Summary
(From book jacket.) "Many people believe that Mormonism, also
known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), is just another
Christian denomination seeking the world's betterment. But there was a time in
America when the Mormon church was seen as little more than a cultlike
collection of polygamous, religious zealots seeking the political overthrow of
America. This aspect of Mormon history, dating back to Palmyra, New York, in the
early 1800's, is but one facet of an enthralling saga laced with all the
elements of an action-packed Hollywood movie: sex, lust, violence, greed,
murder, deceit, and betrayal. Nevertheless, Mormonism has managed to emerge as
one of the world's wealthiest and most influential religions. In fact, it wields
more economic power more effectively than any other organized religion in
existence.
"Now, investigative religion journalist Richard Abanes—author of
End-Time Visions: The Road to Armageddon? and a highly regarded authority
on cults, the occult, new religious movements, and the religious fringe—examines
the fascinating history of Mormonism in its entirety. Using exhaustive
documentation, Abanes reveals the true origins of Mormonism, the socioeconomic
factors that contributed to its growth, its ongoing political agenda, and its
religious teachings. Moreover, Abanes details what may he some of the most
intriguing, yet rarely discussed, events in LDS history that continue to make it
one of the most controversial of all religions.
"One Nation under Gods will appeal to anyone interested
in Mormon history, cults, the religious evolution of the United States, and
humanity's perennial desire to find spiritual fulfillment—a desire too often
pursued at any cost."
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Author's
Preface
Introduction
Mormonism: The Early
Years
(1805-1830)
- Vagabond Visionaries
The
Smiths of Vermont * Into the Woods * Various Vision Versions * Curious
Coincidences
- Moroni, Magic, and Masonry
More Vision Revisions * A Company of Money-Diggers * Mormonism Meets
Freemasonry
- From Profit to Prophet
Bound In Bainbridge * Going
for the Gold * The Art of Translating
- Smith's Golden Book
All Manner of "Ites" * Indian
Origins * Israel's Lost Tribes * Prophecy or Plagiarism? * History or His Story?
* The Never Ending Search
Establishing God's
Kingdom
(1831-1844)
- People of Zion
A Prepared People * Prophet, Seer,
and Revelator * Building Up the Promised Land
- No Rest for the Righteous
Calling All Lamanites *
The Holy Ones of Israel * Say Goodbye to Independence * Zion's Camp * A Divided
Kingdom
- Woe In Ohio
Here Comes The Bride...Again * Banking
Blunders * Meanwhile, Back In Missouri * Go West, Young Man
- Big Trouble In Little Missouri
Settling On Sacred
Ground * The Dissenters * Smith's Destroying Angels * Behind the Battle Lines *
War In the Wilderness * Expelled As Expected * Divine Deliverance
- March to Martyrdom
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph *
America's Fighting Prophet * Lieutenant-General Smith * President Smith and His
Council of Fifty * The Beginning of the End * Women, Wives, and Worries *
Joseph's Final Conflict
Utah: Land of the
Prophets
(1845-1901)
- A New Beginning
Claiming the Prophetic Mantle *
Lawless Nauvoo * Moving On and Moving Out * King of Utah
- Bloody Brigham
Brigham Young vs. Uncle Sam * The
Judgment of God * Sacrificial Acts * Vengeance Is Ours * After Mountain
Meadows
- Wars and Rumors of Wars
A Winter of Conflict * An
Uneasy Truce * Brother Against Brother * Smith's Civil War Prophecy * Years of
Waiting * The End of An Era
- Unholy Matrimony
The World According to Mormonism
* Conjugal Complexities * More Is Never Enough * Respecting Your Elders * Why?
Why? Why? * The Bible Tells Me So
- The Politics of Compromise
The Mormon Underground
* An Eternal Doctrine * God's Mind Changes * Network of Deception
Going
Mainstream
(1902-2002)
- Making the Transition
The Reed Smoot Case * Rise
of the Fundamentalists * Polygamy Today * Decades of Change
- Mormon Racism: Black Is Not Beautiful
Pride
and Prejudice * Segregation According to God * Benson's Battle * Welcome to the
Temple * Cursed Until When?
- Is Mormonism Christian?
America's Non-Christian
Christians * Blending In * Oh What A Tangled Web * The Cult of
Mormonism
- Cover-Ups, Conspiracies, and
Controversies
Unhistorical History * Thinking Is A Sin * The Mormon
Purge * Skeletons In the Closet * Hofmann's Deadly Documents * Dunn In God's
Name * Mormon Games * America's Mormon Destiny
- Appendix A: Glossary of Mormon Terms
- Appendix B: Notable Mormons
- Appendix C: Abraham's Book?
- Appendix D: Failed Joseph Smith Prophecies
- Appendix E: Recommended Resources
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