10 Things Most Americans Don’t Know About Mormons.

Mormons, just the word often evokes strong emotions. But often, it also carries a lot of misconceptions.  As a Latter-day Saint who lived in the “Buckle” of the Bible Belt, I always had people asking what religion I was, I would always tell them “I am a Latter-day Saint”  very quickly as I would talk the would realize they had heard of Latter-day Saints by their nickname of Mormon. Then I had something that shocked me, a lot of people admitted: “I don’t know anything about Mormons.”  So here are 10 things most Americans don’t know about Mormons!

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1st. There Is No Such Thing As “The Mormon Church”

People all the time refer to the “Mormon Church.” But there is no such thing as the Mormon church. Mormon is a nickname given to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We don’t even call ourselves Mormons, we call ourselves Latter-day Saints. We are followers of Christ. The First Article of Faith reads: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”  But because most of the world is familiar with our nickname, we respond to it. For more info see https://www.comeuntochrist.org/about-us

2nd. The Book Of Mormon Is Meant To Support, Not Replace, The Bible.

The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ. One of the other main purposes of the Book of Mormon is to support the Bible’s testimony of Christ. In the words of Russell M. Nelson “Love for the Book of Mormon expands one’s love for the Bible and vice versa. Scriptures of the Restoration do not compete with the Bible; they complement the Bible.” One of the Church’s largest missionary efforts is its free bible program. For more about how Latter-day Saints view the bible see https://www.comeuntochrist.org/beliefs/holy-bible

3rd. There Are More Latter-day Saints Outside The USA Than Inside.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was started in upstate New York on April 6th, 1830; since then it has become a global faith. Of the 16+ million members, less than 50%, or 6.6 million, of the members of the Church live in the United States. Also, there are more members of the Church in Africa than in Europe! And more in Asia than both Africa and Europe combined.

4th. The Relief Society Is One Of The Largest Women’s Organization In The World.

Latter-day Saints have always been at the forefront of empowering women. Before Utah became a state women had the right to vote, well before national suffrage, and they also had the right to own land unlike many areas of the nation. Latter-day Saints women are also part of one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world, the Relief Society.  For more about the role of Latter-day Saints women see this video the church produced.

5th. It Was Legal To Kill A Latter-day Saint Until 1976.

Any Star Wars fan knows of Order 66, (where the Emperor ordered the extermination of the Jedi), but every American should know of Executive Order 44.

After confiscating the guns from the Latter-day Saints in Missouri and promising that the government would protect them, on Oct 28, 1838, the Governor of Missouri issued Missouri Executive Order 44, simply known as “The Extermination Order.” Which in part read: “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace.” It was on these grounds that the Latter-day Saints were murdered and driven out of the state in the dead of winter. They became religious refugees that the people of Illinois took in.

It was not until June 25th, 1976, that then-Governor Christopher S. Bond apologized and rescinded the extermination order.  To read Governor Bond’s Rescission Order click here.

6th. There Was A “Mormon Battalion.”

After the Assassinations of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Illinois, the Governor of Illinois asked Brigham Young and the Latter-day Saints to leave Nauvoo Illinois. Asking for protection and being denied by the government and fearing mob violence, they fled Nauvoo in the middle of the winter, once again religious refugees. Halfway through Iowa on their way to Utah, the Latter-day Saints refugees were approached by the US Army. The same Government that stood idle as they were driven from their homes now was soliciting able-bodied men to fight in the war against Mexico.

At the behest of Brigham Young over 500 men joined the army forming the “Mormon Battalion.” They engaged in a nearly 2,000-mile-long march, the longest infantry march in US Military History, from Iowa to Los Angeles, California. They arrived in the Southwest right as the war ended. They fought in no battles. However, the Veterans did help build many of the government buildings in San Diego and Los Angeles and built roads and schools. Once they were discharged they rejoined their families in Utah. However, some went to Northern California to earn enough funds to migrate home.

7th. Latter-day Saints Helped Discover Gold In California.

James W. Marshall was the overseer of the construction of Sutter’s Mill in Northern California. His crew consisted of many Veterans of the Mormon Battalion who were working to save money to migrate to Utah. It was this crew that found the gold in the riverbed on January 24, 1848. The discovery of gold sparked the California Gold Rush in 1849. Eventually, the veterans of the Mormon Battalion were able to return home blazing the trail over the Sierra Mountains that countless prospectors would traverse, returning home with over $17,000 worth of Gold to help the Saints in Utah.

*Cool fact about this. Heber C. Kimball prophesied that the Saints in Utah would be able to buy “states goods” (IE stoves, China, and other luxuries) items in Salt Lake City cheaper than they could be bought in New York (where they were manufactured). Many members doubted this prophecy. But as prospectors entered Utah they sold their luxury items to the Saints in SLC to resupply before crossing the Sierra desert and mountains. Thus fulfilling the prophecy. See The Life of Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney, p. 388-391.

8th. Joseph Smith Was The First Presidential Candidate To Be Assassinated.

In US Political history there have been many assassinations. But the first President/Presidential candidate to be assassinated was Joseph Smith. Many people are unaware that Joseph petitioned Congress for protection from the brutality shown to the Saints in Missouri, when they turned him down he turned to the President who also turned him down. Finally, he turned to the candidates for president, after all of them refused to pledge support and protection Joseph with no other options left declared he would run for President of the United States.

It was in the middle of his campaign that he was assassinated in Carthage Illinois becoming the first presidential candidate, or president, to be assassinated. After his assassination, many of his murderers actually ran for (and held) public office bragging about their role in the assassination of Joseph Smith. Oh and just in case you were wondering, no we don’t worship Joseph Smith, we only Worship God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.

9th. Latter-day Saints Missionaries Are Not Paid.

Everyone has seen Latter-day Saints missionaries before, but what most people don’t realize is that they are not paid. As a matter of fact, they often pay their own way, sometimes with help from family and friends, to the tune of $10,000 USD. Do they get College scholarships? Nope. A job when they get home? Nope. Their reward is sharing what they love so much with others and seeing their lives improve. So the next time you see the missionaries realize they are not traveling salesmen, but rather they are true Christians in every sense of the word following the great commission of Jesus to take the gospel to every creature.

10. Temples Are Sacred, Not Secret.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Latter-day Saints is that the temples are secret and that non-members are not allowed into them. This could not be further from the truth. Every temple has an open house where everyone is invited to come and see all the rooms in the temple. After the temple is dedicated, then, just like in ancient days, only those who are keeping God’s commandments and have prepared themselves can enter the temple. No one is restricted from entering the temple if they are willing to prepare.

Here is a short video about temples.

Also, the church posts pictures of what the inside of a Latter-day Saint temple looks like. It is important to remember that when Latter-day Saints build a temple they try to build a structure that will bring awe and reverence, and just like in the Old Testament, they often are breathtaking! Click Here for some pictures of the temple in Paris!