June 27, 1844: Mormon Leader....

.... Killed by Mob.

Joseph Smith, the founder and leader of the Mormon religion, is murdered along with his brother Hyrum when an anti-Mormon mob breaks into a jail where they are being held in Carthage, Illinois.

Born in Vermont in 1805, Smith claimed in 1823 that he had been visited by a Christian angel named Moroni who spoke to him of an ancient Hebrew text that had been lost for 1,500 years. The holy text, supposedly engraved on gold plates by a Native American historian in the fourth century, related the story of Israelite peoples who had lived in America in ancient times. During the next six years, Smith dictated an English translation of this text to his wife and other scribes, and in 1830 The Book of Mormon was published. In the same year, Smith founded the Church of Christ---later known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints---in Fayette Township.

The religion rapidly gained converts, and Smith set up Mormon communities in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. However, the Christian sect was also heavily criticized for its unorthodox practices, such as polygamy. In 1844, Smith announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. Although he did not have great enough appeal to win, the idea of Smith as president increased anti-Mormon sentiment. A group of dissenting Mormons began publishing a newspaper that was highly critical of the practice of polygamy and of Smith's leadership; Smith had the press destroyed. The ensuing threat of violence prompted Smith to call out a militia in the Mormon town of Nauvoo, Illinois. He was charged with treason and conspiracy by Illinois authorities and imprisoned with his brother Hyrum in the Carthage city jail. On June 27, 1844, an anti-Mormon mob stormed in and murdered the brothers.

Two years later, Smith's successor, Brigham Young, led an exodus of persecuted Mormons from Nauvoo along the western wagon trails in search of religious and political freedom. In July 1847, the 148 initial Mormon pioneers reached Utah's Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Upon viewing the valley, Young declared, "This is the place," and the pioneers began preparations for the tens of thousands of Mormon migrants who would follow them to settle there.

SOURCE: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mormon-leader-killed-by-mob

 

No, I haven't read A Study in Scarlet.

As a part of my studies of the "American West" while at Austin Peay State Univ. (Clarksville TN) in both undergraduate & graduate history courses (1976-1981), we naturally studied something about the CofJCofLDS because they did have an impact on the American West.

Then too, a couple years ago I read one of History Book Club's offerings on the history of Joe Smith & his successors. I don't recall the exact author/title is/was, and I don't even have the book in my possession because I donated it to my church's ( www.lighthouseministries.org ) Christian school's (LCS) library.

When WPE3BQL was over in (West) Germany (1967-1969) one I met a Mormon man who was in my duty section. I suppose he was the first Mormon I'd had any contact with. He was only a lay person, but I did notice some "unusual" things about him, e.g., he didn't drink any Cokes.

Back then, I was only about a year old in God's family, and knew very little about the habits of what some historians claim was the "First 'truly American-founded' religion.'"

This fellow really knew his job as an Aircraft Electrician, and I learned a lot from his expertise.

Mormons, as a general rule, do perform well in certain "secular" endeavors. In "secular" music I can think of: The Lettermen (The original 3 got their "letters" in various BYU sports), The Osman's (originally "The Osman Brothers," then "Donny & Marie," etc.). Of course there's the world-famous "Mormon Tabernacle Choir."

In sports you may recall many famous quarterbacks coming from BYU.

And then, in politics, there was this 2012 GOP candidate for POTUS!! :smilewinkgrin:

What bothers me is that "the world" just lumps them in" with other "Christian" religions. (Well, they ain't Jews, so "what's your problem??" :smilewinkgrin

And then Mormons will appear in commercials as promoting "family values." Yeah, right.

Anyway, I believe that the Triune God that most of us BB folks believe in probably isn't "'zackly the very same god of the Mormons." :tonofbricks: