{"product_id":"american-crucifixion-the-murder-of-joseph-smith-and-the-fate-of-the-mormon-church-9781610395465","title":"American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church","description":"On June 27, 1844, a mob stormed the jail in the dusty frontier town of Carthage, Illinois. Clamorous and angry, they were hunting down a man they saw as a grave threat to their otherwise quiet lives: the founding prophet of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. They wanted blood. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e At thirty-nine years old, Smith had already lived an outsized life. In addition to starting his own religion and creating his own Golden Bible -- the Book of Mormon -- he had worked as a water-dowser and treasure hunter. He'd led his people to Ohio, then Missouri, then Illinois, where he founded a city larger than fledgling Chicago. He was running for president. And, secretly, he had married more than thirty women. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In \u003ci\u003eAmerican Crucifixion\u003c\/i\u003e, Alex Beam tells how Smith went from charismatic leader to public enemy: How his most seismic revelation -- the doctrine of polygamy -- created a rift among his people; how that schism turned to violence; and how, ultimately, Smith could not escape the consequences of his ambition and pride. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Mormonism is America's largest and most enduring native religion, and the martyrdom of Joseph Smith is one of its transformational events. Smith's brutal assassination propelled the Mormons to colonize the American West and claim their place in the mainstream of American history. \u003ci\u003eAmerican Crucifixion\u003c\/i\u003e is a gripping story of scandal and violence, with deep roots in our national identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlex Beam\u003c\/b\u003e is a columnist for the \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e and for the \u003ci\u003eInternational Herald Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the author of two works of nonfiction, \u003ci\u003eGracefully Insane\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Great Idea at the Time\u003c\/i\u003e, both \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Notable Books. He has also written for the \u003ci\u003eAtlantic Monthly, Slate\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eForbes\/FYI\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts with his wife and three sons.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"PublicAffairs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50421623947538,"sku":"9781610395465","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5d85584c-e5d9-499e-9c23-857cc7b18ff2.jpg?v=1729509860","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/american-crucifixion-the-murder-of-joseph-smith-and-the-fate-of-the-mormon-church-9781610395465","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}