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Mormon history details the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon history is a unique story, which started in New York, with the vision of Joseph Smith of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in 1820. In which Joseph was told that none of the churches on earth had the fullness of Christ’s gospel. Later Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni and received the gold plates. Joseph translated the ancient record into the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Christ.The Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored to the earth and bestowed upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by first John the Baptist and then Peter, James, and John. The priesthood is God’s power upon earth and enables men to act in the name of God. It was on 6 April 1830 that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized. Mormon missionaries spread the gospel in the United States and to Native Americans. Later missionaries were sent to England where thousands joined the Church. Early Mormon history records the intense persecution that members of the Mormon Church faced. Because of this persecution the Saints were commanded to gather to Ohio. The Saints settled in Kirtland and began building a Mormon temple. It was within the Kirtland temple that Moses, Elias, and Elijah returned and conveyed the eternal priesthood keys upon Joseph Smith. These keys have the power to bind families in heaven and on earth. Soon after, in 1838, the Saints were forced to leave and settled in Nauvoo Illinois. While in Nauvoo the Relief Society was organized, now the largest women’s organization in the world. The first temple endowments and marriages were performed. On 27 June 1844, Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred in Carthage Jail. Enemies of the Mormon Church hoped that the death of the prophet would destroy the Church. Instead members united together and completed the Nauvoo Temple. Mormon history details the trek that the Mormons were forced to take across the Mississippi River during the winter of 1846. After leaving Nauvoo the Saints settled in Winter Quarters Nebraska. And in 1847, Brigham Young led the Saints west to Salt Lake City. The Mormons once again began building up cities and towns and Brigham Young sent Mormons to colonize about 400 settlements throughout the west. Thousands of Saints traveled from Europe and eastern United States in wagon train and handcart companies to join the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley. Forty years after ground was broken the Salt Lake Temple was dedicated in 1893. Since that time the Mormon Church has continued to grow and expand across the world and as of 2005 Church membership had reached over 12 million.