Mormonism- a brief history Pt.3

The establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1830 unleashes a barrage of missionary activity; One of the early star converts was Sidney Rigdon, a Baptist minister who on reading the Book of Mormon "saw the light" and "converted" into the Mormon faith, he brings with him the majority of his congregation baptizing hundreds of former members into the new faith.

The Kirtland Temple
Rigdon becomes Smith's closest friend and ally and soon emerges as the number two authority in the young church, alongside Smith he helps to pioneer early Mormonism, The church moves from Fayette New York State to Kirtland, Ohio where numbers increase to 16,000, Here they build the first Mormon temple and establish their HQ

Rigdon is given to using highly inflammatory language in his sermons and a backlash occurs with the local population, hence the move to Ohio. From there they intend to take the Mormon gospel into the frontier state of Missouri, but things go badly wrong and both Smith and Rigdon have to endure being 'tarred and feathered' by angered locals.

Smith became keen to move out from the Ohio area, not just because of 'persecution' but it seems too many people knew too much about the reputation of the Smith family.

Sidney Rigdon


"They were considered destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits"- Mormonism unveiled, Zanesville, Ohio 1834, p.261 (part of a signed statement by 62 residents of Palmyra)

From Kirtland Ohio Smith moves to Far West, Missouri, and establishes a new Church HQ. However Rigdon preached an inflammatory sermon using the words of Jesus about salt and light from Matthews Gospel. Rigdon had more or less invited the congregation to do battle with the locals. (The Gentiles) This sermon later became known as 'The Salt Sermon' its effects were to prove disastrous.

From 'The Salt Sermon' rippled out a series of events which would eventually culminate in what became known as 'The Mormon Wars' and led to the eventual expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri. Amidst rumors of bizzare sexual practices and Smith's polygamous relationships. They settled in what was to become their first great Mormon metropolis Nauvoo, Illinois.

Recently re-built Temple in Nauvoo

It is here in the setting of Nauvoo that the true character of Joseph Smith, (rather than the whiter than white picture painted by the LDS today), is revealed and recorded.