Mormonism Timeline

The theology itself is not uniform; as early as 1831, various groups began splitting from the Church of Christ that Smith established, foreshadowing later divisions.

Image source: List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement

Following the succession crisis, Brigham Young led a major faction of the movement. A strain of theology going back to Brigham Young peaked with the early 20th-century writings of church leaders like B.H. Roberts.

Image source: Brigham Young

Smith's death in 1844 precipitated a succession crisis that split the Latter Day Saint movement. Various groups most significantly differ in their stances on polygamy and Trinitarianism.

Image source: Succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)

Polygamy became the faith's most sensational characteristic during the 19th century, and vigorous opposition by the United States Congress threatened the church's existence as a legal institution.

The Godbeites broke away from the LDS Church in the late 19th century on the basis of both political and religious liberalism, illustrating ongoing doctrinal diversity within Mormonism.

Image source: Godbeites

In the 1890 Manifesto, church president Wilford Woodruff announced the official end of plural marriage. Under heavy pressure—Utah would not be accepted as a state if polygamy was practiced—the church formally and publicly renounced the practice.

Image source: 1890 Manifesto

The Utah-based LDS Church banned polygamy in 1890, one of the key stances distinguishing it from other Latter Day Saint groups. Plural marriage remains controversial, with sympathizers and semi-secret practitioners outside the LDS Church.

Fundamentalists initially broke from the LDS Church after plural marriage was discontinued around the beginning of the 20th century. They often believe in other doctrines taught by Brigham Young that the LDS Church has abandoned or repudiated.

Image source: Mormon fundamentalism

In 1985 the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ broke away from the LDS Church as an LGBT-friendly denomination, demonstrating continued schism within the broader movement.

The LGBT-friendly Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, which had broken away from the LDS Church in 1985, was formally dissolved in 2010.

Settlers in Missouri expelled the Latter Day Saints from Jackson County in 1833, forcing them to flee to other parts of Missouri amid rising hostility.

Image source: 1838 Mormon War

In 1838, fighting between the Missourians and Mormons resulted in the governor of Missouri issuing an 'extermination order' against the Mormons, forcing them to flee the state.

Image source: Mormon Extermination Order

In 1844 Smith was killed by a mob, precipitating a succession crisis that split the Latter Day Saint movement after the death of its founder.

Image source: Killing of Joseph Smith

Although such violence declined during the twentieth century, the religion's unique doctrinal views and practices still generate criticism, sometimes vehemently so.

Image source: Criticism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

During the latter half of the 20th century the LDS Church grew rapidly, going from about 1.7 million members in 1960 to around 7.7 million members in 1990.

The exclusion of black men from the priesthood was abandoned by the LDS Church in 1978, ending a practice that had distinguished it from other denominations and been a source of criticism.

Image source: Black people and temple and priesthood policies (LDS Church)

As a label, Mormonism has been applied to various aspects of the Latter Day Saint movement, although since 2018 there has been a push from the LDS Church to distance itself from this label.

Growth since 1990 has slowed, and the church claimed a membership of 16 million in 2020, remaining the largest denomination within Mormonism.

Image source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah