Origins and Founding Controversies of Mormonism


So, let’s talk about the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—what most people call the Mormon Church. If you’ve ever wondered why some Christians and scholars refer to it as a cult, it really helps to start at the very beginning.

The story kicks off in the 1820s with a young man named Joseph Smith in upstate New York. According to his own accounts, he had a series of visions. First, he claimed that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Then an angel named Moroni supposedly visited him and told him about golden plates buried in a hill, which contained the history of an ancient American civilization. Smith said he translated these plates into what we now know as the Book of Mormon.

The early 19th century in America was marked by the Second Great Awakening, a period of religious fervor, revivalism, and new sects. Joseph Smith’s claims fit into a broader trend of charismatic leaders emerging with new religious movements. This era also included intense debates over scripture, church authority, and spiritual experiences, which set the stage for Smith’s following.

No one else ever saw the golden plates, and the translation process involved a seer stone in a hat, which many people—even at the time—found unusual or unbelievable. Early Mormons practiced secret polygamy, with Joseph Smith reportedly marrying dozens of women, some as young as 14. The practice was kept hidden from the general membership for years. Smith and other leaders founded the Kirtland Safety Society, a bank that failed and caused financial loss to members.

From a Christian perspective, these early practices are problematic. The Bible teaches that Scripture is complete and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT) and that God’s guidance comes through His Word and the Holy Spirit, not through secret visions or new “scriptures.” Polygamy in the New Testament context is condemned for church leaders: "For a bishop must be blameless… the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2, NLT). The secret marriages and hidden doctrines clearly contradict these biblical principles.

The Mormon Church’s origins are filled with secrecy, extraordinary claims, and practices contrary to biblical teaching. These elements, combined with authoritative control by church leaders, are part of why many critics—including mainstream Christians—classify Mormonism as a cult.

Sources
Bushman, Richard Lyman. Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. 

Quinn, D. Michael. The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994. 

Vogel, Dan. Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2004. 

“Mormonism: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009. 
BibleGateway. “





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