The Perfect Society and the Promised Land Summary and Analysis

Ohio had seen many supposed prophets before Joseph Smith. It had been rife with false prophets for much of the early nineteenth century. Among these were many who looked forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Others had read the New Testament and were looking to be like the Apostles of that time, having all things in common. These people were attempting to restore a similar style of life, called communism by Ms. Brodie. For most, this was a religious attempt to become more like Christ, though it was formed without appropriate authority from God.

The church organized by Joseph Smith was often called the Mormon Church by those who were antagonistic to it, and later embraced by its members, as the Book of Mormon had been condensed...