<P> Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 30s . After Smith was killed in 1844 , most Mormons followed Brigham Young on his westward journey to the area that became the Utah Territory , calling themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( LDS Church ) . Other sects include Mormon fundamentalism , which seeks to maintain practices and doctrines such as polygamy , and various other small independent denominations . The second - largest Latter Day Saint denomination , the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints , since 2001 called the Community of Christ , does not describe itself as `` Mormon '' , but instead follows a Trinitarian Christian restorationist theology , and also considers itself Restorationist in terms of Latter Day Saint doctrine . </P>
<P> Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 30s . After Smith was killed in 1844 , most Mormons followed Brigham Young on his westward journey to the area that became the Utah Territory , calling themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints ( LDS Church ) . Other sects include Mormon fundamentalism , which seeks to maintain practices and doctrines such as polygamy , and various other small independent denominations . The second - largest Latter Day Saint denomination , the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints , since 2001 called the Community of Christ , does not describe itself as `` Mormon '' , but instead follows a Trinitarian Christian restorationist theology , and also considers itself Restorationist in terms of Latter Day Saint doctrine . </P>
where was the mormon religion founded and by whom
where was the mormon religion founded and by whom
Western New York Joseph Smith
Western New York Joseph Smith