Church History · 1830

Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints

In 1830 Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon and organized a new church in western New York. After his death in 1844, Brigham Young led most members to Utah. Today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has millions of members, and its beliefs differ in key ways from the historic creeds.

Read it in the Bible: John 1:1-3 Ephesians 2:8-9 Galatians 1:8 Isaiah 43:10

The Latter day Saint movement began in western New York in 1830. That spring Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon, which he said he translated from golden plates shown to him by an angel. On April 6, 1830, he organized a new church in Fayette, New York. After Smith was killed in 1844, Brigham Young led most of the members west to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah in 1847. Today it is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and it is often known as the LDS Church. Its members see it as Christ's restored church. Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant churches see its teaching as different from historic Christianity.

Who Was Joseph Smith?

Joseph Smith was born in Vermont in 1805 and grew up near Palmyra, New York, in the Burned over District, an area full of revival meetings during the Second Great Awakening. Smith said that as a teenager, confused by all the competing churches, he prayed and saw God the Father and Jesus in a vision. He said they told him not to join any of the churches.

Smith said that in 1823 an angel named Moroni showed him where gold plates were buried in a nearby hill. He said that in 1827 he received the plates and translated them by the power of God.

What Is the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon was first printed in Palmyra in March 1830. It presents itself as a record of ancient people who sailed from the Middle East to the Americas. Its high point is a visit from the risen Jesus to the people in the Americas. Latter day Saints call it "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" and read it alongside the Bible.

Most historians and archaeologists outside the LDS Church do not accept that the book is an ancient record. Latter day Saints believe its truth is confirmed by the witness of the Holy Spirit. Two other books, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, are also LDS scripture.

How Did the Church Get to Utah?

The church grew fast and moved often. Members gathered in Kirtland, Ohio, then in Missouri, where they faced violence, and then in Nauvoo, Illinois, which became one of the largest cities in the state. Tensions grew with neighbors over politics, power and teachings like plural marriage.

On June 27, 1844, a mob killed Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in the jail at Carthage, Illinois. Brigham Young became the leader of the largest group. In 1846 the Saints left Nauvoo, and in July 1847 the first pioneers reached the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Young is reported to have said, "This is the place." Smaller groups followed other leaders and formed churches of their own, such as the group now called the Community of Christ.

How Do Latter Day Saint Beliefs Differ From Historic Christianity?

Latter day Saints love Jesus, read the Bible and call themselves Christians. The differences are about how they understand God, Jesus and Scripture. Here are the main ones, explained as fairly as we can.

God: The Nicene Creed teaches one God in three persons. LDS teaching describes the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as three separate beings united in purpose, and teaches that the Father has a glorified body.
Jesus: Latter day Saints believe Jesus is the Son of God and Savior. They also teach that all people lived as spirit children of Heavenly Father before birth, with Jesus as the firstborn. Historic Christianity teaches that the Son is eternal God who has always existed with the Father.
Scripture: Historic Christianity holds the Bible as the complete written Word of God. LDS teaching adds the Book of Mormon and other books and accepts ongoing revelation through its prophet.
The church: LDS teaching holds that the early church fell into a Great Apostasy and that Smith restored the true church and priesthood. Other churches see the creeds as faithful summaries of the Bible, not departures from it.
Salvation: Latter day Saints teach salvation through the grace of Jesus along with covenants, obedience and temple ordinances. Protestants stress salvation by grace through faith alone.

Because of these differences, most other churches do not accept LDS baptism as Christian baptism. Many Latter day Saints find that painful, since they sincerely see themselves as followers of Christ.

What Is the LDS Church Like Today?

The church is led from Salt Lake City by a president seen as a prophet, with twelve apostles. It reports more than 17 million members worldwide and is known for strong families, volunteer missionaries, generous welfare programs and the famous Tabernacle Choir. Plural marriage was officially ended in 1890. In 1978 the church ended a policy that kept Black members from the priesthood, and it has since rejected the old explanations for that policy.

What Does the Bible Say About Who Jesus Is?

For anyone sorting out these questions, the best place to start is the Bible itself. John begins his Gospel by saying Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem or before it. He always was.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8 to 9

If you have Latter day Saint friends, you will likely find them kind, sincere and serious about faith. The best conversations start with respect and an open Bible. Read the Gospel of John together, and talk about who Jesus is.

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Questions People Ask

When did the Latter day Saint church begin?

Joseph Smith organized the church on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York. The Book of Mormon was published the month before in Palmyra. The church took its current name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, later in the 1830s.

Why did the Mormons move to Utah?

Members faced violence and conflict in Missouri and Illinois, and Joseph Smith was killed in 1844. Brigham Young led most of the church west in search of a place to live in peace. The first pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847.

Are Latter day Saints Christians?

Latter day Saints see themselves as Christians and worship Jesus as Savior. Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant churches say LDS teaching about God, Jesus and Scripture is different from the historic creeds. So the answer depends on whether Christian means following Jesus sincerely or holding the Nicene faith.

What is the difference between the Bible and the Book of Mormon?

The Bible is accepted by all Christians as Scripture. The Book of Mormon is accepted by Latter day Saints as an added scripture about ancient people in the Americas. Other churches do not accept it as Scripture.

Sources

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