The Story of "Mormonism" and The Philosophy of "Mormonism"

In Short

This book combines a historical account of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a systematic exposition of its core doctrines. It traces the movement from the early nineteenth-century visions of Joseph Smith through the migration to the American West and the subsequent social and legal struggles in Utah. By balancing external historical context with internal theological claims, the work provides a comprehensive introduction to the faith’s development, endurance, and religious philosophy, explaining why the movement maintains its specific convictions despite intense historical opposition.

The Story

The narrative begins in 1820 with Joseph Smith, who experiences a divine visitation that leads to the restoration of the Church of Christ. Smith claims to be visited by an angel named Moroni, who directs him to an ancient record engraved on gold plates. This record, which Smith translates into the Book of Mormon, provides a history of ancient American civilizations and the ministrations of Jesus Christ. As the Church grows, it faces immediate and persistent persecution. The narrative follows the movement’s early years in Ohio and Missouri, where the settlers are met with suspicion, mob violence, and eventual expulsion.

The story transitions into the leadership of Brigham Young, who guides the displaced members westward. Facing extreme hardship and the tragedy of the "handcart companies," the pioneers establish a new settlement in the Salt Lake Valley. The account highlights their early efforts to tame the desert through irrigation, a system that transforms the arid landscape. However, the move to Utah does not end their friction with the United States government. The narrative details the arrival of federal officials, the threat of conflict during the "Utah War," and the subsequent arrival of the Overland Telegraph, where Young declares the territory's loyalty to the Constitution despite ongoing tensions.

The arc of the story then shifts to the legal and social battles over the practice of plural marriage. The author chronicles the government’s escalating legal measures, including the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which allowed for the systemic imprisonment of members and the confiscation of church property. The narrative addresses these trials as periods of intense suffering, yet maintains that the faith was hardened and strengthened by these storms. The conflict reaches a resolution when the Church formally suspends the practice of plural marriage, leading to a period of institutional stability.

The concluding portion shifts from historical chronology to theological philosophy. It outlines the "Articles of Faith" and the concept of continuous revelation, emphasizing a literal, materialist understanding of divine nature. The author explains the belief in the necessity of a restored Priesthood, the role of temples in vicarious work for the dead, and the conviction that the present time constitutes the final dispensation before the second coming of the Redeemer. The work ends on a note of active missionary zeal, framing the Church’s efforts not as the creation of a new religion, but as the re-establishment of the ancient Christian order in anticipation of the Kingdom of God on earth.

How It Unfolds

The divine foundation The narrative opens with the early visions of Joseph Smith and the discovery of the gold plates. It establishes the movement's claim to direct heavenly communication and the translation of ancient scripture as the basis for its authority.

The cycle of displacement The text moves through the repeated expulsion of the faithful from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. It contrasts the orderly, collective efforts of the Church members with the chaotic, violent actions of mobs and state officials.

The western migration The account describes the massive, organized trek of the "Camp of Israel" across the plains to the Great Salt Lake. It focuses on the logistical ingenuity required to survive the journey and the subsequent implementation of irrigation systems.

The legal struggle The narrative examines the arrival of federal appointees in Utah and the resulting political conflicts. It culminates in the intense legal pressure exerted by the federal government regarding plural marriage, describing the imprisonment of members and the confiscation of church assets.

The theological synthesis The final section shifts focus to the philosophical underpinnings of the faith. It provides a detailed explanation of doctrines such as salvation, the nature of God, and the missionary duty to carry the gospel to both the living and the dead.

The People

Joseph Smith acts as the central prophetic figure, initiating the movement through his reported divine visitations. His role is that of a revelator who faces intense persecution for his claims, eventually becoming the foundational witness for the Church. Brigham Young emerges as the pragmatic, authoritative successor who leads the group through the crises of migration and settlement. His leadership is marked by his ability to maintain order under extreme duress and his steadfast commitment to the group’s survival in the West. Colonel Thomas L. Kane and various federal officials like Governor Cumming represent the external political forces that interact with the Church. While some officials are depicted as antagonists or opportunists, others are acknowledged for their honest, albeit opposing, viewpoints. Finally, the "Latter-day Saints" themselves act as a collective protagonist, defined by their resilience, their adherence to the "Articles of Faith," and their dedication to what they believe is a restored divine order.

In Its Own Voice

"The Church soon found its equilibrium again after the shock of its cruel experience."

This observation follows the description of the assassination of the Church's early leaders and the subsequent transition to the leadership of Brigham Young.

"The gospel plan as accepted and taught by the Latter-day Saints is strikingly simple; disappointing in its simplicity, indeed, to the mind that can find satisfaction in mysteries alone."

The author uses this contrast to explain the faith's preference for direct, literal scriptural interpretation over complex, metaphorical theology.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book argues that the movement is a divinely authorized restoration of ancient Christianity rather than a man-made institution. It addresses the central tension between the Church's belief in continuous, modern revelation and the established norms of the nineteenth-century American legal and social order. The work posits that the "Mormon" experience is a test of constitutional freedom, specifically regarding the right to worship according to conscience. It attempts to reframe the history of the movement from a series of social scandals into a narrative of spiritual endurance and divine purpose. By grounding the Church’s actions in a structured philosophical framework, the book seeks to validate the faith as a logical, consistent, and essential system for the modern age.

Why Read It Today

This book remains a vital document for those wishing to understand the historical self-perception of Latter-day Saints. Readers will find a prose style that is formal, precise, and deeply earnest, characteristic of early twentieth-century academic and religious lectures. It offers a clear, unapologetic articulation of the faith's internal logic, which is particularly valuable for readers who seek to move beyond external cultural critiques.

However, the reader should be prepared for the book's period-specific rhetoric. The author writes from a position of profound conviction, which can come across as polemical when discussing the "farcical" nature of legal trials or the "brutality" of the Missouri mobs. The text is not a neutral historical study but a deliberate apologia; as such, it assumes the reader is interested in the perspective of a believer. For those who can navigate the nineteenth-century attitudes and the occasionally dense, lecture-derived prose, the book offers a rare and candid window into the intellectual and emotional foundations of a global faith. It stays with the reader as a testament to the power of communal identity and the ways in which a minority group constructs its history to survive periods of intense existential threat.