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Contents
I. General Preparations ................................................................................................................ 3
II. Religious Preparations ............................................................................................................ 6
III. The Mormon Scene ............................................................................................................... 10
IV. Socio-Economic Preparations.............................................................................................. 14
I. General Preparations
An analysis of the origin of Mormonism in its historical setting reveals several
interesting relationships between its principles and objectives and the trends of the
society of the day. Although these relation-ships do not warrant the conclusion that
Joseph Smith borrowed his major ideas from his historical setting, they do show that the
claims he made and the principles he set forth were compatible with the spirit and
aspirations of the age and were accepted by many as the means of attaining the goals
they urgently sought.
Because the period during Joseph Smith's activity in history was intensely
revolutionary it has been termed the Second American Revolution. But unlike the political
revolution of the preceding century, that which occurred between 1820 and about 18451
was social, religious, and economic as well as political. Orestes A. Brownson said of the
nature of that turbulent era:
"No tolerable observer of the signs of the time can have failed to
perceive that we are. in this vicinity [New England] at least, in the midst
of a very important revolution; a revolution which extends to every
department of thought, and threatens to change ultimately the whole
aspect of our society. Everything is loosened from its old fastenings. and
is floating no one can tell exactly whither."