From the various histories I have read, it was the soliciting of other mens wives to be "part of the family" that led the people of Illinois to finally take up arms and become violent with the Mormons. The Mormons then decided to move somewhere that they wouldn't be in contact with folks who didn't share their values, hence Salt Lake City. I am sure most Mormons today have little in common with their founders in this regard. In the last 100 yrs. they have made huge efforts to "re-integrate" into America follwing a failed military effort to be separate. I don't remember the exact date, but a batallion or so of Army troops were actually dispatched to see to it that the seccessionist government that was attempted be put down (about 100 yrs ago). It took all winter for the troops to arrive and by the time they got there the folks had "seen the light".
From the various histories I have read...Thanks for that synopsis.
An excellent resource for their history is a book named the Kingdom Of The Cults (Walter Martin). This guy documents every single sentence in that history.
I just don't remember enough about how the polygamy angle was introduced , but I certainly believe your account.
It's so sad that you have a group of people that take stock in a guy that was a gold digger and peepstone sorcerer.
The truth of the matter is I doubt most Mormons even know their own church history.