Early LDS History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sidney Rigdon

Joseph Smith is considered the founding prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the one who had visions of God and angels. He also claimed to have found golden plates upon which the history of ancient peoples who lived in the Americas was etched. Smith claimed to have found these plates and three of his friends, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer, claimed to have seen and handled them.

Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith's brother, Hyrum, were also founding members of the church. At the time, it was necessary to have six people if you wanted to be recognized as a religion; these six became the founding fathers of the LDS movement.

Answer: Mortgaged his farm

At the time, $3000 was a really big sum of money. The printer in Palmyra, New York, Egbert B. Grandin, was unsure of the work and whether it would turn a profit, so he demanded all of the money up front. The initial funding for the publication came from Martin Harris, one of the early followers of Joseph Smith. Harris mortgaged his farm to cover the printing costs, against the wishes of his friends and family.

The printer worked from a manuscript that had been prepared by Joseph Smith and a scribe (mostly Martin Harris) during the translation process. The manuscript was handwritten and contained the text of the Book of Mormon as Joseph Smith had translated it. The printing process began in late 1829 and was completed in March 1830; it consisted of about 5000 copies.

Answer: Kirtland, Ohio

The growth of the LDS Church and the charisma of Joseph Smith led to competition with existing Christian denominations in Palmyra, New York. Some local ministers and religious leaders viewed the new church as a threat to their congregations and religious authority. Their practices were seen as unorthodox and heretical by many in the surrounding community. Additionally, Joseph Smith's claims of receiving revelations and translating the Book of Mormon from golden plates challenged established Christian traditions and were met with suspicion.

After facing persecution in Palmyra, New York, and the surrounding areas, the early members of the LDS Church began to relocate to various places in search of safety and to build a community where they could practice their religious beliefs without interference. One of the key destinations for the early LDS members was Kirtland, Ohio, on the outskirts of Cleveland. There, the members were able to organize themselves better and to establish doctrines and traditions.

Answer: Commerce

Before the arrival of the Mormons and the founding of Nauvoo, Illinois, the area was known as Commerce, Illinois. Commerce was a small, relatively undeveloped town situated along the Mississippi River in Hancock County. Ironically, the town was not widely inhabited or even prosperous before the Mormons settled there. The Mormons, led by Joseph Smith, arrived in Commerce in 1839 and began purchasing land in the area. They quickly transformed the town into a thriving and growing city, which they named Nauvoo. 'Nauvoo' came from Isaiah 52:7 from an archaic word meaning 'beautiful place'.

Nauvoo became the headquarters of the LDS Church during this period and grew to become one of the largest cities in Illinois at the time. It played a significant role in Mormon history, serving as a center of religious activity and a place where the church could practice its beliefs in relative peace and security. However, this period in Nauvoo was not without its challenges, including conflicts with non-Mormon neighbors and local government authorities which led to yet another move.

Answer: False

During Joseph Smith's lifetime, polygamy was practiced by a relatively small number of church leaders, and it was kept largely hidden from the general membership and the public. The practice was not widely known or openly taught. Joseph Smith claimed to have received what he claimed were divine revelations about the practice. These revelations were recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the standard works of the LDS Church. Plural marriage was initially practiced secretly by a select few church leaders.

Plural marriage met with mixed reactions among early Mormons. Some accepted and practiced it, believing it to be a commandment from God. Others, including many church members and leaders, opposed the practice. Opposition to polygamy eventually led to a schism within the church after Joseph Smith's death. The practice of polygamy brought significant legal and social challenges to the LDS Church. The US government took measures to eradicate the practice, leading to anti-polygamy legislation and legal battles. These efforts resulted in the church officially disavowing polygamy in the late 19th century.

The LDS Church currently strictly prohibits the practice of polygamy. Members who engage in plural marriage can face excommunication. The mainstream LDS Church has distanced itself from groups that continue to practice polygamy and is not affiliated with them.

Answer: Joseph Smith was killed

Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, was not killed in Missouri. He was assassinated in Carthage, Illinois, on June 27, 1844, while he was being held in the Carthage Jail. However, the persecution the Mormons felt was experienced in both of their centers, in Missouri as well as in Illinois. The prejudice in Missouri, nevertheless, was far worse as it was led by the governor himself and was out in the open.

The Battle of Crooked River took place on October 25, 1838, near the Crooked River in Ray County, Missouri. It was a military engagement between a group of Mormons and a state militia unit. The Haun's Mill Massacre happened less than a week later on October 30, 1838, in Caldwell County, Missouri. A group of state militia and other local residents attacked a Mormon settlement at Haun's Mill, resulting in the deaths of several Mormons and the wounding of many others. In parallel, the Siege of Far West took place in late October 1838 when Missouri state militia forces, under the personal command of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs, laid siege to the town of Far West, located in Caldwell County. The siege led to the surrender of many Mormon leaders and residents and marked a significant turning point in the Missouri Mormon War.

Answer: Carthage, IL

Tensions between the Mormons and non-Mormon residents in Illinois had been escalating for some time. The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor, a newspaper critical of Smith and the LDS Church, led to Joseph Smith and some of the other leaders of the church being accused of starting a riot, and eventually treason. They willingly turned themselves over to authorities in Carthage, Illinois, and were incarcerated in the Carthage Jail on June 24, 1844.

On the afternoon of June 27, 1844, an armed mob of 100 to 200, some of whom were disguised with painted faces, stormed the jail. The mob overwhelmed the guards and made their way to the second floor, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith, John Taylor, and Willard Richards were all being held. Hyrum Smith was shot in the face and died almost immediately. Joseph Smith attempted to escape by jumping from a window, but he was shot three times and fell to the ground outside. Outside, accounts vary, but Smith was probably shot again and died. Taylor was shot several times but survived, and Richards was unscathed, despite being the largest member of the four.

Answer: Brigham Young

The death of Joseph Smith indeed led to concerns about the future of the LDS Church. Joseph Smith's leadership and charismatic influence were central to the early church's cohesiveness. However, the church did not fall apart, and a new leader emerged to guide the Mormon community. After Joseph Smith's death in 1844, leadership of the LDS Church eventually passed to Brigham Young.

During the period immediately after Joseph Smith's death, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led by Brigham Young, began to exercise temporary leadership and sought to maintain order and unity within the church. Young often acted as the de facto leader during this time, but he did not formally assume the title of President of the Church until 1847, three years after the death of Smith. On December 27, 1847, at a special conference in Nauvoo, Illinois, church members voted to sustain Brigham Young as the President of the Church and the successor to Joseph Smith. This formalized the transition of leadership.

Answer: True

The migration and settlement of Mormons in these areas were influenced by a combination of religious beliefs, persecution, economic opportunities, and a desire to establish communities where they could practice their faith without interference. The establishment of many communities played a significant role in the westward expansion and development of the American West during the 19th century. In fact, the Mormons did not contain their expansion to the United States at all!

In the north, the early LDS Church established the town of Cardston in Alberta, Canada, as part of their efforts to colonize and establish agricultural communities. In the south, colonies were established in the northern region of Mexico, particularly in the states of Chihuahua and Sonora, for example, Colonia Juarez, Colonia Dublán, Colonia Pacheco, and Colonia Oaxaca, all of which survived into the 2st century.

Answer: It had local populations that were willing to convert.

The Mormon pioneers were known for their determination, resourcefulness, and pioneering spirit. They were willing to endure the hardships of the westward journey to find a place where they could establish a religious community and fulfill what they believed were God's purposes. Brigham Young claimed to have received a divine revelation that the Salt Lake Valley was the right place for the Mormons to settle. This revelation influenced the decision and was seen as a sign of divine guidance.

However, for practical purposes, Brigham Young had sent out scouts to the territory of the Salt Lake Valley and found that, despite the arid climate, there was potential to grow crops in the area. Also, the Mormons sought a place where they could practice their religious beliefs without interference. They believed that by settling in a remote and isolated region, they could establish a theocratic society based on their religious principles. Finally, at the time of their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, the area was part of Mexico (specifically, Mexican Alta California). The Mormons sought to distance themselves from the US Government which they believed had failed to protect their religious liberties and had often persecuted them.