It seems to me we have spent a lot of time studying the great isms of the world hinduism, buddhism. Then we get to a couple of nonisms christianity and islam. And now we begin mormonism. Really the story begins at the end of the early chapter of mormons history in the United States. We began on june 27, eight team 34. On that day 1834, on that day, the Mormon Prophet joseph smith sat in jail in carthage, illinois. This was just little bit east of this red dot in western illinois. It was near the mormon gathering place, headquarters of sorts, a city in western illinois. Joseph smith was the president and prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. His followers were commonly known as mormon nights or mormons, known after the churchs founding scripture, the the book of mormon. Smith was the mayor of the city and the Lieutenant General of the militia. He was in jail on the charge of inciting a riot. A group of mormon dissenters upset with his leadership of the church had pu