| Salt Lake City is the complete opposite of Las Vegas. Smoking is discouraged and the streets are 'safe' and clean. Not suprising really as the City is the Headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). |
| The Mormon Religion |
| The Mormon religion was founded by Joseph Smith c. 1840 after he had been 'visited' by God. During this visitation God told Smith where to find the 12 gold plates which had been written by the prophet Mormon (a Native Indian). The plates contained the word of God. Smith then translated these plates into English and reburied them. Eight other people supposedly witnessed this event. Smith was also visited by 'John the Baptist' where he was given the power and authority from God to baptise and cleanse sinners. |
| Brigham Young later read the Book of Mormon, became a Missionary and a devoted servant of Smith and the Mormon religion. He gathered together a group of pioneers that he recruited whilst on a missionary trip to Britain. Together, they traveled west until they came to the great salt lake. Since this time, Salt Lake City and the Mormon religion have flourished. |
| We are both non-believers and find this 'story' very hard to believe. Our eyebrows were raised even further when we heard that Young only came to Salt Lake because he had been bet by a man in Illinois that he could not grow a bushel of corn in these harsh surroundings. Young also knew that this area contained great mineral and gold supplies. In order to exploit this wealth he definitely needed a willing band of workers. Young enjoyed an expansive lifestyle and had 26 official wives. A religion created by a man for men? |
| Utah |
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| Statue of Brigham Young |
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