Mormonism offers an extensive opportunity for a critical discussion of the concept of invented tradition, given both its emergence from preexisting cultural elements and its self-reflection upon that religious “coming forth.” From six inaugurating members in 1830 to 11 million by 2006, its created cultural heartland in America's Midwest and the issue of its potential status as a world religion present social scientists with interpretative challenges. Following an introductory background and hermeneutical consideration of the problematic concept of “invented tradition” as applied specifically to religious groups, this chapter considers ideological, textual, and ritual forms of Mormonism's sacred tradition before closing with reflections upon the nature of history and of Mormonism's future as frames for “tradition.”

BACKGROUND

Originally named “The Church of Christ,” this group became “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” (LDS) in 1838: from 1995 it has stressed “The Church of Jesus Christ” element. This group needs differentiating from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) that arose after Joseph Smith's death from those who did not migrate west with the majority membership. A more Protestant-like constituency, it called itself the Saints Church in 1972 and the Community of Christ in 2001. Other groups exist, including those described as “fundamentalist” because they adhere to early traditions of polygamy formally abandoned by the LDS in 1890.