Description

(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."

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Foreword
Author's Preface
Introduction

Mormonism: The Early Years
(1805-1830)

1. Vagabond Visionaries
   The Smiths of Vermont * Into the Woods * Various Vision Versions * Curious Coincidences
2. Moroni, Magic, and Masonry
   More Vision Revisions * A Company of Money-Diggers * Mormonism Meets Freemasonry
3. From Profit to Prophet
   Bound In Bainbridge * Going for the Gold * The Art of Translating
4. 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)

5. People of Zion
   A Prepared People * Prophet, Seer, and Revelator * Building Up the Promised Land
6. No Rest for the Righteous
   Calling All Lamanites * The Holy Ones of Israel * Say Goodbye to Independence * Zion's Camp * A Divided Kingdom
7. Woe In Ohio
   Here Comes The Bride...Again * Banking Blunders * Meanwhile, Back In Missouri * Go West, Young Man
8. 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
9. 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)

10. A New Beginning
    Claiming the Prophetic Mantle * Lawless Nauvoo * Moving On and Moving Out * King of Utah
11. Bloody Brigham
    Brigham Young vs. Uncle Sam * The Judgment of God * Sacrificial Acts * Vengeance Is Ours * After Mountain Meadows
12. 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
13. Unholy Matrimony
    The World According to Mormonism * Conjugal Complexities * More Is Never Enough * Respecting Your Elders * Why? Why? Why? * The Bible Tells Me So
14. The Politics of Compromise
    The Mormon Underground * An Eternal Doctrine * God's Mind Changes * Network of Deception

Going Mainstream
(1902-2002)

15. Making the Transition
    The Reed Smoot Case * Rise of the Fundamentalists * Polygamy Today * Decades of Change
16. Mormon Racism: Black Is Not Beautiful
    Pride and Prejudice * Segregation According to God * Benson's Battle * Welcome to the Temple * Cursed Until When?
17. Is Mormonism Christian?
    America's Non-Christian Christians * Blending In * Oh What A Tangled Web * The Cult of Mormonism
18. 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