mormonism and illinois
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Mormonism and Illinois. Illinois History. Origins of Mormonism. Joseph Smith ( b . 1805) Prophet Western New York Experiences visions Told of Golden Tablets Translates tablets into The Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith (1805-1844). What is Mormonism?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mormonism and IllinoisIllinois History
Origins of Mormonism
• Joseph Smith (b. 1805)– Prophet
• Western New York• Experiences visions• Told of Golden Tablets• Translates tablets into
The Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
What is Mormonism?• Belief in Bible in addition to Book of Mormon• Jesus’ dealings in the New World• Practice polygamy• Oppose Slavery• All excess money goes to Church• Abstaining from:– Alcohol, Tobacco, Caffeine Use
Tribulations
• Searching for an area to fully establish their new religion
• Kirtland, Ohio• Jackson County, Missouri– Violence
• On to Illinois, 1839.
Illinois
• Purchase a small town• Rename it Nauvoo– “The City Beautiful”
• Granted powerful charter• Nauvoo Legion– 2nd Largest Army in US
• 12,000 pop. by 1845
Hostility in Nauvoo• Non-Mormons in the area begin fearing
Joseph Smith and his Church– Political Power– Large Army– Cultural differences
• Saints begin questioning Smith as well.– Too power hungry
“were a set of unprincipled men, lawless, debouchees, counterfeiters, Bogus Makers, gamblers, peace disturbers, and that the grand object of said proprietors was to destroy our constitutional rights and chartered privileges; to overthrow all good and wholesome regulations in society; to strengthen themselves against the municipality; to fortify themselves against the church of which I am a member, and destroy all our religious rights and privileges, by libels, slanders, falsehoods, perjury & sticking at no corruption to accomplish their hellish purposes. and that said paper of itself was libelous of the deepest dye, and very injurious as a vehicle of defamation,—tending to corrupt the morals, and disturb the peace, tranquility and happiness of the whole community, and especially that of Nauvoo” -Joseph Smith (on the Nauvoo Expositor)
• 1844. Smith orders destruction of Nauvoo Expositor press.
• Joseph Smith and his brother are jailed for the destruction of property
• While in jail, both are killed by a mob• Brigham Young takes his followers to the Salt
Lake Basin