How a 19th-century vision sparked a global movement of 18 million people
In the 1820s, Joseph Smith claimed to have seen God and Jesus as separate beings. This vision didn't just launch a new church; it ignited a complex web of denominations, migrations, and theological shifts that continue to shape millions of lives across the globe today.
The Latter Day Saint movement emerged in western New York during the American Second Great Awakening. Its founder, Joseph Smith, claimed that a divine vision revealed the existence of golden plates buried in a hill, which he later translated into the Book of Mormon. Published in 1830, this text serves as a complement to the Bible and recounts the history of ancient Israelites who migrated to the Americas.
The movement's history is defined by fragmentation and migration. Following the 1844 death of Smith and his brother Hyrum at the hands of a mob in Illinois, a succession crisis split the movement into various groups. The largest, the Church of Jesus and Christ of Latter-day Saints, migrated to the Great Basin under Brigham Young. While this group famously practiced polygamy in the 19th century, it officially renounced the practice in 1890.
Today, the movement is a massive collection of independent churches. The vast majority—over 17 million members—belong to the LDS Church, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Another significant group, the Community of Christ, maintains a headquarters in Independence, Missouri, with approximately 250,000 members. While some denominations, like the Community of Christ, follow more traditional Protestant theologies, others, such as Mormon fundamentalist sects, formed specifically to preserve 19th-century doctrines.
Theologically, the movement is characterized by the doctrine of 'restoration'—the belief that the original Christian church was lost during a 'Great Apostasy' and has been brought back to Earth. This includes a belief in continuing revelation through modern prophets and a unique understanding of the Godhead, viewing the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as distinct individual personages.
Source: Latter Day Saint movement
