If the current growth rate of the Mormon Church continues, within the next century church membership will exceed 250,000,000 making it, as one non-Mormon sociologist noted, the first major faith to appear on earth 'since the prophet Mohammed rode out of the desert'. Where did this religion come from? What are the ideas which motivate Mormons and make the religion so attractive to converts? How did these ideas develop? The answers to these questions form the basis of this fascinating history.