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Mormonism's eponymous founder, Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was a mysterious figure who left an indelible effect on the religious landscape of the United States. His assertions and teachings attracted both devoted followers and heated debate. But the church he founded continued to grow and flourish even after he was martyred. The Latter-day Saint movement is alive and well today because of Smith's foresight and perseverance. Those who ventured to forge a new religious path, like Smith, left an indelible mark on history, and his life and legacy serve as a reminder of the diversity of spiritual traditions that make up the fabric of America.
Joseph Smith Jr., a controversial and charismatic figure, had a formative impact on American religion in the 19th century. Smith brought a new faith to the frontier as the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, often known as Mormonism, which would eventually become one of the major Christian denominations in the United States.
Birthed on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, Smith grew up during the religious fervor known as the Second Great Awakening. Forging a spiritual path that would alter the course of American religion, Smith said a childhood vision of God and Jesus Christ set him on a course.
According to the Book of Mormon's translator, Joseph Smith, an angel named Moroni appeared to him in 1823 and showed him where to find golden plates with the religious history of an ancient American civilisation. In 1830, Smith released what we now call the Book of Mormon, which he claimed to have translated with divine help.
Smith also claimed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he founded the same year was a restoration of the original Christian church. His revolutionary and sometimes divisive beliefs included new understandings of the afterlife and the possibility of human divinity through marriage to a celestial partner or through baptism for the departed.
Smith's goal was to create a religious utopia called Zion for his fellow believers. In Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, he and his supporters established settlements. However, tensions between the Mormons and their neighbors frequently erupted into acts of violence and persecution.
Smith was murdered by a mob in 1844, but his ideas had a lasting impact. Brigham Young led Smith's followers west to Utah, where they founded a flourishing colony. There are now more than 16 million Christians in the world.
Birthed on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont, Smith grew up during the religious fervor known as the Second Great Awakening. Forging a spiritual path that would alter the course of American religion, Smith said a childhood vision of God and Jesus Christ set him on a course.
According to the Book of Mormon's translator, Joseph Smith, an angel named Moroni appeared to him in 1823 and showed him where to find golden plates with the religious history of an ancient American civilisation. In 1830, Smith released what we now call the Book of Mormon, which he claimed to have translated with divine help.
Smith also claimed that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he founded the same year was a restoration of the original Christian church. His revolutionary and sometimes divisive beliefs included new understandings of the afterlife and the possibility of human divinity through marriage to a celestial partner or through baptism for the departed.
Smith's goal was to create a religious utopia called Zion for his fellow believers. In Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, he and his supporters established settlements. However, tensions between the Mormons and their neighbors frequently erupted into acts of violence and persecution.
Smith was murdered by a mob in 1844, but his ideas had a lasting impact. Brigham Young led Smith's followers west to Utah, where they founded a flourishing colony. There are now more than 16 million Christians in the world.
