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