The Mormons: 1820-1900 Trivia Quiz

I studied the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons, in school and thought I'd do a quiz on them.

A multiple-choice quiz by jadeb. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jadeb

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
221,729

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
11 / 15

Plays
1656

Last 3 plays: misscapulet (13/15), RebeccaQ (15/15), KLFreemont (11/15).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Joseph Smith founded Mormonism (officially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) in 1830 -- but where does the word "Mormon" come from? Hint

Smith's father, Mormon

Smith's best friend, Mormon

Smith's brother, Mormon

The Angel Moroni's father, Mormon

NEXT>

2. In February 1844 Joseph Smith announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

True

False

NEXT>

3. The Mormons were polygynous. What is polygyny? Hint

Where a man must marry and then divorce one year later

Where a man can't marry

Where a man can have more than one wife

Where a man can only have one wife

NEXT>

4. In 1831, a year after 'The Book of Mormon' was published, how many people had converted to Mormonism? Hint

5,000

10,000

1,000

500

NEXT>

5. Joseph Smith wanted to have a 'holy city' in America, but what did he want to call it? Hint

Kirtland

Zion

Missouri

Salt Lake City

NEXT>

6. What did Moroni tell Joseph Smith to find? Hint

Zion

'The Book of Mormon'

Gold plates

Silver plates

NEXT>

7. In what year did the Mormons leave Kirtland? Hint

1837

1839

1831

1845

NEXT>

8. What is the official name of Mormonism? Hint

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ

The Church of the Latter Day Saints

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

NEXT>

9. When did Joseph Smith die? Hint

12th August 1845

4th May, 1843

18th January, 1844

27th June, 1844

NEXT>

10. Who took over the Mormons after Joseph Smith died? Hint

Brigham Young

Mormon

Joseph Smith III (Son of the founder)

Moroni

NEXT>

11. Which of these words did nineteenth-century Mormons use for non-Mormons? Hint

Idolaters

Friends

The enemy

Gentiles

NEXT>

12. When is Pioneer Day? Hint

24th June

24th July

15th August

15th March

NEXT>

13. When did the Mormons abandon polygamy? Hint

1899

1895

They never abandoned it

1890

NEXT>

14. In what year did the American government make a state that the Mormons wanted? Hint

1895

1896

1901

1893

NEXT>

15. Do Mormons exist nowadays?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Joseph Smith founded Mormonism (officially the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) in 1830 -- but where does the word "Mormon" come from?

Answer: The Angel Moroni's father, Mormon

In 1823, Smith had a vision of the Angel Moroni who told him to find some gold plates and translate them. Smith called followers of the religion Mormons, after Moroni's father.

2. In February 1844 Joseph Smith announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

Answer: True

He intended to run with Sidney Rigdon as his vice-presidential running mate.

3. The Mormons were polygynous. What is polygyny?

Answer: Where a man can have more than one wife

Non-Mormons hated polygyny, a type of polygamy, and persecuted the Mormons, trying to make them stop the practice. By 1843, Smith reportedly had ten wives (according to marriage and sealing records) -- although his wife Emma and his children always denied it. The Mormon church disavowed polygamy only in 1890.

4. In 1831, a year after 'The Book of Mormon' was published, how many people had converted to Mormonism?

Answer: 1,000

Missionaries were being sent on long journeys to convert more people to become Mormons.

5. Joseph Smith wanted to have a 'holy city' in America, but what did he want to call it?

Answer: Zion

Zion means City of God. Kirtland was Smith's chosen site for it but the Mormons were driven out of there and went to Missouri. They eventually settled by Salt Lake and created Salt Lake City.

6. What did Moroni tell Joseph Smith to find?

Answer: Gold plates

The gold plates were hidden in a hillside in Cumorah in Palmyra, New York State.

7. In what year did the Mormons leave Kirtland?

Answer: 1837

They arrived in Kirtland in 1831, moved to Missouri in 1837 and left in 1839 and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. They left Nauvoo in 1845.

8. What is the official name of Mormonism?

Answer: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

This was the name that was registered in 1831.

9. When did Joseph Smith die?

Answer: 27th June, 1844

Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were arrested after they ordered the destruction of a printing press. Whilst they were in jail in Carthage, a mob of non-Mormons attacked the jail and Smith and his brother were shot and killed.

10. Who took over the Mormons after Joseph Smith died?

Answer: Brigham Young

Joseph Smith III deserted polygamy after his father's death and created the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.

11. Which of these words did nineteenth-century Mormons use for non-Mormons?

Answer: Gentiles

This is also what Jews traditionally called non-Jews. In the Book of Mormon this latter meaning is used.

12. When is Pioneer Day?

Answer: 24th July

On the 24th July, 1847, Brigham Young arrived at the Salt Lake with the first group of Mormons. At the Salt Lake, they created Salt Lake City.

13. When did the Mormons abandon polygamy?

Answer: 1890

The Mormons wanted to create a state but the American government said they couldn't if they continued with polygamy. They gave in to the government in the end.

14. In what year did the American government make a state that the Mormons wanted?

Answer: 1896

The state was called Utah.

15. Do Mormons exist nowadays?

Answer: Yes

They aren't exactly like the original Mormons, their ancestors, because they don't have polygamy. The teachings of the Church have evolved over time.

Source: Author jadeb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trammgr before going online.
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