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This episode contains adult material and references to abuse.

Please use discretion.

In the early 19th century, an unusual number of American settlers were starting their

own religions in the western and central parts of New York.

It was the western frontier and there weren't churches and there weren't preachers and

it was really up to you.

In 1823 in Palmyra, New York, a man named Joseph Smith said he had a vision.

He set an angel, led him to buried golden plates.

He later translated what was written on the plates into the Book of Mormon.

The shakers started by Anne Lee in 1776 with just a few followers, but she had thousands

by the middle of the 19th century.

The shakers were originally known as shaking quakers for the way they danced in religious

...