Who Started Mormonism?

Joseph Smith started the church that is now The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gospel Topics says the Lord chose him to restore the gospel and the Church. Doctrine and Covenants 20:1Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgThe rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen source dates the organization to April 6, 1830. He and his brother Hyrum were killed at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844.

Key Points

• Gospel Topics says that when Joseph asked which church to join, he was told to join none of the churches then in existence, and that the Lord chose him to restore the gospel and the Church. (1)
• Joseph Smith—History 1:19Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org¹⁶ But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. ¹⁷ It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! ¹⁸ My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. ¹⁹ I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19 · English, churchofjesuschrist.orgOpen source says he was answered that he must join none of them, for they were all wrong. (2)
• Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 says the Church of Christ rose in 1830, organized on the sixth day of April. (3)
• Gospel Topics says that on June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum were killed by an armed mob. Doctrine and Covenants 135:1 says they were shot in Carthage jail about five o’clock in the afternoon. (1) (4)
• The church’s history topic says that after the deaths, the vast majority of members sustained the Quorum of the Twelve. (5)
• Gospel Topics, Plural Marriage, says that by his death Joseph had been sealed to over 30 women. The count and the church’s present rule are on Do Mormons practice polygamy?. (6)
• The Newsroom style guide says the term Mormonism is inaccurate. The search word is the one this title answers. (7)

Who Founded the Church, and Why?

What Do Mormons Believe? quotes the style guide: the full name is preferred, and “Mormonism” is a term the church calls inaccurate. The founder the church names is still Joseph Smith.

Gospel Topics says he prayed in 1820, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared, and that he was told not to join the churches then in existence because they were teaching incorrect doctrines. The same page says the Lord chose him to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ and his Church. (1)

Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19 is the scripture account. The answer he records is this. (2)

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

Joseph Smith and revelation quotes that vision, Doctrine and Covenants 1, and Moroni 10:4–5. Are Mormons Christians? and the Godhead take up what the church teaches about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Nicene Christians confess one God and do not receive this vision as scripture. The Trinity is that confession.

When Was the Church Organized?

The heading of Doctrine and Covenants 20 says the revelation was given at or near Fayette, New York, and that the complete text was likely recorded soon after April 6, 1830, the day the Church was organized. Verse 1 dates the rise of the church. (3)

The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeable to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—

Doctrine and Covenants 20:1 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org

Who wrote the Book of Mormon? and the Book of Mormon are the record the church says he brought forth. Gospel Topics also names priesthood and temple work among the things that followed the vision. (1)

What Happened to Joseph Smith?

Gospel Topics says that on June 27, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum were killed in an attack by an armed mob, and that they sealed their testimonies with their blood. (1)

The Church History topic says they submitted to arrest on charges about the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor press, reported to Carthage, and were then charged with treason. Governor Thomas Ford had promised protection. Late that afternoon a mob charged the jail. The same page quotes a letter Joseph dictated to Emma that day. (5)

I am very much resigned to my lot, knowing I am Justified and have done the best that could be done. Give my love to the children and all my Friends.

Deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith · English, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Doctrine and Covenants 135:1 says they were shot in Carthage jail on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first. Joseph leaped from the window and was shot dead. (4)

The history topic says Joseph’s death left the church without a leader for the first time since 1830, and that in the months after, the vast majority of members sustained the Quorum of the Twelve. (5)

What Does Doctrine and Covenants 135 Say?

Verse 3 is the church’s acclamation, still in the Doctrine and Covenants. (4)

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:3 · English, churchofjesuschrist.org

That sentence is their text. The Christian claim is that Jesus is God, and that salvation is in him. The deity of Christ and the resurrection of Jesus are that claim. Hebrews 1:1–2Hebrews 1:1–2 · King James Version^1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ^1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Hebrews 1:1–2 · King James VersionOpen source says God spoke by the prophets and has in these last days spoken by his Son.

How Many Wives Did Joseph Smith Have?

Gospel Topics, Plural Marriage, says that by the time of his death in 1844 he had been sealed to over 30 women. Some of those sealings were understood to take effect only after this life, and some were viewed as marriage in this life as well. (6)

Do Mormons practice polygamy? quotes that page, the Kirtland and Nauvoo essay’s estimate of 30 to 40, Doctrine and Covenants 132, and Official Declaration 1. Members of this church do not enter plural marriage today. This page does not repeat that history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Founded Mormonism?

Joseph Smith. The church dates the organization to April 6, 1830, in Doctrine and Covenants 20:1, and it says the Lord chose him to restore the Church. (3) (1)

What Happened to the Founder?

He was killed with Hyrum at Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844. The history topic says most members then sustained the Quorum of the Twelve. (5)

How Many Wives Did Joseph Smith Have?

Gospel Topics says over 30 sealings by 1844. The present rule, and the essay’s range of 30 to 40, are on the polygamy page. (6)