Mormons

            
             A strange but well-known cult that exists in our society is the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints, also referred to as Mormons. They picture themselves to be a new form of the church of apostles just like in the 1st century. The history of Mormons begins with its upbringings, which was created by a man named Joseph Smith. Smith had visions when he was younger from God and angels in the time of autumn equinox, about the location of these golden tablets. He searched and found the tablets, with other items such as a brass plate, two silver bows, and a breastplate. After four years, he was allowed to remove these items, and tried to translate them behind a curtain. Eventually these items he brought back were lost, but he did manage to "translate" some of it into a hundred and sixteen-page book known as the Book Of Lehi. Later on, apostles appeared to smith and his partner Cowdery, showing them how to baptize each other by submerging themselves into water and pronounced them the two elders of the "new church." In 1830, smith founded the Latter Day Saints church and he and his followers constantly had to move from state to state due to persecution. Smith tired to run for presidency but his campaign failed and he and his brother Hyrum, were jailed and later executed by a mob. In 1846, the Mormons (now led by Smith's son Joseph Smith 3rd) finally arrived in Utah and established Salt Lake City, but could not make Utah a state due to the government's view of the Mormons practicing polygamy. Finally, manifesto was issued to suspend the practice and Utah became a state, which today is where the Later Day Saints reside. The groups accepted blacks in the seventies, but still exclude all races of women into priesthood. These days, they have joined with non-Mormon groups to actively fight drug abuse, abortion access, equal rights for women, and equal rights for gays and lesbians.
             Mormons have many different beliefs then other, real religions.