The history of the Mormon Church is one of faith and sacrifice. From the earliest days of Mormonism’s history until today, faithful Mormons have had to overcome tremendous obstacles to remain faithful. While Mormons do not face violent mobs today as they once did, members must confront a busy, secularized world that attacks the core values of faith in God.
Joseph Smith was the first prophet of the Mormon Church and its founder. In 1820, the young Joseph was troubled by how to come closer to God and Jesus Christ. He saw much confusion in the world and prayed to God. In response to this pray he experienced his First Vision in which God and Jesus appeared to him. Later he was called to a prophet.Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon and received revelations just as biblical prohpets did. He organized the Mormon Church with priesthood authority from God.
Over the next several years, the Mormon Church was forced to move, first to Ohio, then to Missouri, Illinois, and finally to Utah. Joseph Smith received many revelations from God before his murder in 1844. He revealed the plan of salvation,the need for Temples, the eternal nature of the family, and the destiny of mankind. After his death, Brigham Young led the Mormon pioneers to Utah where they Church headquarters remains today.
In Utah, the Mormons faced intense persecution because of Mormon polygamy. Thousands of Mormons were jailed or forced to flee. Finally, a revelation from God ended polygamy and the persecution subsided. Since then, Mormonism has grown throughout the world. In the twentieth century,Mormon missionaries took the Church to every continent and the Book of Mormon was translated into dozens of languages. Today, more Mormons live outside the US than within. In the late 1970s arevelation on blacks and the priesthood was received that permitted all worthy men to hold the priesthood and allowed the Mormon Church to grow in Africa. Today, the Mormon Church is growing in South America, Africa, and Asia at record setting pace.