The Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, while often misunderstood, embody most ideals that have defined what it is to be an American. The spirit of hard work, stewardship and rugged individualism was preached by the church’s founder, Joseph Smith Jr. Fleeing discrimination and religious persecution their journey west ended at the seemingly uninhabitable Great Basin of present day Utah. While being the only truly American religion that has survived and thrived, it is not without its detractors and naysayers. Much of the criticism came from mainstream Christian denominations. More often than not Mormonism was, and continues to be, attacked because of its association with polygamy. It was this doctrine of polygamy, along with the concern of a theocratic government, which led to the delay in statehood for Utah.
While currently thriving in Utah, the Latter Day Saints can trace their roots to upstate New York when Joseph Smith had a series of revelations. The tenants of the religion were incorporated into the Book of Mormon, which was first published in 1830. Continually seeking religious freedom, the Saints left New York and settled in Ohio. Church membership grew quickly in the 1830s and 1840s, with communal living being a key drawing point. As a result of tensions in Ohio between the community and non-members, Smith led his followers to Nauvoo, Illinois and “sketched out a plan for a fabulous Mormon empire in the American West” (Faragher, p. 193). Again, however, the Saints and the surrounding community clashed, this time specifically concerning plural marriage. Smith destroyed the printing press of a group that had been condemning polygamy. Arrested for destruction of property, Joseph Smith was killed in jail by an angry mob as he awaited trial.
Upon Smith’s death, Brigham Young eventually seized control of the Mormon community. Looking to create the Kingdom of God where the Saints could live free of persecution, they ventured further west. Unlike...