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]]

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

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."

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):