UTAH: History) and parts of Idaho (q.v.), Nevada (q.v.), Colo rado, Arizona and New Mexico. Young built temples, tabernacles, theatres, founded schools, and was at the head and front of every great mercantile, industrial, or educational movement in his vicinity. He also perpetuated the missionary system of the Church and extended it to most of the countries of the globe. After his death in 1877, he was succeeded by John Taylor, the senior Apostle in the Council of the Twelve.
Struggle over Polygamy.—President Taylor's administra tion was notable for the prosecution of plural marriage, commonly called polygamy, under the laws of Congress enacted against it.
This form of marriage as practised by Joseph Smith and others in Illinois, had been perpetuated by the founders of Utah. Only a small percentage of the people ever engaged in it. As early as 1862, Congress had legislated against the institution, but the law proved inoperative, and was supplemented twenty years later by the Edmunds Law, still later by the Edmunds-Tucker Law. Under these statutes a vigorous crusade was carried on in Utah, Idaho and Arizona, wherever polygamists were found.
During the so-called "crusade" men and women were fined and imprisoned, certain Mormon leaders were driven into exile, and a great deal of suffering was inflicted before they could be in duced to yield the point and "come within the law"—a law deemed by them unconstitutional, infringing upon religious liberty. In 189o, after the United States Supreme Court had affirmed the constitutionality of the anti-polygamy laws, President Wilford Woodruff, who was then at the head of the church, issued a Mani festo, announcing his intention to submit to the laws of the land in relation to plural marriage, and advising all other Latter-Day Saints to do the same. The General Conference in October sus tained the Manifesto and thus withdrew sanction from the further solemnization of plural marriages in the Mormon Church.
A change of feeling ensued. Mormons and non-Mormons, in Utah and elsewhere, became more friendly with each other. Presi dents Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland, in successive proclamations, pardoned all polygamists, on condition of future obedience, the escheated Church property was returned, and in Jan. 1896, the Territory of Utah was admitted into the Union.
Later History and Status.—Since that time the Mormon Church has had three Presidents, all former members of the Council of the Twelve. Under President Lorenzo Snow, a natural financier, it was relieved of a heavy burden of debt, resulting partly from escheatment proceedings against Church property under the Edmunds-Tucker Law. Then came President Joseph F. Smith, son of the martyred Patriarch Hyrum Smith, and lastly President Heber J. Grant, the first Utah-born President.
The membership of the Mormon church was reported in 1924 as 535,659, an increase of about 200,000 since 1900. It was esti mated that of all church members about 90% in Utah, 53% in Idaho, 24% in Nevada, 21% in Wyoming and 11% in Arizona were Mormons, these being the chief states in which the Church has gained a hold. Missionary work among the Mormons has al
ways been and continues to be decidedly active. In 1924 the num ber of missionaries maintained in the United States was 1,092 and the number maintained in foreign lands was 779.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.—No impartial and critical history of the Mormons yet exists. The New York Public Library Bulletin, Mar. 1909, con tains a list of the Berrian collection at that library, which forms the most complete bibliography to be found. A typical Mormon textbook for school use is J. F. Smith (church historian), Essentials in Church History (1922). A larger work published by the church is History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1902-12). See also J. Q. Adams, The Birth of Mormonism (1916) ; W. E. La Rue, The Foundations of Mormonism (1919) ; Lucy Smith (mother of the Prophet), Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith (1858) ; I. W. Riley, The Founder of Mormonism (1902) ; William Clayton's Journal (1921) ; H. H. Bancroft, History of Utah (1889) ; 0. F. Whitney, His tory of Utah (1892-98) ; R. M. Werner, Brigham Young (1925) ; F. J. Cannon, Under the Prophet in Utah 0910 ; W. A. Linn, The Story of the Mormons (1902) ; J. H. McClintock, Mormon Settlement in Arizona (1921); E. E. Erickson, Psychological and Ethical Aspects of Mormon Group Life (1922) ; F. S. Harris and N. I. Butt, The Fruits of Mormonism (1925) ; J. H. Snowden, The Truth About Mormonism (1926). (R. SM.) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.—This church claims to be the legal successor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints founded by Joseph Smith. After Smith's death in 1844 a portion of the church re jected the leadership of Brigham Young. A reorganization was par tially effected in 1852, and in 186o Joseph Smith, son of the founder of the church, became its president, continuing till his death in 1914. He was succeeded by his son Frederick Madison Smith, who occupied that position in 1929.
The church rejects polygamy and certain other teachings in troduced by Brigham Young and his associates, and adheres to the teachings of the original church as promulgated by its founder. It believes in God the Father, Christ his Son, and in the Holy Ghost, and holds that divine revelation, prophecy, healing, tongues and other spiritual gifts promised in the New Testament are to be en joyed by the people of God today. It teaches faith, repentance, baptism, the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. It believes in a literal gathering to Zion, which by revelation is located in Missouri. In organization the church has a first presidency, twelve apostles, seventies, patriarchs or evangelists, bishops, elders, priests, teachers and deacons. It numbers (1929) more than ioo,000 members with headquarters in Independence, Missouri.