The 1st religious Armed Conflict in American History? Are Mormons Christian?
From my limited life span with the LDS Church of 10 years, I under the impression that Mormons were another Christian denomination. From my research of the first vision accounts, Joseph Smith began talking about the priesthood restoration and the two personages almost 8 years after the supposed start date of the Bicentennial anniversary of 1820. Other Christian political leaders such as Missouri Governor Boggs Extermination didn't look at these doctrinal developments of establishing Zion in their State favorably. The Missouri Extermination order to "shoot Mormons" is one of the examples in LDS church History that we can point to as a religious armed conflict with the state. As a result Jospeh Smith formed the first military battalion of Latter Day Saints aka The Nauvoo Legion. He was going to run for president and was already acting as the Mayor of Nauvoo and founder of the Freemason Lodge by 1832. It is around this time that the church was also moving away from mainstrea...