The Church

My family has not coped very well with the changes in our family's church.

This began as the LDS church early in the 19th Century. After the death of the founder, Joseph Smith, in 1844, in Illinois, they were led by Brigham Young, on a long journey across the Rocky Mountains and established an irrigated agriculture economy on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. This became the largest Mormon church, by far.

Meanwhile, another church, the RLDS church, was formed back in Illinois, led by Joseph Smith's son, Joseph Smith III. This eventually moved its headquarters to Independence, Missouri, and became the second-largest Mormon church. Under his leadership, it grew rapidly in terms of membership and financing

After his death, it did not grow so rapidly, and eventually became the Community of Christ, and a number of other churches. My family did not want to admit this, but it was losing its importance.

Their children were not interested in it at all.