Joseph Smith is the founder of the Mormon sect. Biography

In American history, he is known as the chief ideologue of the religious movement of Mormons. However, for many citizens, Joseph Smith was an ordinary adventurer and a false prophet, since none of his predictions ever came true. Noteworthy is the fact that this "Messiah", who was married to 72 women and did not immediately find his way in life. It is likely that Joseph Smith began to lead one of the largest religious sects due to the fact that even during his youth in the United States, a large number of religious beliefs were spread. In his family, from a formal point of view, all were Christians, but none of the relatives of the future false prophet believed that a particular religion is the ultimate truth. Naturally, they practically did not attend church services.

How, then, did an ordinary young man from a poor family become an ardent supporter of the Mormon movement? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Years of Childhood

Certainly, the biography of Joseph Smith is not without interesting and noteworthy facts. He was born in 1805 in the state of Vermont (USA). His father was a simple artisan, so the family lived poorly. As already emphasized, Joseph's childhood was at a time when tolerance prevailed in America for religious currents, which in the first half of the 19th century were many. The mother of the future preacher was a very superstitious person, and her interest in mysticism aroused her own son. One way or another, but at the age of 14, young Joseph Smith saw a vision in which otherworldly forces told him that he would be a "great missionary."

Seeker of treasure

Soon the young man said that he has unique abilities: allegedly with the help of magical crystals, he can find the wealth buried under the ground. He especially believed in the power of Jupiter's talisman.

However, he did not find any treasures, and the public hastened to report that the infatuation with occult sciences negatively affects his psyche and critical thinking, so that he gradually loses the ability to perceive real reality. After such life failures, the future messiah embarked on a criminal path, taking up counterfeit money, like his namesake George Smith, who lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and traded in serial killings, fraud, and theft. But a young man from Vermont after some time turned off the criminal path, completely focusing on the idea of missionary work. But Briton George Joseph Smith, who killed all his wives, finished very badly - he was sentenced to death by hanging. But the Mormon ideologist also had problems with the law.

One more vision ...

In the fall of 1823 during the night prayer Joseph Smith again contacted the otherworldly forces. He seemed to have seen a light that was growing, and suddenly a young man appeared on the subject (Moroni) in a white mantle, whose legs were torn from the ground ... He told Joseph that he must fulfill God's command.

The stranger told Smith about a "Golden Book", which reflects the entire history of the United States, and still contains important religious revelations. Only four years later the Mormon ideologist could see the book.

In 1827, at the behest of the higher forces, the missionary went to the top of Mount Cumora (New York State) and in one of the caves he found thin sheets of gold, on which hieroglyphs were clearly visible. Optical artifacts were also found, through which, thanks to the angel's prompts, the Golden Book was translated into English. As a result, in 1830 the Book of Mormon was published in an amount of 5,000 copies.

Creating a sect

Soon after the publication of religious revelations in Fayeti (New York), a Mormon sect was created, initially consisting of six people. After some time, the number of "new stream" began to increase: the ranks of Mormons were joined by authoritative Protestants - Sidney Rigton and Parley Pratt. However, not all members of society were loyal to the "newly-baked" religious structure. The sect of Joseph Smith was sometimes subjected to contempt and persecution, so her followers were forced to regularly change their place of residence. Representatives of the new faith established several cities, where the "son of God" should appear.

Sects of sectarians

The whole philosophy of the Mormon movement is fixed in several "sacred books": "The Bible", "Teachings and Unions", "The Book of Mormon", "The Pearl of Great Price". Companions of the new faith do not believe that a person has a sinful beginning, and after his death there is an underground, earthly or heavenly glory.

Mormons for a long time preached the principle of polygamy, which they later "abolished" under the pressure of the American authorities. Until now, polygamy is considered by them as a normal and natural form of human existence. The procedure for baptism (liberation from sins and admission to the church) the representatives of the new faith take instead of the dead.

Mormons carefully monitor their appearance and cultural appearance. They are neat, polite, intelligent and clean.

Murder of the ideologist

The preaching of the idea of polygamy was not liked by many Americans, so they sharply criticized the views and beliefs of representatives of the new faith. After the general public became aware that the sectarians are encouraging the "harem" line, the media began actively "picking up" this topic. As a result, Joseph Smith (Mormon) attempted to physically kill the "feather sharks" who worked in the periodical Obozrevatel Nova. The police were forced to intervene, and the Mormon ideologist, along with his relative Khairum, were behind bars. However, the Americans demanded more severe punishment for sectarians.

Once they broke into the prison to judge the missionaries on their own. As a result of the shootout, the Mormon leader was killed.

Sectarians today

The brainchild Joseph Smith created, the Presbyterian church considers a false religious trend because its representatives do not see in themselves a sinful beginning. Nevertheless, at present Mormons are the largest religious association in the world. The number of representatives of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" today is almost 7 million people. Mormon missionaries are actively propagating their ideas, involving more and more people in the sect.