Mormon fundamentalism (also called fundamentalist Mormonism) is a belief in the validity of selected fundamental aspects of Mormonism as taught and practiced in the nineteenth century, particularly during the administration of Brigham Young, a president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Mormon fundamentalism is distinct from Mormonism as it is practiced today by the LDS Church.
Mormon fundamentalist beliefs generally include the following elements:
Of these, the principle most often associated with Mormon fundamentalism is plural marriage, a form of polygyny first taught by Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. The LDS church eventually modified or altogether abandoned these early principles, including plural marriage.
Mormon fundamentalists believe these principles were wrongly abandoned or changed by the LDS Church. However, there is no central authority for all Mormon fundamentalists. The viewpoint and practices of individual groups vary widely. Fundamentalists have formed numerous small sects, often within cohesive and isolated communities in areas of the Western United States, Western Canada, and northern Mexico. At times, the press has claimed there are as many as 37,000 Mormon fundamentalists, with fewer than half of them living in polygamous households, although there may be as few as 25,000.
