The Beginning of Faith
From the beginnings of the Mormon faith, are
stories and links to ancestry that tells a different beginning in the history
of the United States. Understanding the basic concepts with the beginning
of the Mormon religion, as well as identifying the changes and movements that
those of these belief systems made, invite individuals to a better link to
their genealogy and their family roots.
The beginning of Mormonism links to the 1830s, with the founder of the message
coming from Joseph Smith. This instantly moved several who found his
message to be truthful, causing them to adapt the philosophies. With
this; however, came controversies with the Mormon belief system, specifically
from the governmental bodies in the different regions. This led to
persecution of the Mormons that had built their temples and religious concepts
in Utah. Those who believed in this faith were then forced to leave their
homes to become the early Mormon pioneers.
In as early as 1846, many of those who believed in Mormonism were pushed out of
the various states in America and were forced to travel to other territories
that were not established. Others fled to the safest area in the Utah
region. The range of land that these pioneers migrated from went to the
edge of the Mississippi River and through Illinois. This migration
continued for more than 20 years, with the movement slowing down in 1868.
Each of these individuals was known to pioneer and settle down in remote
regions of the United States with the core concept that there should be a
continuation of practicing and spreading belief in the Mormon faith.
During this time, there was an alternative movement of early Mormon pioneers
that were a part of the motion to the various regions of the United
States. Specifically, immigrants from Europe began to move into the
region. These individuals had either converted into the Mormon faith or
were related to individuals who had found this belief system in Utah. It
was known that these individuals came to pioneer the land and belief systems
throughout the United States at the same time, which furthered the pioneering
and immigration of the land.
Along the path of the early Mormon pioneers, was a main trail that those who
were forced out of the states by the government followed. This began in
Missouri and continued for more than 1300 miles. Most moved into the Utah
region, were they built the Mormon temple while pioneering the specific
region. By building frontier communities around this area, and continuing
to build homes, while worshiping the Mormon faith, the government was able to
declare religious freedom for those that practiced the Mormon belief system.
This was followed through by the leaders Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Thomas
Bullock, Thomas Nauvoo and Gilbert Belnap, all which helped to redefine the
freedom of those who were forced to pioneer through this area.
It is from these beginnings that the Mormon faith has been able to gain its
freedom. The significance of the early Mormon pioneers has led to a long
lineage of beliefs and ideals that many hold sacred. Through the basic
concepts that are a part of this system, as well as the actions that were taken
against the persecutions from the various United States, was a movement into
other regions that helped to define the contemporary Mormon religion.