MORMONS, or LATTER DAY SAINTS, a religious sect in North Amer ica, founded by Joseph Smith, Jr., at Fayette, Seneca co., N. Y., in 1830. In 1823, claiming that he was led by the inspiration of an angel who had ap peared to him, he claimed to have discov ered golden plates on which the records of Mormon were alleged to be inscribed. These, though found in 1823, he was not allowed by the angel to take up till 1827. They were inscribed with characters which were said to be reformed Egyp tian, but which he was unable to read. There was, however, in the box where they were found, so he declared, a marvelous instrument called Urim and Thumin, by which he was enabled to read the mysterious letters and translate them into English. In 1830 Smith published an English translation of the plates un der the title "The Book of Mormon," together with certificates of 11 men who claimed to have seen the plates. This book tells in a language which mu tates the Scriptures how, at the time of King Zedekiah of Jerusalem, a pious Israelite by the name of Lehi, together with his family, migrated from Palestine to America, and described on these plates the account of his marvellous adventures as well as the revelations which God vouchsafed to him. Many of his sons, like Laman, went out into the wilderness and became the ancestors and chiefs of the North American Indians. The de scendants of his son Nephi became good Christians, many centuries before Christ, and among them were preserved the dig nity of the priesthood and their sacred plates. To this family also appeared the Christ when He rose from the dead, and He chose from the family 12 apostles who within a brief time converted the whole country to Christianity; but when, at the beginning of the 4th century, the Church, in consequence of wars, became disintegrated, Mormon, a mighty hero and pious Christian, rose and drove out the Lamanites, who had in the meantime become red and fallen into barbarism. Nevertheless they returned about the year 400 and the Nephites perished be fore them. Mormon's son, Moroni, fin
ished the history of his people in 420. The book was published in 1830, and it was at one time claimed that it was a plagiarism on a novel published in 1812 and written by a clergyman several years before; but recently this book has been discovered and compared with that of Mormon, and it is found that they are entirely different.
The new prophet immediately began to collect followers about him, and by April 6, 1830, he had organized a church at Fayette, N. Y. The next year the sect numbered several hundred members and moved to Kirtland, O., where they increased in numbers and wealth through the efforts of missionaries who were sent out by the prophet. In 1833 they were driven from Jackson co., Mo., and took refuge in Clay county and the surround ing regions. In 1838 Governor Boggs of Missouri issued an exterminating order against the Latter Day Saints, and they were driven out of that State. They went to Illinois, where by 1840, near Commerce, Hancock county, they had founded the city of Nauvoo, over which Smith had extraordinary civil and mili tary authority. The city flourished, soon numbering more than 2,100 houses and having a beautiful temple built accord ing to plans which Smith claimed he had received in a vision. In 1844 a discon tented member of the Church issued a newspaper at Nauvoo assailing the prophet and threatening to expose vari ous immoralities and misdeeds. The city council of Nauvoo passed an ordi nance declaring the printing office a nui sance. It was destroyed by the officers of the law. Smith was blamed for this and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Before civil war actually broke out, the governor of the State induced Smith to surrender and go to Carthage. On June 27, 1844, a mob attacked the jail, over powered the guard, killed Smith and his brother Hiram and wounded others of the prophet's party.