The WILD Story of How the Mormons Created Utah

How Mormons created Utah so quickly

Joseph Smith founded the LDS Church and this is the story of what followed: how mormons planned to expand into the west, how other prophets rose up and polygamy took over, the tension between them and the US government, and finally, how Utah came to be. This is part two of a three part series.

Special thanks to:
- Jon Cox, for sharing your insight on Utah history.

-- VIDEO CHAPTERS --
00:00 INTRO
01:34 GOING WEST
04:15 BUILDING
12:44 POLYGAMY
16:59 THE UTAH WAR
18:56 THE GOVERNMENT V. THE MORMONS
21:05 CONCLUSION
23:22 CREDITS

About:
Johnny Harris is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and contributor to the New York Times. Based in Washington, DC, Harris reports on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe, publishing to his audience of over 5 million on Youtube. Harris produced and hosted the twice Emmy-nominated series Borders for Vox Media. His visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways.

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[CloudSnakeGames]

as an agnostic who doesn't really practice religion, I have to say the one thing religion has that I envy is the sense of community. Its something thats sorely missing in towards culture.

[IAmMamunHasan]

5:40 The native Americans were truly oppressed. Even the Mormons didn't leave them alone.

[magyar]

Growing up in Hungary, I have had several interactions with mormons/missionaries. What surprised me most was their willingness/ability to learn a foreign language, and speak it well. Hungarian is a beast of a language at times, and I was always impressed.

[Jessie-ucox]

I moved to Utah from outside of the United States 3 years ago and as a restaurant employee, I interact with mormons day in and day out! One thing I admire about them is they’re very family oriented! They would often come to our restaurant on special occasions—birthdays, Christmas, graduations, anniversaries, etc.—always as a family! The kids are very polite, which speaks volumes about their upbringing! I can never understand and will never subscribe to the polygamy aspect of their religion, but one thing I know for sure is that Mormons are some of the nicest people I’ve ever interfaced with.

[andrewholloway]

No matter how I say this, it will be considered "mean, " but holy hell, only Americans would think if God was coming back, he would end up in the USA...

[Corn_DOG]

17:32 a whole branch of my family was killed off in the mountain meadow massaacre. My family member who survived (who was just a baby at the time) was adopted by one of the US calvery solders involved in the investigation. My father who did the research on this was eventually invited out to the creation of the monument at the site of the massaacre.

[ItinerantIntrovert]

Suggested clickbait title:
How This Mormon Leader Had 56 Wives

Suggested controversial title:
How The Mormons Stole Utah

Suggested academic paper title:
Mormonism: The Dynamics and Controversies of the Foundations of Utah, the Beehive State

Suggested lazy title:
Mormon Stuff Part 2

[allynaroman]

I can’t believe this video is free.. blows my mind how unbelievably high quality this is, from the information to the very well planned visuals in graphic designs to it all, by far my fav independent journalist! You need to do a video with Peter Santanello he also does journalism in a very unbiased way. You’d love him. He should interview you!

[SaurianStudios]

I find a lot of the Mormon history, theology, and “culture” or identity far more interesting to learn about than actually joining it or being a part of it.

[squawk]

Utah's success story is more about pioneering a self-sufficient community than divine intervention—religion may have sparked it, but innovation and hard work are what truly built it.

[raysteed]

I'm an ex-FLDS member, living in Southern Utah, and I gotta say this series is really interesting, and it's cool to learn your mainstream LDS view of our shared history and heritage. The FLDS had their own version of history taught in their schools, which they called Priesthood History. Basically a skewed view on history where they made everything seem to build up towards Joseph Smith and the building of Zion.
It was so difficult, yet refreshing for me to learn actual history after leaving the FLDS. And it seems like Johnny has gone through something similar.
Thanks Johnny for your efforts on this, and I look forward to part 3!

[jacobmiller]

I’m an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). I wanted to thank you for offering this respectful but honest perspective of the history of the church. I find a lot of value in having an open mind and am grateful for a chance to open mine in a way that doesn’t require me enduring a hatful and disrespectful attack on an organization and theology I have found so much peace in and that’s close to my heart. This could have easily been a hate piece, and because it wasn’t, you helped me approach these difficult topics in a way I could stomach, in a way that didn’t force me to defend the good I know to be within the church.

[ingridbirchellhughes]

I am hooked on this series. I'm a 3rd gen LDS in the UK, who left the church as a teen. I'm in my 50s now and still processing. But this and the last episode brought back so many memories of being a kid experiencing the teachings, and re-enactments of the persecutions - all conducted in rainy England about a land thousands of miles away and events a century ago. I knew more about the history of Utah than I did my own country as a kid. I remember plural marriage being explained as social care for older unmarried women but obviously that was just glossing over the reality. It's strange to hear my mother *still* come up with this explanation. Thank you for your sensitive and honest telling.

[rickosborne]

As someone who was definitely not raised LDS, and knew almost nothing about them until moving to Utah, I appreciate the objective history. As a non-Mormon living in SLC, it was odd at first, getting used to how differently things are done here compared to most of the US. That industriousness and sense of community are very much still evident here though, and things that I do appreciate, even if I wholeheartedly disagree with LDS beliefs. My neighbors are incredibly friendly, and welcoming and generous, despite knowing full well I have no interest in their church. It's a really nice change, and I know it doesn't represent everyone's experience here, but it has made me very happy living in Utah, and combined with the incredible mountains.. I have no desire to ever leave.

[abitcritical]

The share quality of this video is off the charts.... I can feel the divide in Johnny's heart between the person he is because of the modern LDS and its actual strong brotha...can't wait for part 3

[infinite]

Every Jhonny harris fan knows that Jhonny will change this video's TITLE and THUMBNAIL atleast 5 times in next 2 days 😂

[Cergun_]

As someone who grew up Muslim in the country where it all started, the parallels cannot be ignored. It’s almost like the playbook is universal and people are hardwired to eventually end up in this situation.

[joewestla]

One of the weirdest parts of deprogramming myself as an ex Mormon was my reflexive belief in the last days. You're so conditioned to believe that Jesus second coming is right around the corner, and to view war and plagues as evidence of that fact. It took years for my subconscious to accept that the course of history is uncertain and unknown.

[nathanbgerman]

The timing of this video is so interesting. I have just recently learned that a new Mormon temple is being built in my city, and I have been studying more about what Mormons believe in order to be ready to have some interesting conversations whenever I meet Mormon missionaries.

[vandettabuilds]

Outstanding!!!
I'm 60 years old born and raised LDS I stopped going to church at 15 years old. I fought with my parents about it for years!!!
I love my family with all my heart
I live in SLC
Thank you!!!!