April 6 - The Mormon Church is Established

This Day in History: 6 April 2020

 

6 April 1830

 

190 years ago, today, the Mormon Church, also known as The Church of Christ, was established by Joseph Smith. He had claimed 7 years prior that he had been visited by a Christian angel, named Moroni, who spoke to him of an ancient Hebrew text, apparently lost for 1,500 years. This text had also supposedly been engraved in gold plating by a Native American historian, which described the story of the Israelites living in America in ancient times. For the next few years, Smith created an English translation of this text, and in 1830, 'The Book of Mormon' was published.

 

This new religion quickly gained followers, as Smith also began to set up Mormon communities in states such as Missouri and Illinois. Despite this, the new denomination was heavily criticised for its unorthodox practises, such as polygamy. On June 27, 1844, Smith and his brother were murdered in jail by anti-Mormons. Nevertheless, Smith's successor, Brigham Young, led persecuted Mormons from Illinois along the western wagon trials in search of religious and political freedom. In 1847, this group reached the Great Salt Lake, and the pioneers began to settle here, waiting for more Mormon migrants who would follow.

 

Want to find out more about the history of Mormonism? Click here to find out more.