Mormonism is a truly unique American religion. Born in upstate New York and suckled on the breast of freedom, a small group of self-styled "Saints" began preaching the gospel of Christ as revealed to Joseph Smith by divine revelation. Smith spoke of a heavenly visitation by God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, endowing young Joseph with the authority to restore God's one, true church here on earth.

Under the direction of Joseph Smith, Jr. and later Brigham Young, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints quickly rose to a position of prominence in the mid 19th century....