Mormon religious fundamentalism in Chihuahua, historical and educational development

Abstract

Derived from a doctoral research, historical-contextual results are presented, which are composed of a review of primary sources in various historical archives, secondary sources and interviews with people from a community of fundamentalist Mormons. It shows the reconstruction and interpretation of the origin and becoming as a group, identifying the historical breaks that have influenced the conformation of its identity and social thought. This microhistory is presented to answer a series of investigative unknowns, useful to clarify some recurrent confusions about the Mormons and their true essence. The first part of this text, a way of historical contextualization is exposed the origin and development until 1890 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as Mormons; Subsequently, the arrival of these groups in northern Mexico is described; In a third moment, the socio-educational context of the first Mormons in Chihuahua is characterized; In the following section, certain considerations of active fundamentalist communities are shown, focusing on the area northwest of the state of Chihuahua; finally, a way to arrive at the historical conclusion of a space of knowledge clearly ignored in the field of educational historical research.