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 d...