Mormon Reformation

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The Mormon Reformation

The "Mormon Reformation" was a reform or spiritual rejuvenation movement that began among the Utah Saints in the mid-1850s. Ironically, noted one historian, "[m]ore has been written about its excesses (real and imaginary) than about what actually happened. Stenhouse's anonymous chapter on the Reformation and Blood Atonement was typical. Even church historian B. H. Roberts devoted twice as much space in discussing blood atonement in connection with the reform movement than he did to the Reformation itself."^[1]

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Doctrine taught during the Reformation

Blood atonement

Summary: Critics claim that during the administration of Brigham Young apostates were secretly put to death. They claim this is in line with the teachings of LDS leaders at the time that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly.

Brigham Young's preaching style

Summary: Critics have often misunderstood or misrepresented Brigham Young's (and others LDS preachers') preaching style

Critical claims related to the Reformation

19th century crimes alleged to be "worthy of death"

Summary: Critics expand to idea of blood atonement to include a long list of crimes that were alleged to be "worthy of death."

Events related to the Reformation

Mountain Meadows Massacre

Summary: In September 1857 a group of Mormons in southern Utah killed all adult members of an Arkansas wagon train that was headed for California. Critics charge that the massacre was typical of Mormon "culture of violence," and claim that Church leaders—possibly as high as Brigham Young—approved of, or even ordered the killing.

• • Prosecution—
    Brief Summary: Critics charge that Brigham Young blocked prosecution of those who committed the Mountain Meadows Massacre. (Click here for full article)
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  • Thomas Kane—
    Brief Summary: Critics who use the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church often mention non-LDS Col. Thomas Kane. Kane was a good friend to the Mormons prior to Joseph Smith's death, and he was also briefly involved in the Massacre issue. (Click here for full article)
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Oath of vengeance

Summary: In nearly every anti-Mormon discussion of the temple, critics raise the issue of the "oath of vengeance" that existed during the 19th century and very early 20th century. These critics often misstate the nature of the oath and try to use its presence in the early temple endowment as evidence that the LDS temple ceremonies are ungodly, violent, and immoral.

== Notes ==

1. [note]  Gustave O. Larson, "The Mormon Reformation," Utah Historical Quarterly 26/1 (January 1958): 45–46.

Further reading

Thomas G. Alexander, "The Odyssey of a Latter-Day Prophet: Wilford Woodruff and the Manifesto of 1890," Journal of Mormon History 17 (1991):