The Mormons.ppt

7/28/2019 The Mormons.ppt

1/12

The Mormons


2/12

Who were the Mormons?

They were a religioussect a.k.a. Church ofJesus Christ of the Latter-

Day Saints.

The sect began in 1827when Joseph Smith saidhe dug up golden plates

from a hillside. By 1830, he had

hundreds of followers.


3/12

Mormons on the move...

The sect began in New York State.

In 1830, they moved to Kirtland, Ohio...

Then to Missouri in 1837..

They left Missouri in the winter of 1838...

They left Nauvoo for the Great Salt Lakein 1846...

... And finally stayed there!


4/12

Why were the Mormons always on

the move? They had strong religious convictions.

They looked down on Gentiles (non-Mormons).

They criticised Gentiles for sinful behaviour.

They worked hard and were successful.

Mormons were blamed for the economic collapsein Kirtland.

Mormons said that Black people and Indians

were equal......


5/12

.....Why were the Mormons always on themove? Continued...

The Mormons built up their own army to defendthemselves in Nauvoo.

Rumours spread that Mormons were going totake over government.

Smith destroyed the press of a newspaper thatcriticised him.

Some Mormons practised polygamy.


6/12

Why Salt Lake?The Great Salt Lake was barren and would involve a trek across the

hostile Plains. Why did the Mormons go?

1. For the same reasonsthat they moved fromother places to getaway from theirenemies.

2. To create their own holyplace.

3. If that was a placewhere no-one else was,that was a perfect placefor the Mormons to startagain, and build theirown society!


7/12

Crossing the Plains

They were led byBrigham Young, a brilliantorganiser.

They experienced thesame harsh weather asothers who crossed thePlains, the same lack offacilities etc.

700 people died formbitter cold and plague.

The wagon train was wellorganised.

Discipline was very strict.

The vast majority ofMormons made the tripsuccessfully.

Their belief was strong.


8/12

Success at last?Howsuccessful were they in Salt Lake City?

Whywere they successful?

In 1847, the Mormonsarrived at the Great SaltLake. There was nothing

else there!!!

They had to make thedesert bloom!

Young had total controlthe people believed he

was inspired by God, anddid as he said.


9/12

Success? Continued...

There was no private

ownership of land or water.

Mormons worked together tobuild an irrigation system.

Each family was allocated a

plot of land and a time fordrawing water.

By the spring of 1848, theywere starving.

Converts kept flocking to thesettlement.

The next harvest was better,and by 1850, Salt Lake Cityhad become a thriving town.

The Perpetual Emigrating Fund

was set up. It broughtthousands of converts intoUtah.

Work on the temple began in

1851.


10/12

Trouble in Paradise? In 1848, the USA gained the

Salt Lake area from Mexico.

Young applied to join theUnion, but it was rejected.

Instead the Territory of Utah

was created, with Young asgovernor.

The Mormons hoped to makeall their own goods, but foundthat they still had to trade with

the Gentile world.

Emigrants complained about

the Mormons and rumoursspread.

The government sent the armyagainst the Mormons in 1857.

The Mountain MeadowsMassacre took place in 1857.

After this the Mormons had toaccept a Gentile governor.

In 1896, the governmentfinally accepted Utah into theUnion, on condition that theMormons agreed to banpolygamy.


11/12

Exam AdviceHere are examples of exam questions on the Mormons:

1. Who contributed more to the Mormon movement,Joseph Smith or Brigham Young?

2. Why were the Mormons disliked so much?3. The Mormons brought all the troubles they had upon

themselves. Do you agree?

4. Why did the Mormons move so much?

5. Why did the Mormons move to Salt Lake City?


12/12

Exam questions continued...

6 How successful was the Mormon move to Salt Lake City?

7 Why were the Mormons more successful in crossing thePlains, than other pioneers?

8 How successful were the Mormons in Salt Lake City?

9 Why were the Mormons successful in Salt Lake City?

Documents

The Mormons.ppt