what is a Mormon fundamentalist?
There are 30,000 to 50,000 individuals living in western North America who call themselves Mormon fundamentalists. These Mormon fundamentalists are scattered from Canada to Mexico, but are most concentrated in Utah and Arizona. They are a fragmented culture, with many opposing claims as to which leader is the “true prophet”. They have separated themselves from the larger body of Mormonism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the LDS Church), over various doctrinal issues. The most prominent issue separating the LDS Church from Mormon fundamentalism is the doctrine of plural marriage. A less prominent, but equally divisive doctrinal dispute between the two sides is the issue of allowing men of African descent (black men) to hold positions within the Mormon Priesthood. The Mormon Priesthood is the authority structure in the LDS Church, as well as within the various factions of Mormon fundamentalism. These two issues will be explained briefly. The Church of
