The Godbeites were members of the ''Godbeite Church'', officially called the ''Church of Zion'', organized in 1870 by

William S. Godbe William Samuel Godbe (June 26, 1833 – August 1, 1902) was a British convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He is remembered for leading a Mormon faction called the Church of Zion, better known as the "Godbei ...

. This dissident offshoot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was aimed toward embracing all belief systems. Known for embracing spiritualism and mysticism, the church died out by the 1880s. In 1868, Godbe and other Mormon merchants began criticizing the economic demands and policies of Brigham Young in ''Utah Magazine'', a periodical that would eventually become ''

The Salt Lake Tribune ''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871." History ...

''. Godbe and several other proponents were excommunicated from the church on October 25, 1869. Godbe wanted to reform the LDS Church and believed that political reform, breaking Young's control over secular matters in the territory, could help spur religious reform. The Godbeites were the original core of Utah Territory's Liberal Party. However, as it became more explicitly anti-Mormon and critical of polygamy, the Godbeite influence in the party died out.

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*. *. * 1880s disestablishments Defunct Latter Day Saint denominations Latter Day Saint movement in Utah Liberal Mormon denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement Organizations based in Utah Religious organizations established in 1870 {{LDS-stub