We drove downtown, and visited Temple Square. The Mormon Temple draws everyone's attention. Young people inside were eager to explain Mormon History. It took 40 years to build the main temple. Inside, life size statues, and videos reflected the journey of the Mormons from Iowa City, and Nauvoo in Illinois to Salt Lake City. The Mormons exemplify all American values: self-reliance, and helping those in need. The reason they have succeeded is because they organized themselves in a semi-military fashion. The religion was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830. It is also called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.According to the accounts of Mormon History, Joseph Smith translated a document from golden plates given to him by an angel. He called the document the Book of Mormons. Later on Smith and his followers were kicked out from Illinois for practicing polygamy, creating a well-armed militia and isolating themselves from the rest of the country. Smith and his brother were eventually killed by an angry mob. The mob also burned more than 200 Mormon homes, and farm buildings. The person who succeeded Smith as a leader of the Mormon Church was Brigham Young. It is hard to comprehend the drive that the Mormons had to travel thousands of miles, all in the name of their prophet.
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