19th Century Mormon American Identity

Abstract

This presentation examines the ways in which the genesis and spread of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the nineteenth century both resonated and grated against an emerging American national identity. It will outline how Mormon claims to an exalted status among Americans, unique religious beliefs, experiments with communalism, theocracy, and plural marriage all would function as sounding boards against which nineteenth century Americans would frame their own emerging national character. In examining responses to the Latter Day Saint movement’s experimentations with social, political, and economic orders, this presentation aims to demonstrate how the emerging national character of nineteenth century America would make no room for challenges to monogamy, democratic capitalism, and mainstream Protestantism.