The Mormon religion informally began in the spring of 1820 in Palmyra, N.Y., when Joseph Smith Jr., at the age of 14, went into a grove of trees to pray. He asked God which church to join. Smith then saw God and His son, Jesus Christ, and was told to join no church. He formally founded the Mormon Church on April 6, 1830.
The idea that God and Jesus appeared to a 14-year-old boy caused many to be angry with Smith and his followers. The Mormons were hounded from state after state. In 1838, Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs issued what became known as the Extermination Order, which said, "[T]he Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary." One direct result was the Haun's Mill Massacre: 17 Mormons and one friend of Mormons were killed.
In 1844 Smith was shot and killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill., while imprisoned on false charges. Most Mormons accepted Brigham Young as the succeeding prophet of the Church. They followed him to Utah and entered the state July 24, 1847 -- Pioneer Day. Today, President Thomas S. Monson is presiding prophet, the 16th since Smith.
The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be found in simplest form in the 13 Articles of Faith. Mormons believe in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. The structure of the Mormon Church is the same as that of the church that Christ organized while on Earth. Mormons believe both the Book of Mormon and the correctly translated Holy Bible to be the word of God. Mormons believe in baptism by immersion and the atonement of Christ. Mormons believe families can be together forever.
With Mitt Romney running for president, the spotlight has once again been cast upon the Mormon Church. But Mr. Romney is not the first Mormon to run for the office. Joseph Smith Jr. announced his candidacy Jan. 29, 1844, on a platform that called for abolishing slavery, reducing congressional pay, making the House of Representatives smaller, reforming prisons, establishing a national bank and extending the United States from East to West, but only with the consent of Native Americans.
Mormons have been murdered, beaten, raped and tarred and feathered for their beliefs. They have had their belongings stolen and been driven from their homes and livelihoods. They have persevered.
The Mormon Church has been growing since it began. Members now live in 170 countries and number 14,441,346.
-- Leslie Conder
First Published: July 15, 2012, 4:00 a.m.