PART ONE

PART TWO

ONE
Prologue

An introduction to Part I of The Mormons that covers the Mormon religion's birth and evolution in the 19th century.
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TWO
The Prophet Joseph Smith

Mormon history begins with Joseph Smith. He receives his first revelation as a young boy; he is visited by God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
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THREE
The Early Revelations

In 1827, another revelation directs Joseph to the golden plates which, translated, would become The Book of Mormon, the core document of a new faith.
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FOUR
Gathering the Saints

From the start, Joseph Smith's church is controversial.The Mormons are forced to flee to upstate New York and then to Kirtland, Ohio in 1831.
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FIVE
Opposition to the Church

In 1837, persecution and fear force the Mormons to move further west to Missouri, revealed by Smith to be the location of Zion, God's future city.
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SIX
Persecution...Exile...Assassination

1938: Haun's Mill and the flight to Nauvoo, Ill. Smith's career reaches its apex in Nauvoo; plural marriage is revealed to him. And then, his murder.
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SEVEN
Exodus - 1846

Brigham Young senses Illinois has abandoned them. He leads the Mormons westward on a perilous trek to reach the Great Salt Lake valley and a new home.
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EIGHT
Mountain Meadows

A local Mormon militia, with the U.S. Army bearing down on them, attack a wagon train from Arkansas, killing some 120 men, women and children.
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NINE
The Ghosts of Mountain Meadows

Who gave the order? Was it local militia leaders or had it come from the highest authority, Brigham Young? And, will it ever be resolved?
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TEN
The Origins of Polygamy - 1843

Joseph Smith announces a revelation allowing - even requiring - celestial (plural) marriage. It becomes church doctrine and causes great controversy.
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ELEVEN
The Renunciation of Polygamy - 1890

Plural marriage is declared a felony by the government. Under enormous pressure, Prophet Wilford Woodruff announces a revelation ending the practice.
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TWELVE
Those Who Still Practice Polygamy

They are many of the estimated 30,000 to 60,000 fundamentalist Mormons who say they are the real Mormons and will not obey the church's renunciation.
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THIRTEEN
Credits

A list of the teams and the resources behind this four-hour series, The Mormons.
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Part Two

Part Two