Mormons are a nickname awarded to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name "Mormons" comes from the title of the book, which is supposedly a translation of an ancient sacred text.
Mormons are Christians. They call themselves "Latter-day Saints" or simply "Saints."
The origin of the holy book of Mormons
The manuscript, known as the Book of Mormon, was published in 1830. According to the author of the book and founder of the movement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith, the sacred text was written by ancient prophets who lived on the North American continent long before the coming of Jesus Christ. One of the prophets named Mormoni appeared before Smith in the form of an angel and pointed out the location of the book. She was buried in one of the hills of modern New York.
The “Book of Mormon” is considered by Latter-day Saints to be evidence of the resurrection of the true church of Christ.
History
From the earliest days of their existence, Mormons have tried to create a righteous society. They devoted much effort to building the city they called "Zion." Thus, their villages appeared in Utah. The name Zion also refers to the utopian society that the Mormons aspired to.
Although Smith managed to organize a group of followers, the early Mormons met with great resistance from the local population and authorities. After wandering the United States for a long time and trying to organize an ideal society, Smith was killed by a mob in Illinois.
Following unsuccessful attempts to create the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, Mormons began to live apart in the midst of American society. They colonized the desert region now known as the "Mormon Corridor." Followers of Joseph Smith lived by their own ethics and faith.
Mormons made missionary trips to countries in Europe, Oceania, and Latin America. Many adherents came and joined the Mormons from England and Scandinavia.
In the mid-19th century, Mormon religious leaders established polygamy as the norm in marriage. But polygamy has caused a lot of political tension in the United States. It came to war, and in 1890 the Mormons were forced to officially end the practice.
Polygamy also made economic sense: many newly minted female Mormons traveled alone from overseas. By entering into a marriage union, they received social support within the community.
In the 20th century, the line of behavior of Mormons changed towards integration with American society. They began to speak on the radio, support industry and patriotism. During the Great Depression, many Mormons began to move out of Utah, where they had previously settled.
Later, Latter-day Saints began to take an active part in various charitable, social, and educational programs.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown enormously since World War II. Mormons continued to practice extensively as missionary work, and by 1996 there were more of them outside the United States than inside.
Basic Mormon Beliefs
Mormons believe in Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. According to their faith, people will be punished for their own sins, not for Adam's original sin. Humanity can be saved through the observance of the laws of God and the atonement of sins by Christ. To Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon and the Bible are equally sacred. Mormons still believe in the possibility of creating New Jerusalem and the Promised Land on the American land, that is, a righteous society.