be referred to as "members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", or more simply as " Latter-day Saints ". Mormons have developed a strong sense of community that stems from their doctrine and history. One of

3354-418: Is likely that about 40 percent of Mormons in the United States and 30 percent worldwide regularly attend worship services. Reasons for inactivity can include rejection of the fundamental beliefs, history of the church, lifestyle incongruities with doctrinal teachings or problems with social integration. Activity rates tend to vary with age, and disengagement occurs most frequently between age 16 and 25. In 1998,

3483-557: Is obscene or pornographic in any way, including media that depicts graphic representations of sex or violence. Tattoos and body piercings are generally discouraged. LGBT Mormons remain in good standing in the church if they abstain from homosexual relations and obey the law of chastity. While there are no official numbers, LDS Family Services estimates that, on average, four or five members per LDS ward experience same-sex attraction. Gary Watts, former president of Family Fellowship , estimates that only 10 percent of homosexuals stay in

3612-432: Is sometimes mistakenly regarded by others within the mainstream church as a Jack Mormon , although this term is more commonly used to describe a different group with distinct motives to live the gospel in a non-traditional manner. Liberal Mormons place doing good and loving fellow human beings above the importance of believing correctly. In a separate context, members of small progressive breakaway groups have also adopted

3741-413: Is spilled; or else they will have to exterminate us, for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed". June August July November June July August October See Aftermath The newly formed Daviess County, Missouri , held its first elections on August 6, 1838. William Peniston, a candidate for

3870-437: Is the "only true and living church" because of the divine authority restored through Smith. Mormons self-identify as being Christian, while many Christians, particularly evangelical Protestants, disagree with this view. Mormons view other religions as having portions of the truth, doing good works, and having genuine value. The LDS Church has a top-down hierarchical structure with a president–prophet dictating revelations for

3999-464: The Danite vigilante organization. On October 18, these Mormons marched under arms in three groups to Daviess County. Lyman Wight attacked Millport, and David W. Patten attacked Gallatin. Both settlements had been evacuated before they arrived. Seymour Brunson attacked Grindstone Fork, driving the unarmed Missourians from their homes, who made their way to neighboring counties. Having taken control of

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4128-538: The Genesis Group , an organization of black members that predates the priesthood ban and is endorsed by the church. The LDS Church grew rapidly after World War II and became a worldwide organization as missionaries were sent across the globe. The church doubled in size every 15 to 20 years, and by 1996, there were more Mormons outside the United States than inside. In 2012, there were an estimated 14.8 million Mormons, with roughly 57 percent living outside

4257-545: The Governor of Missouri , issuing the Missouri Executive Order 44 , which accused the Mormons of rebellion and ordered them to leave Missouri or be killed. On November 1, 1838, the Mormons surrendered at Far West . Mormon leaders were accused of treason and sent to Liberty , where they stayed in custody until April, when they were transferred to a Daviess County prison. While traveling to Daviess County,

4386-516: The Holy Ghost . Though Mormons have some beliefs that are considered strange in a modernized world, they continue to hold onto their beliefs because they feel God has spoken to them. Bishop%27s storehouse As of January 2010 there are 138 bishop's storehouses in operation. The concept of the bishop's storehouse is based on a revelation received by Joseph Smith , founder of the Latter Day Saint movement , on February 9, 1831, whereby he

4515-643: The Mormon pioneers (constituting most of the Latter Day Saints) to a temporary winter quarters in Nebraska and then, eventually (beginning in 1847), to what became the Utah Territory . Having failed to build Zion within the confines of American society, the Mormons began to construct a society in isolation based on their beliefs and values. The cooperative ethic that Mormons had developed over

4644-721: The New Jerusalem ). In 1833, Missouri settlers, alarmed by the rapid influx of Mormons, expelled them from Jackson County into the nearby Clay County , where local residents were more welcoming. After Smith led a mission, known as Zion's Camp , to recover the land, he began building Kirtland Temple in Lake County, Ohio , where the church flourished. When the Missouri Mormons were later asked to leave Clay County in 1836, they secured land in what would become Caldwell County . The Kirtland era ended in 1838 after

4773-532: The Three Witnesses and Stake President of the Missouri Church), John Whitmer , William W. Phelps and others, were excommunicated on allegations of misusing church property and finance amid tense relations between them and Smith. These "dissenters", as they came to be called, owned a significant amount of land in Caldwell County, much of which was purchased when they were acting as agents for

4902-499: The martyrdom of the apostles led to a loss of priesthood authority to administer the church and its ordinances. Mormons believe that God restored the early Christian church through Joseph Smith. In particular, Mormons believe that angels such as Peter , James , John , John the Baptist , Moses , and Elijah appeared to Smith and others and bestowed various priesthood authorities on them. Mormons believe that their church

5031-463: The theocratic rule of the Utah Territory by Brigham Young. In 1857, U.S. President James Buchanan sent an army to Utah, which Mormons interpreted as open aggression against them. Fearing a repeat of Missouri and Illinois, the Mormons prepared to defend themselves, determined to torch their own homes if they were invaded. The relatively peaceful Utah War ensued from 1857 to 1858, in which

5160-475: The 19th century, Mormon converts tended to gather in a central geographic location, a trend that reversed somewhat in the 1920s and 1930s. The center of Mormon cultural influence is in Utah , and North America has more Mormons than any other continent, although about 60% of Mormons live outside the United States. As of December 31, 2021, the LDS Church reported a membership of 16,805,400. The terminology preferred by

5289-717: The LDS Church is to serve a full-time proselytizing mission . Mormons have a health code that eschews alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and addictive substances . They tend to be very family-oriented and have strong connections across generations and with extended family, reflecting their belief that families can be sealed together beyond death. They also have a strict law of chastity , requiring abstention from sexual relations outside heterosexual marriage and fidelity within marriage. Mormons self-identify as Christian , but some non-Mormons consider Mormons non-Christian because some of their beliefs differ from those of Nicene Christianity . Mormons believe that Christ's church

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5418-489: The LDS Church published a style guide that encourages the use of the terms "the Church", the "Church of Jesus Christ" or the "restored Church of Jesus Christ" as shortened versions after an initial use of the full name. According to church historian Bowman, 'the term "restored" refers to the idea that the original Christian religion is obsolete, and Mormons alone are practicing true Christianity.' The 2018 style guide rejects

5547-489: The LDS Church reported having 16,565,036 members worldwide. Chile , Uruguay , and several areas in the South Pacific have a higher percentage of Mormons than the United States (which is at about 2 percent). South Pacific countries and dependencies that are more than 10 percent Mormon include American Samoa , the Cook Islands , Kiribati , Niue , Samoa , and Tonga . Isolation in Utah had allowed Mormons to create

5676-537: The LDS Church. In some cases, they may not be members of the LDS Church. Mormons have a scriptural canon consisting of the Bible (both Old and New Testaments), the Book of Mormon , and a collection of revelations and writings by Joseph Smith known as the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price . Mormons, however, have a relatively open definition of scripture . As a general rule, anything spoken or written by

5805-679: The Missouri River. Two members of the Far West High Council , George M. Hinkle and John Murdock, were sent to take possession of the town and to begin to colonize it. On July 30, citizens of Carroll County met in Carrollton to discuss the Mormon colonization of De Witt. The question of whether or not Mormons should be allowed to settle in the county was placed on the August 6 ballot; a heavy majority favored expulsion of

5934-535: The Missourian settlements, the Mormons plundered the property and burned the stores and houses. The county seat, Gallatin, was reported to have been "completely gutted" – only one shoe store remained unscathed. Millport, Grindstone Fork and the smaller Missourian settlement of Splawn's Ridge were also plundered and had some houses burned. The plundered goods were deposited in the Bishop's storehouse at Diahman. During

6063-607: The Mormon burnings, and became a ghost town. Local citizens were outraged by the actions of the Danites and other Mormon bands. Several Mormon homes near Millport were burned and their inhabitants expelled into the snow. Agnes Smith, a sister-in-law of Joseph, was chased from her home with two small children when her home was burned. With one child in each arm, she waded across an icy creek to safety in Adam-ondi-Ahman. Nathan Tanner reported that his militia company rescued another woman and three small children who were hiding in

6192-548: The Mormon community. Many of these immigrants crossed the Great Plains in wagons drawn by oxen, while some later groups pulled their possessions in small handcarts. During the 1860s, newcomers began using the new railroad that was under construction. In 1852, church leaders publicized the previously secret practice of plural marriage , a form of polygamy . Over the next 50 years, many Mormons (between 20 and 30 percent of Mormon families) entered into plural marriages as

6321-566: The Mormons purchased the small town of Commerce, converted swampland on the banks of the Mississippi River, renamed the area Nauvoo, Illinois , and began constructing the Nauvoo Temple . The city became the church's new headquarters and gathering place, and it grew rapidly, fueled in part by converts immigrating from Europe. Meanwhile, Smith introduced temple ceremonies meant to seal families together for eternity, as well as

6450-414: The Mormons to return and reimbursement for confiscated and damaged property was refused. In 1834, Mormons attempted to effect a return to Jackson County with a quasi-military expedition known as Zion's Camp , but this effort also failed when the governor failed to provide the expected support. Recognizing the need for a more permanent solution, Alexander William Doniphan of the Missouri legislature proposed

6579-479: The Mormons' departure. A militia was sent to DeWitt to disperse the vigilantes and settle the peace. However, they mutinied and joined the siege, forcing the Mormons to evacuate the settlement. Hearing rumors that the vigilantes had marched to Daviess County , the Danites (a Mormon vigilante group) preemptively struck the settlements of Millport and Gallatin, further escalating the conflict. The Battle of Crooked River in late October 1838 led to Lilburn Boggs ,

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6708-531: The Mormons. A committee sent to De Witt ordered the Latter Day Saints to leave. The Mormon leaders refused, citing their right as American citizens to settle where they pleased. Sentiment among the anti-Mormon segment of Carroll County's population hardened, and some began to take up arms. On August 19, 1838, Mormon settler Smith Humphrey reports that 100 armed men led by Colonel William Claude Jones took him prisoner for two hours and threatened him and

6837-568: The Ohio Valley, and Great Britain and, unlike their southern neighbors, generally opposed slavery. Harassment against the Mormon settlers turned violent in 1833. In October 1833, the Mormon storehouse in Independence was sacked, vigilantes destroyed the Mormon's printing press , attacked Mormon settlements in the outskirts of the city, and eventually forcibly expelled the Mormons from Jackson County . These episodes of violence informed

6966-439: The U.S., Mormons tend to be more culturally and politically conservative than members of other U.S. religious groups.) Utah Mormons often emphasize pioneer heritage more than international Mormons, who generally are not descendants of the Mormon pioneers . Mormons have a strong sense of communality that stems from their doctrine and history. LDS Church members have a responsibility to dedicate their time and talents to helping

7095-461: The United States. It is estimated that approximately 4.5 million Mormons – approximately 30% of the total membership – regularly attend services. A majority of U.S. Mormons are white and non-Hispanic (84 percent). Most Mormons are distributed in North and South America, the South Pacific, and Western Europe. The global distribution of Mormons resembles a contact diffusion model, radiating out from

7224-612: The Utah Territory. At Young's death in 1877, he was followed by other LDS Church presidents , who resisted efforts by the United States Congress to outlaw Mormon polygamous marriages. In 1878, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Reynolds v. United States that religious duty was not a suitable defense for practicing polygamy. Many Mormon polygamists went into hiding; later, Congress began seizing church assets. In September 1890, church president Wilford Woodruff issued

7353-569: The association of the Church. On October 24, they swore out affidavits concerning the burning and looting in Daviess County. They also reported the existence of the Danite group among the Mormons and repeated a popular rumor that a group of Danites was planning to attack and burn Richmond and Liberty . Fearing attack, many citizens of Ray County moved their wives and children across the Missouri River for safety. A militia under

7482-554: The bushes as their home burned. Other Mormons, fearing similar retribution by the Missourians, gathered into Adam-ondi-Ahman for protection. Thomas B. Marsh , President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the church, and fellow Apostle Orson Hyde were alarmed by the events of the Daviess County expedition. On October 19, 1838, the day after Gallatin was burned, Thomas B. Marsh and fellow apostle Orson Hyde left

7611-488: The center of cultural influence for Mormonism. Utah Mormons (as well as Mormons living in the Intermountain West ) are on average more culturally and politically conservative than those living in some cosmopolitan centers elsewhere in the U.S. Utahns self-identifying as Mormon also attend church somewhat more on average than Mormons living in other states. (Nonetheless, whether they live in Utah or elsewhere in

7740-435: The central doctrinal issues that defined Mormonism in the 19th century was the practice of plural marriage , a form of religious polygamy . From 1852 until 1904, when the LDS Church banned the practice, many Mormons who had followed Brigham Young to the Utah Territory openly practiced polygamy. Mormons dedicate significant time and resources to serving in their churches. A prominent practice among young and retired members of

7869-537: The charges. King found that there was sufficient evidence to have the defendants appear before a grand jury on misdemeanor charges. In the spring of 1838, Henry Root, a non-Mormon who was a major land-owner in Carroll County, visited Far West and sold his plots in the mostly vacant town of De Witt to Mormons. De Witt possessed a strategically important location near the intersection of the Grand River and

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7998-436: The child a name. Mormon parents hope and pray that their children will gain testimonies of the "gospel" so they can grow up and marry in temples. Mormons have a strict law of chastity , requiring abstention from sexual relations outside opposite-sex marriage and strict fidelity within marriage. All sexual activity (heterosexual and homosexual) outside marriage is considered a grave sin, with marriage recognized as only between

8127-465: The church is a Christian church. The term Mormon also causes concern for church leaders because it has been used to include splinter groups such as Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints , who practice polygamy , which the LDS Church does not; Mason said "For more than 100 years, the mainstream LDS Church has gone to great pains to distance itself from those who practice polygamy. It doesn't want to have any confusion there between those two groups." In 2018,

8256-481: The church itself has varied over time. At various points, the church has embraced the term Mormon and stated that other sects within the shared faith tradition should not be called Mormon. The word Mormon was initially coined to describe any person who believes in the Book of Mormon as a scripture volume. Mormonite and Mormon were originally descriptive terms used both by outsiders to the faith, church members, and occasionally church leaders. The term Mormon later

8385-540: The church or not, can access the storehouse by approaching a bishop or local Relief Society president. The bishop decides whether or not the person will be given assistance and works with the Relief Society president in determining what the person will be given. The usual practice is to ask the recipient to work or render some form of service in exchange for the goods given them. Bishop's storehouses are not commercial entities and goods are generally not for sale to

8514-751: The church reported that most less active members returned to church activity later in life. As of 2017, the LDS Church was losing millennial -age members, a phenomenon not unique to the LDS Church. Former Latter-day Saints who seek to disassociate themselves from the religion are often referred to as ex-Mormons . Members of sects that broke with the LDS Church over the issue of polygamy have become known as fundamentalist Mormons ; these groups differ from mainstream Mormonism primarily in their belief in and practice of plural marriage . There are thought to be between 20,000 and 60,000 members of fundamentalist sects (0.1–0.4 percent of Mormons), with roughly half of them practicing polygamy. There are many fundamentalist sects,

8643-454: The church services is considered to be the Lord's Supper (commonly called sacrament ), in which church members renew covenants made at baptism . Mormons also emphasize standards they believe were taught by Jesus Christ , including personal honesty, integrity, obedience to the law, chastity outside marriage, and fidelity within marriage. In 2010, around 13–14 percent of Mormons lived in Utah,

8772-421: The church. Many of these individuals have come forward through different support groups or websites discussing their homosexual attractions and concurrent church membership. Note that the categories below are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Members of the LDS Church, also known as Latter-day Saints, constitute over 95 percent of Mormons. The beliefs and practices of LDS Mormons are generally guided by

8901-429: The church. Possession became unclear and the dissenters threatened the church with lawsuits. The presidency responded by urging the dissenters to leave the county, using strong words that the dissenters interpreted as threats. In his famous Salt Sermon , Sidney Rigdon announced that the dissenters were as salt that had lost its savor and that it was the duty of the faithful to cast the dissenters out to be trodden beneath

9030-420: The command of Samuel Bogart was authorized by General Atchison to patrol the no-man's land between Ray and Caldwell Counties known as "Bunkham's Strip" – a territory 6 miles (9.7 km) east to west and 1-mile (1.6 km) north to south. Instead of staying in the strip, Bogart crossed into Caldwell County and began to disarm Mormons, reportedly threatening to attack Far West. When rumors reached Far West that

9159-400: The conflict, as described by Mormon church historian Richard Lloyd Anderson : In 1833 Boggs passively saw community leaders and officials sign demands for Mormon withdrawal, and next force a gunbarrel contract to abandon the county before spring planting...anti-Mormon goals were reached in a few simple stages. Executive paralysis permitted terrorism, which forced Mormons to self-defense, which

9288-415: The county. Nearly every one was burned." The Missourians evicted from their homes were no better prepared than the Mormon refugees had been. After the stress of being expelled from Millport into the snow, Milford Donaho's wife gave birth prematurely, and the child was severely injured during the birth. Even Missourians who had been friendly to the Mormons were not spared. Jacob Stollings, a Gallatin merchant,

9417-420: The creation of a new county specifically for Mormon settlement. In 1836, the Missouri legislature passed a law establishing Caldwell County . Mormons had already begun buying land in the proposed Caldwell County, including areas that were carved off to become parts of Ray and Daviess Counties. The Mormons began establishing the town of Far West as their headquarters within Missouri. This arrangement allowed for

9546-399: The days that followed, Mormon vigilantes under the direction of Lyman Wight drove Missourians who lived in outlying farms from their homes, which were similarly plundered and burned. According to one witness, "We could stand in our door and see houses burning every night for over two weeks... the Mormons completely gutted Daviess County. There was scarcely a Missourian's home left standing in

9675-584: The displaced Mormons to re-settle in neighboring counties. As Mormons were unable to regain their lands in Jackson County, the Missouri legislature organized Caldwell County in 1836 as a place for Mormons to settle, known as the "Caldwell Compromise". Peace was disrupted on August 6, 1838, at an election in Gallatin when Mormons were blocked from voting, leading to a brawl. In October 1838, vigilantes laid siege to DeWitt , Carroll County , demanding

9804-399: The dissenters to "depart or a more fatal calamity shall befall you". On June 19, the dissenters and their families fled to neighboring counties where their complaints fanned anti-Mormon sentiment. On July 4, Rigdon gave an oration , which was characterized by Mormon historian Brigham Henry Roberts as a "'Declaration of Independence' from all mobs and persecutions". The text of this speech

9933-662: The doctrines of eternal progression or exaltation and plural marriage. Smith created a service organization for women called the Relief Society and the Council of Fifty , representing a future theodemocratic "Kingdom of God" on the earth. Smith also published the story of his First Vision , in which the Father and the Son appeared to him when he was about 14 years old. This vision would come to be regarded by some Mormons as

10062-427: The early 1960s. Although black people have been members of Mormon congregations since Joseph Smith's time, before 1978, black membership was small. From 1852 to 1978, the LDS Church enforced a policy restricting men of black African descent from being ordained to the church's lay priesthood . The church was sharply criticized for its policy during the civil rights movement , but the policy remained in force until

10191-487: The entire church. Lay Mormons are also believed to have access to inspiration and are encouraged to seek their own personal revelations . Mormons see Joseph Smith's First Vision as proof that the heavens are open and that God answers prayers. They place considerable emphasis on "asking God" to find out if something is true. Most Mormons do not claim to have had heavenly visions like Smith's in response to prayers but feel that God talks to them in their hearts and minds through

10320-435: The erosion of traditional values, the sexual revolution , the widespread use of recreational drugs, moral relativism , and other forces they saw as damaging to the family. Partly to counter this, Mormons put an even greater emphasis on family life, religious education, and missionary work, becoming more conservative in the process. As a result, Mormons today are probably less integrated with mainstream society than they were in

10449-421: The evidence of the looted property found in the possession of Latter Day Saints. Mormon leader Parley P Pratt conceded that some burnings had been done by Mormons. LeSueur estimates that Mormons were responsible for the burning of fifty homes or shops and the displacement of one hundred non-Mormon families. Millport, which at time was the largest settlement in the county and the center for trade, never recovered from

10578-498: The eyes of many non-Mormon citizens (including Alexander Doniphan ), these settlements outside of Caldwell County were a violation of the compromise. Mormons felt that the compromise only excluded major settlements in Clay County and Ray County, which had substantial population centers, but not the recently colonized Daviess and Carroll counties. The earlier settlers saw expansion of Mormon communities outside of Caldwell County as

10707-614: The failure of a church-sponsored anti-bank caused widespread defections, and Smith regrouped with the remaining church in Far West, Missouri . During the fall of 1838, tensions escalated into the Mormon War with the old Missouri settlers. On October 27, the governor of Missouri ordered that the Mormons "must be treated as enemies" and be exterminated or driven from the state. Between November and April, some eight thousand displaced Mormons migrated east into Illinois . In 1839,

10836-412: The feet of men. At the same time some Mormons, led by Sampson Avard , began to organize a vigilante organization known as the Danites , whose purposes included obeying the church presidency "right or wrong" and expelling the dissenters from Caldwell County. Two days after Rigdon preached his Salt Sermon, 80 prominent Mormons, including Hyrum Smith , signed the so-called Danite Manifesto , which warned

10965-486: The guards released the prisoners, including Joseph Smith . After their release, they joined with the Mormons who were gathering in Quincy, Illinois . During the conflict, 22 people were killed: three Mormons and one non-Mormon at the Battle of Crooked River , one Mormon prisoner fatally injured while in custody, and 17 Mormon civilians at Hawn's Mill . An unknown number of non-combatants died due to exposure and hardship as

11094-429: The highest kingdom, a person must fully accept Christ through faith, repentance, and through ordinances such as baptism and the laying on of hands . According to Mormons, a deviation from the original principles of Christianity, referred to by them as The Great Apostasy , occurred after the ascension of Jesus Christ , marked by the corruption of Christian doctrine by Greek and other philosophies, Mormons claim

11223-465: The label. Cultural Mormons are individuals who may not believe in certain doctrines or practices of the institutional LDS Church yet identify as members of the Mormon ethnic identity. Usually, this is a result of having been raised in the LDS faith or having converted and spent a large portion of one's life as an active member of the LDS Church. Cultural Mormons may or may not be actively involved with

11352-668: The largest two being the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church) and the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB). In addition to plural marriage, some of these groups also practice a form of Christian communalism known as the law of consecration or the United Order . The LDS Church seeks to distance itself from all such polygamous groups, excommunicating their members if discovered practicing or teaching it, and today,

11481-476: The last decade and a half became important as settlers branched out and colonized a large desert region now known as the Mormon Corridor . Colonizing efforts were seen as religious duties, and the new villages were governed by the Mormon bishops (local lay religious leaders). The Mormons viewed land as a commonwealth, devising and maintaining a cooperative system of irrigation that allowed them to build

11610-439: The militia or the Governor to come to their aid. General Parks arrived with a Ray County militia on October 6, but his order to disperse was ignored. When his own troops threatened to join the attackers, Parks was forced to withdraw to Daviess County in hopes that the Governor would come to mediate. Parks wrote his superior, General David Rice Atchison , that "a word from his Excellency would have more power to quell this affair than

11739-417: The most important event in human history after the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early church grew westward as Smith sent missionaries to proselytize. In 1831, the church moved to Kirtland, Ohio , where missionaries had made a large number of converts and Smith began establishing an outpost in Jackson County, Missouri , where he planned to eventually build the city of Zion (or

11868-456: The most important event in human history after the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 1844, local prejudices and political tensions, fueled by Mormon peculiarity, internal dissent, and reports of polygamy, escalated into conflicts between Mormons and "anti-Mormons" in Illinois and Missouri. Smith was arrested, and on June 27, 1844, he and his brother Hyrum were killed by

11997-484: The most notable instance of violence was the Mountain Meadows massacre when leaders of a local Mormon militia ordered the killing of a civilian emigrant party that was traveling through Utah during the escalating tensions. In 1858, Young agreed to step down from his position as governor and was replaced by a non-Mormon, Alfred Cumming . Nevertheless, the LDS Church still wielded significant political power in

12126-469: The movement split into several groups following different leaders; the majority followed Brigham Young , while smaller groups followed Joseph Smith III , Sidney Rigdon , and James Strang . Most of these smaller groups eventually merged into the Community of Christ , and the term Mormon typically refers to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), as today, this branch

12255-511: The needs of poor members, which has since grown to include a humanitarian branch that provides relief to disaster victims. During the later half of the 20th century, there was a retrenchment movement in Mormonism in which Mormons became more conservative, attempting to regain their status as a "peculiar people". Though the 1960s and 1970s brought changes such as Women's Liberation and the civil rights movement , Mormon leaders were alarmed by

12384-454: The occurrences. Mormon leader John Corrill wrote, "the love of pillage grew upon them very fast, for they plundered every kind of property they could get a hold of." Some Latter-day Saints claimed that some of the Missourians burned their own homes in order to blame the Mormons. None of these claims, however, purport to be eyewitness accounts. These claims are contradicted by the majority of both Missourian and Latter Day Saint testimony and also by

12513-506: The ordeal and died later. General David R. Atchison wrote a letter to Governor Lilburn Boggs on October 16, 1838. He stated that General Parks reported to him that "a portion of the men from Carroll County , with one piece of artillery, are on their march for Daviess County , where it is thought the same lawless game is to be played over, and the Mormons to be driven from that county and probably from Caldwell County ." Atchison said further, "I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency

12642-661: The orders of Doniphan, continued on to Adam-ondi-Ahman. Although he was sympathetic to the Mormons' plight, Doniphan reminded the Latter Day Saints that the Caldwell County militia could not legally enter Daviess County , and he advised Mormons traveling there to go in small parties and unarmed. Ignoring this counsel, Judge Higby, a Mormon judge in Caldwell County called out the Caldwell militia, led by Colonel George M. Hinkle , to defend Latter Day Saint settlements in neighboring Daviess County. They were joined by elements of

12771-456: The organization's headquarters in Utah. The church enforces general doctrinal uniformity, congregations on all continents teach the same doctrines, and international Mormons tend to absorb a good deal of Mormon culture, possibly because of the church's top-down hierarchy and missionary presence. However, international Mormons often bring pieces of their own heritage into the church, adapting church practices to local cultures. As of December 2019,

12900-468: The patterns of conflict between the Mormons and other Missouri residents over the course of the Mormon war. The expelled Mormons sought refuge in the neighboring counties, especially in Clay County . Lilburn Boggs , who would later be the Governor of Missouri during the 1838 war, was a Jackson County resident and Lieutenant Governor at the time. He was in a position to observe the events leading up to

13029-407: The polling place, a Missourian named Dick Weldon declared that in Clay County the Mormons had not been allowed to vote, "no more than the negroes". One of the Mormons present, Samuel Brown, claimed that statements was false and then declared his intention to vote. This triggered a brawl between the bystanders. At the start of the brawl, Mormon John Butler let out a call, "Oh yes, you Danites , here

13158-405: The poor and building the church. The church is divided by locality into congregations called " wards ", with several wards or branches to create a " stake ". Most church leadership positions are lay positions, and church leaders may work 10 to 15 hours a week in unpaid church service. Observant Mormons also contribute 10 percent of their income to the church as tithing . Paying tithing is one of

13287-490: The prerequisites for entrance into Mormon temples. Many LDS young men, women, and elderly couples choose to serve a proselytizing mission , during which they dedicate all of their time to the church without pay. Members are often involved in humanitarian efforts . Mormons adhere to the Word of Wisdom , a health law or code that is interpreted as prohibiting the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea, while encouraging

13416-498: The propriety of a visit to the scene of excitement in person, or at all events, a strong proclamation" as the only way to restore peace and the rule of law. Boggs, however, ignored this plea and continued to wait as events unravelled. Meanwhile, a group of vigilantes from Clinton, Platte, and other counties began to harass Mormons in Daviess County, burning outlying homes and plundering property. Latter Day Saint refugees began to flee to Adam-ondi-Ahman for protection and shelter against

13545-406: The public through them. There are buildings owned throughout the world that serve as bishop's storehouses. In areas of the world without a dedicated building, the bishop can render assistance by purchasing food and household necessities with church fast offering funds and delivering the goods to the recipient. This may also be done when the recipient has special dietary needs not catered to through

13674-530: The rest of the Mormon community. While Mormons were viewed as a fringe religious group, the sentiment reflected in the Southern Advocate questioned the legitimacy of the vigilante committees: By what color of propriety a portion of the people of the State, can organize themselves into a body, independent of the civil power, and contravene the general laws of the land by preventing the free enjoyment of

13803-546: The right of citizenship to another portion of the people, we are at a loss to comprehend. As tensions built in Daviess County, other counties began to respond to Carroll County's request for assistance in expelling the Mormons from their county. Citizens in Saline, Howard, Jackson, Chariton, Ray, and other nearby counties organized vigilance committees sympathetic to the Carroll County expulsion party. Some isolated Mormons in outlying areas also came under attack. In Livingston County,

13932-764: The rumors. When the Mormons heard a rumor that Judge Adam Black was gathering a mob near Millport, one hundred armed men, including Joseph Smith, surrounded Black's home. They asked if the rumor was true and demanded that he sign a document disavowing any connection to the vigilance committees. Black refused, but after meeting with Smith, he wrote and signed a document stating that he "is not attached to any mob, nor will attach himself to any such people, and so long as they [the Mormons] will not molest me, I will not molest them." The Mormons also visited Sheriff William Morgan and several other leading Daviess County citizens, also forcing some of them to sign statements disavowing any ties to

14061-491: The scriptural canon. Mormons believe in "a friendly universe" governed by a God whose aim is to bring his children to immortality and eternal life. Mormons have a unique perspective on the nature of God , the origin of man, and the purpose of life. For instance, Mormons believe in a pre-mortal existence where people were literal spirit children of God and that God presented a plan of salvation that would allow his children to progress and become more like him. The plan involved

14190-489: The spirits receiving bodies on earth and going through trials in order to learn, progress, and receive a "fullness of joy". The most important part of the plan involved Jesus , the eldest of God's children, coming to earth as the literal Son of God to conquer sin and death so that God's other children could return. According to Mormons, every person who lives on earth will be resurrected, and nearly all of them will be received into various kingdoms of glory . To be accepted into

14319-633: The state . It should not be confused with the Illinois Mormon War or the Utah War . Between 1831 and 1833, Mormons established several settlements in Jackson County, Missouri , and had built a temple site in Independence , the county seat. The Mormons' presence in the county was short-lived, as non-Mormon residents grew increasingly hostile towards them. In November 1833, the Mormons were violently evicted from Jackson County , forcing

14448-588: The state legislature, had made disparaging statements about the Mormons, calling them "horse-thieves and robbers", and warned them not to vote in the election. Reminding Daviess County residents of the growing electoral power of the Mormon community, Peniston made a speech in Gallatin claiming that if the Missourians "suffer such men as these [Mormons] to vote, you will soon lose your suffrage." Around 200 non-Mormons gathered in Gallatin on election day to prevent Mormons from voting. When about thirty Mormons approached

14577-771: The summer of 1838 In 1837, problems at the church's headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio , centering on the Kirtland Safety Society bank, led to schism. The church relocated in January 1838 from Kirtland to Far West, Missouri , which became its new headquarters. Mormon settlement increased as hundreds of members from Kirtland and elsewhere poured into Missouri . Mormons established new colonies outside of Caldwell County, including Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County and De Witt in Carroll County . In

14706-462: The surrounding area were to become the " City of Zion ", and Mormon leadership in Missouri was directed to make extensive land purchases in the area. This clashed with the interests of non-Mormon Jackson County settlers. The Mormon settlers' cultural and political differences, economic cohesion, and their proselytizing among Native Americans and African-Americans also contributed to growing animosity. Most Latter Day Saints were originally from New England,

14835-474: The teachings of LDS Church leaders . However, several smaller groups substantially differ from "mainstream" Mormonism in various ways. LDS Church members who do not actively participate in worship services or church callings are often called " less-active " or "inactive" (akin to the qualifying expressions non-observant or non-practicing used in relation to members of other religious groups). The LDS Church does not release statistics on church activity, but it

14964-467: The term Mormons along with "Mormon Church", "Mormonism", and the abbreviation LDS. The second-largest sect, the Community of Christ , also rejects the term Mormon due to its association with the practice of polygamy among Brighamite sects . Other sects, including several fundamentalist branches of the Brighamite tradition, embrace the term Mormon . The history of the Mormons has shaped them into

15093-467: The tight-knit community feel of Mormon culture. In addition to weekly worship services, Mormons began participating in numerous programs such as Boy Scouting , a Young Women organization , church-sponsored dances, ward basketball, camping trips, plays, and religious education programs for youth and college students. During the Great Depression, the church started a welfare program to meet

15222-555: The turn of the 20th century. In the first period, Smith attempted to build a city called Zion, where converts could gather. Zion became a "landscape of villages" in Utah during the pioneer era. In modern times, Zion is still an ideal, though Mormons gather together in their individual congregations rather than in a central geographic location. The Mormon movement began with the publishing of the Book of Mormon in March 1830, which Smith claimed

15351-458: The upcoming winter. Joseph Smith, returning to Far West from De Witt, was informed by General Doniphan of the deteriorating situation. Doniphan already had troops raised to prevent fighting between Mormons and anti-Mormons in Daviess County. On Sunday, October 14, a small company of state militia under the command of Colonel William A. Dunn of Clay County arrived in Far West. Dunn, acting under

15480-420: The use of herbs, grains, fruits, and a moderate consumption of meat. The Word of Wisdom is also understood to forbid other harmful and addictive substances and practices, such as the use of illegal drugs and abuse of prescription drugs. Mormons are encouraged to keep a year's supplies, including food and financial reserves. Mormons also oppose behaviors such as viewing pornography and gambling. The concept of

15609-415: The use of the church's full name, rather than the terms Mormon or LDS. According to Patrick Mason, chair of Mormon studies at Claremont Graduate University and Richard Bennett, a professor of church history at Brigham Young University , this is because non-church members have historically been confused about whether it represents a Christian faith, which concerns church leaders, who want to emphasize that

15738-463: The vigilance committees. At a meeting at Lyman Wight's home between leading Mormons and non-Mormons, both sides agreed not to protect anyone who had broken the law and to surrender all offenders to the authorities. With peace restored, Smith's group returned to Caldwell County. Black and others filed complaints against Smith and the other identifiable Mormon participants. On September 7, Smith and Lyman Wight appeared before Judge Austin A. King to answer

15867-508: Was restored through Joseph Smith and is guided by living prophets and apostles . Mormons believe in the Bible and other books of scripture, such as the Book of Mormon . They have a unique view of cosmology and believe that all people are literal spirit children of God. Mormons believe that returning to God requires following the example of Jesus Christ and accepting his atonement through repentance and ordinances such as baptism. During

15996-600: Was a translation of golden plates containing the religious history of an ancient American civilization that the ancient prophet-historian Mormon had compiled. Smith stated that an angel had directed him to the golden plates buried in the Hill Cumorah . On April 6, 1830, Smith founded the Church of Christ . In 1832, Smith added an account of a vision he had sometime in the early 1820s while living in Upstate New York. Some Mormons regarded this vision as

16125-423: Was endorsed by Joseph Smith, who appeared at the event and participated in the raising of a liberty pole . In the speech, Rigdon declared that the Latter Day Saints would no longer be driven from their homes by persecution from without or dissension from within: "and at mob that comes on us to disturb us, it shall be between us and them a war of extermination; for we will follow them until the last drop of their blood

16254-457: Was immediately labeled as an "insurrection", and was put down by the activated militia of the county. Once Latter-day Saints were disarmed, mounted squads visited Mormon settlements with threats and enough beatings and destruction of homes to force flight. Despite appeals and legal efforts, the Mormons were unable to regain their lands in Jackson County. The non-Mormons in Jackson refused to allow

16383-561: Was instructed to keep goods "in my [the Lord's] storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy". The first bishop's storehouse was established in Bishop Newel K. Whitney 's store in Kirtland, Ohio . Most of the goods in the storehouse are purchased with fast offering funds or produced on church-owned agricultural property. The storehouses are staffed by volunteers or church service missionaries . Persons in need, whether members of

16512-481: Was reported to have been generous in selling to Mormons on credit, but his store was plundered and burned with the rest. Judge Josiah Morin and Samuel McBrier, both considered friendly to the Mormons, both fled Daviess County after being threatened. McBrier's house was among those burned. When a Mormon band plundered and burned the Taylor home, one young Mormon, Benjamin F Johnson, argued his fellow vigilantes into leaving

16641-444: Was sometimes used derogatorily ; such use may have developed during the 1838 Mormon War , although church members and leaders "embraced the term", according to church historian Matthew Bowman, and by the end of the 1800s it was broadly used. The LDS Church has made efforts, including in 1982, in 2001 prior to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics , in 2011 after The Book of Mormon appeared on Broadway, and again in 2018, to encourage

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