Mormon History
Overview
The original name for the Mormon Church was the Church of Christ—and it was founded on April 6, 1830 in Fayette, New York. (The full name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was given by revelation in 1838.) Most of these very earliest members were friends with the Prophet and founder, Joseph Smith, or part of his family. But the Church wouldn’t stay at six members. It would grow quickly and persecution would grow with it. The Church would move according to its growth and to escape that persecution—to Kirtland, Ohio, to western Missouri, to Illinois, then, finally, to Utah.
Although the Mormons’ stay in Utah was not entirely peaceful, they were not driven from the area and official persecution (for the United States also went against the Church from time to time) stopped near the end of the nineteenth century. The Church had grown in members during persecution and grew more afterward. The Mormon faith has spread far beyond Utah and the United States to become a church to span nations. In fact, most Mormons do not live in the United States.
Following is an outline of the history of Mormonism, from 1820 to now. Links go to pages that give a fuller treatment of the time period.
Outline of Mormon History
At the age of 14, Joseph Smith Jr. receives the First Vision—God the Father and Jesus Christ appear to him. The Angel Moroni appears to him later, and directs him to the golden plates, which he will translate and publish the Book of Mormon from. In 1830, he organizes the Church of Christ (Mormon Church). Almost immediately, missionaries are sent out to preach the gospel as restored to Joseph Smith. Persecution rises almost as immediately.
The Mormons move their main gathering place to Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith receives many revelations. Other Mormons, hoping to build Zion, move to Missouri. Kirtland becomes the site of the first Mormon temple. Joseph translates the Book of Abraham from papyri. The Doctrine and Covenants is published. Missionaries visit Canada and England. The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is established. Joseph Smith launches and organizes Zion’s Camp to help persecuted Missouri Mormons. The Church itself moves to Missouri in 1838.
Jackson County was the first area of Missouri settled by Mormons—this in 1831. Mobs drive them from the county in 1833. The Mormons temporarily settle in Clay County, then move more permanently to Caldwell and Davies counties in 1836. Unfortunately, mobs harass them there as well. Some Mormons fight back, including a group called the Danites, who fight back. The entire Church moving to Missouri escalates the conflict. Joseph Smith and other leaders are arrested and kept in jail without trial for several months. The Extermination Order forces Mormons out of Missouri. Dozens of Mormons are massacred at Haun’s Mill, others are burned out of their homes. Brigham Young leads the Mormon flight to Illinois.
Nauvoo, Illinois is founded by the Mormons and rivals Chicago for size in a few years. Mormon missionaries preach in Europe and are particularly successful in Scandinavia and England. The Nauvoo Temple is begun. Persecution hasn’t ceased and Joseph Smith often must conceal himself from enemies. He receives revelations about plural marriage (sometimes called Mormon polygamy), baptism for the dead, eternal marriage, and the plan of salvation. Joseph and Hyrum Smith are murdered in June 1844 and the Twelve Apostles lead the Church. In 1846, the Nauvoo temple is completed, but the Mormons are driven out that same year.
Until the Mormon Trail (to Utah) is established, Mormons are scattered through Iowa. The Mormon Battalion participates in the U.S.-Mexican War and explores California. Mormon pioneers make their way to Utah and establish cities in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Idaho – and also in northern Mexico and southern Canada. The Mormon Church has ten years of peace in this period and Brigham Young is sustained as President and Prophet of the Church.
Disgruntled, former Utah officials persuade President James Buchanan, through lies and political pressure, to send Johnston’s Army to Utah. This army is sent, specifically, to suppress a rebellion that doesn’t exist. Brigham Young is dismissed as Utah’s governor, but no one notifies him of this. Mormons, afraid of being driven out again, harass Johnston’s Army by scattering horses and burning grass. Despite this, the army is able to conclude there is no rebellion and peace is established. Unfortunately, before this point, fears provoked by the idea of invasion drive some Mormons to massacre settlers bound for California – this is called the Mountain Meadows massacre.
The Mormon Church is left in peace again during the Civil War. Mormon missionary work continues throughout the world – going into Mexico and South America, as well as parts of Asia and Europe. The U.S. Congress passes several laws outlawing polygamy after the Civil War. Thousands of Mormons are ultimately jailed. Others are disallowed to vote, hold office, or own property. Loyalty oaths are instituted to keep Mormons out of jobs. The leaders of the Church go into hiding and many Mormons flee to Canada and Mexico. But the practice of Mormon polygamy stops after Mormon prophet and president Wilford Woodruff receives revelation from the Lord. U.S. President Grover Cleveland later pardons all polygamists. Also during this period, thousands of European Mormons come to Utah.
Mormon history reports a period of peace for the next few decades. The Church gain prosperity again, although the debts incurred in more persecuted periods will take a long time to pay off yet. Mormon Apostle Reed Smoot must fight two years, after being elected, to take his seat in the U.S. Senate. President and Prophet Joseph F. Smith receives an important revelation about salvation for the dead. The Church reaches and celebrates its centennial and begins buying historic sites. The Church Welfare system is created during the Great Depression to help members in need. The previous practice of Mormons outside of the United States moving to Utah enmasse stops—most are encouraged to stay where they are. Missionary work in South America and the Pacific islands convert thousands to the Church and Mormon temples are built in Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and Hawaii. World War II finds Mormons on both sides of the conflict. Many are trapped behind the Iron Curtain after the war.
After World War II, the Mormon Church’s growth becomes exponential. Temples grow alongside this growth. Even while under Soviet control, a temple is built in East Germany. President David O. McKay becomes the most widely traveled Mormon president to that date. Mormon programs for welfare and humanitarian work expand and Mormonism provides valuable aid to the reconstruction of Europe and Japan. The Church establishes missionary training centers to help missionaries learn the many languages of the people they preach to. David O. McKay encourages all members to be missionaries and the Lord reveals to one of his successors, Spencer W. Kimball, that all male members should serve as missionaries. The number in the Church’s missionary force grows to over 50,000. The huge amount of growth in the Church makes streamlining its government and programs necessary, through the correlation program. The Church’s growth in Brazil and Africa prompts Mormon prophet Spencer W. Kimball to pray about the ban on blacks from the priesthood. In 1978, he receives a revelation that all worthy male members may receive the priesthood and the Church grows exponentially in Brazil and Africa. In the 1980s, the Church focuses on the translation of the Book of Mormon into dozens of world languages and Mormons answer the call to "flood the earth" with it.
The Mormon Church has grown past 12 million members, worldwide, since the early 1990s. Some of the primary sources of this growth are in South America and Africa, as well as nations of the former Soviet Union, Russia in particular. More Mormons live outside the United States by the late 1990s. To keep up with the growth, hundreds of new churches are built a year. Gordon B. Hinckley becomes Church President in 1885 and surpasses David O. McKay as most widely traveled Mormon prophet. The Proclamation to the World, about the role and nature of the family and its breakdown in modern times, and the Living Christ, about the mission of Jesus Christ, are issued. Gordon B. Hinckley receives a revelation that more temples should be built. By the year 2000, more than 100 Mormon temples are in operation worldwide, from China, to South America, to Europe, to Africa. The Nauvoo temple, destroyed by arsonists in 1846, is rebuilt. Mormons also celebrated the sesquicentennial of the Mormon pioneers’ journey to Utah and, in 2005, they celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of Joseph Smith.