By the end of the 18th century, the outlook for American Christianity was not encouraging, and memories of the First Great Awakening faded. The chaos of the Revolutionary War greatly affected religious life. The beginning of the new century brought religious activity unique in all of world history. This period, now known as the Second Great Awakening, resulted in the emergence of Mormonism. There was an optimistic feeling of a new beginning for the religion. Society was rapidly transforming, with religion emerging as a force helping to shape larger social issues. Many longed for a return to the past and attempted to reclaim it by recreating New Testament Christianity. Some religious groups declared themselves seeking independence because they were dissatisfied with existing religious authority. They yearned for a more powerful religious experience than that offered by the existing Church, resulting in many new religions. New groups often shared theological concepts with more traditional churches, but the innovation went beyond Christian orthodoxy. Among the many new groups that emerged were the Mormons. Early Mormonism reflects the social and religious environment of Western New York during the Second Great Awakening and the time of a young man named Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith Jr. lived in the “Burned Down District” of Western New York in the early days. 1800s. In 1816, Joseph Jr. arrived in New York with his parents Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, seeking a better future while distancing themselves from their Calvinist heritage. Like many others around them, the Smiths were Christians but did not feel obligated to adhere to any particular faith. While Joseph Jr. seemed interested in Methodism, he found disagreements between...... middle of paper ......m, the Nauvoo era endowment and the ordinance of the Second Anointing . He also created the Anointed Quorem, a new internal church council comprising both men and women. In 1844, Smith organized a secret church council called the "Kingdom Council." Acclaiming Joseph Smith as “Prophet, Priest and King” in addition to polygamy, was part of these practices. These secret practices were threatened with publication in a newspaper, so Smith ordered the press destroyed. This action intensified anti-Mormon hostility and resulted in Smith's arrest by the state government. While in a Carthage prison, Smith was murdered by a mob on June 27, 1844. His unexpected death led to conflict and crisis, but his successors continued his church and beliefs. The “prophet” Joseph Smith left behind a religion that would spread across the country and become universal..