Some people follow a faith called Mormonism.
It started a long time ago. A man named Joseph Smith began it. He said he saw God. They have a special book.
It tells many stories. Do you like to hear stories?
Some people follow a faith called Mormonism.
It started in New York a long time ago. A man named Joseph Smith began it. He said he saw God and Jesus.
He also said he found golden plates in a hill. These plates helped him write a special book.
This book tells stories about people in the Americas. Many groups follow these ideas today. They have many different ways of worshiping. It is a very large group of people.
Mormonism is a religious tradition. It began in New York in the 1820s.
A man named Joseph Smith started it. He said he saw God and Jesus in a vision.
Smith also said he found golden plates in a hill. He used these plates to write the Book of Mormon.
This book tells stories of people in the Americas. It says they had a connection with God.
Many groups follow these ideas today. The largest group is the LDS Church. They live in many places. Some people also follow smaller groups. These groups might have different beliefs. For example, some groups still practice plural marriage. The LDS Church stopped this in 1890.
Mormon beliefs include many things. They believe in the Bible. They also use other holy books. They focus on things like health and fasting. They believe life on Earth is a short part of a long journey. They believe people can learn to choose good over evil.
This helps them grow closer to God.
Mormonism is a religious tradition that belongs to a movement called Restorationist Christianity.
It started in Western New York during the 1820s and 1830s. A man named Joseph Smith began this movement after he sought answers about which church was true.
Many people use the word Mormonism to describe these beliefs. However, the largest group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has asked people to use its full name instead. This tradition includes many different ideas about how people can connect with God. It is a way of life that involves many special practices and deep thoughts about the universe.
Many followers believe that God restored the original Christian church through Joseph Smith.
This belief is based on what Smith called his "First Vision" in the spring of 1820. He said that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. They told him not to join other churches because they were not following the right path. Smith also said he found ancient golden plates buried in a hill in 1823.
He worked with helpers like Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery to translate these plates. In 1830, he published the Book of Mormon to share these stories. This book describes ancient people in the Americas and their dealings with God.
Because of different ideas, the movement split into many different groups over time. One source says there are over 400 different denominations from the original movement.
Some groups differ on how they view the Trinity, which is the idea of one God in three persons. The LDS Church does not affirm the traditional view of the Trinity. Other groups, like the Community of Christ, do follow this traditional view. Another big difference was the practice of plural marriage, or polygamy. The LDS Church banned this practice in 1890 after facing pressure from the United States government.
Some smaller groups, called Mormon fundamentalists, chose to keep practicing it.
The theology of this faith has very specific views about the nature of God.
Latter-day Saints believe in a "Godhead" made of three distinct beings. These are God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They believe the Father and Son have physical bodies, but the Holy Ghost is a spirit. They also believe in a Heavenly Mother and that people can grow to become like God.
Life on Earth is seen as a short part of a much longer journey. People are believed to have existed as spirits before coming to this world. The goal is to learn to choose good over evil through the help of Jesus Christ.
Today, the movement has a large presence in many parts of the world. The LDS Church grew from about 1.7 million members in 1960 to 16 million in 2020.
Many people in the American West identify with this culture even if they do not follow all the religious rules. This is sometimes called "Cultural Mormonism." The history of the movement includes many moves to find a safe place to live. Early members moved from New York to Ohio, then to Missouri, and later to Illinois. Eventually, a leader named Brigham Young led many followers to the Utah Territory.
This journey helped shape the many communities we see today.
Mormonism refers to the theology and religious traditions of the Latter Day Saint movement.
This movement is part of Restorationist Christianity. It began in Western New York during the 1820s and 1830s. The movement was started by Joseph Smith.
While many people use the term "Mormonism," the largest group prefers a different name. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has worked to distance itself from that label since 2018. This tradition involves unique beliefs about God, the universe, and the history of the Americas.
The movement began during a religious period called the Second Great Awakening. Joseph Smith was a farmboy who wanted to find the true church.
In 1820, he reported a "First Vision." He said God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. They told him not to join any existing churches. In 1823, Smith said an angel showed him golden plates buried in a hill.
He translated these plates with help from Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery. In 1830, he published the Book of Mormon. This text describes ancient peoples in the Americas and their relationship with God.
Latter-day Saint theology includes many specific doctrines. They use the Bible along with the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
Important doctrines include eternal marriage and eternal progression. They also practice baptism for the dead and observe the Sabbath. Some doctrines, like plural marriage, were practiced in the past but are no longer part of the main church. These beliefs aim to guide followers toward a Christ-like life. They believe that through Jesus Christ, people can overcome sin and return to God.
The theology regarding the nature of God is quite distinct.
Most Christians believe in the Trinity, where God is one being in three persons. Latter-day Saints believe in a "Godhead." This is a council of three separate divine beings: God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They believe the Father and Son have physical, glorified bodies. The Holy Ghost is a spirit without a physical body. They also believe in a Heavenly Mother. Some teachings suggest that humans can eventually attain godhood through eternal progression.
Because of different interpretations, the movement has many branches. One source estimates that over 400 denominations have come from Joseph Smith's original movement.
Some groups differ on the concept of Trinitarianism. For example, the Community of Christ follows Trinitarian views. Other groups are known as Mormon fundamentalists. These groups broke away because they wanted to continue the practice of polygamy. The LDS Church officially ended plural marriage in 1890 through a statement called the Manifesto. This change happened due to pressure from the United States government.
The history of the movement includes many migrations. Early members faced persecution in New York and Missouri.
In 1838, the governor of Missouri issued an "extermination order" against them. This forced the group to flee. They later settled in Nauvoo, Illinois. After Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, a succession crisis occurred. Brigham Young led a large group to the Utah Territory.
This move helped establish the church in the American West.
The movement has seen massive growth in recent decades. In 1960, the LDS Church had about 1.7 million members. By 1990, that number grew to 7.7 million. By 2020, the church claimed 16 million members.
Beyond religion, there is also a concept called "Cultural Mormonism." This describes people who identify with the traditions and culture of the American West. They may not follow all the specific religious doctrines. This shows how the movement has shaped both faith and society.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (10)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.