Mormonism is a religious community that emerged in the United States in the 30s of the 19th century. It combines elements of Judaism, Protestantism and other religions. Mormons are members of this community.
Founder
Religion owes its origin to Joseph Smith, who had the ability for mystical visions, which appeared in him at a young age. The first vision visited Joseph at the age of 15. In it, God and Jesus made Smith the chosen one for the revival of true Christianity, which should not be adjacent to the existing church. Three years later, Joseph had a second vision. An angel named Moroni appeared to him and told him that "golden plates" were hidden on Mount Cumor with important messages from the ancient history of the United States. These "sheets" were supposed to help Joseph in restoring the True Church, but he could only pick them up in 1827. For the next three years, Smith deciphered the letters and looked for like-minded people in preparation for the opening of the church.
Church Opening
Mormon history begins April 6, 1830. It was then that their church was founded in New York, consisting of only 6 people. But in the same year, the number of the organization grew sharply due tothe conversion of very famous Protestant preachers of that time - Sidney Rigton and Parley Pratt. In addition, the Mormons were actively involved in attracting representatives of different faiths to the sect. From that moment on, a hostile attitude appeared towards them, and persecution began. In 1838, the commandment of tithing (donation) was approved, which allowed the Mormons to make a considerable fortune.
In 1844, John Bennet (Smith's assistant) openly declared the practice of plural marriage in their church. According to various sources, Smith had about 80 wives. This topic was actively covered in the publication "Observer Novu", which stated that the Mormons are a sect that defrauds people of money and corrupts society. The founder of the church decided to use force against the publication. For this, he was sent to Karthag Prison. The indignation of the townspeople knew no bounds, they took the prison by storm. Smith died in the shootout and was proclaimed a martyr. After his death, the church was led by Brime Young. Thomas Monson has been President of the organization since 2008.
Mormon life
The adherents of this religion live by strict rules. We can say that Mormons are an example of a highly moral and he althy life. They are prohibited from smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, drugs, and caffeinated drinks. Abortion and divorce are also prohibited. The key to spiritual and material well-being is a family with a large number of children and a pious, hard-working life. Thanks to the strict observance of these principles, many representatives of religion became the owners of largestates in the industrial, insurance and banking sectors. Despite this, among Protestant denominations, Mormonism is considered unusual. He's not very welcome. This is probably due to the beginning of its history, when religion was of a marginal and sectarian nature. Now the Mormons are a representative religious community (it includes more than 11 million people), which supports scientific progress and helps its members find their purpose in the modern world.
