Mormonism

A group of denominations including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have about 11 million members worldwide and are growing rapidly.

Founded by Joseph Smith in New York state in 1830, Mormons teach that Jesus spent time in Central and South America after his crucifixion, spreading the gospel to Aboriginal peoples throughout the Americas.

Smith stated that as a result of an angelic visitation, he was shown the location of golden plates containing the Book of Mormon, one of the denominations' sacred texts. He also found the Urim and Thummin, which enabled him to translate the plates into English. Both later disappeared.

The Mormons abandoned the practice of polygyny (where a man has more than 1 wife) during the 19th century.