New Canaanites

The Mormon Church or Mormonism is a religion practiced both before and after the Great War.

Background
The Mormons' history stretches back hundreds of years before the war, the group having settled in the former states of Utah and Nevada and locations such as the Old Mormon Fort, the oldest building in pre-War Las Vegas, still exists.

Known as fair traders, Jed Masterson of the Happy Trails Caravan Company mentions that although he is not religious, he has had good experience with trading with New Canaanites, mentioning they are not only fair, but despite their pacifism, they are also keen sharpshooters and will defend themselves. Alice McLafferty of the Crimson Caravan Company shares with the Courier that the Mormon traders from New Canaan control the majority of the northern routes. McLafferty had reached out to the Mormons in New Canaan about establishing a branch within their town, and reported they had started to warm up to the idea. She noted that they would impose taxes on the Crimson Caravan that would put them at a severe disadvantage to the Mormon caravans.

In 2281, the Mormon city of New Canaan was burned to the ground and its inhabitants butchered by the White Legs, the group of tribals who were tasked by Caesar to ensure the destruction of all of his former legate Joshua Graham's people. This was a part of their petition to be absorbed into the Legion and they succeeded in not only destroying the city but also in killing their bishop, Mordecai. The White Legs did not stop there, but instead followed them in their escape, killing anyone who was not fast enough to escape, including children, the ill and infirm, and those who stopped to help them in the process.

Those who survived the onslaught scattered, with many of them settling in Colorado. A group travelled to Zion Canyon, though all except Joshua Graham and Daniel left before the arrival of the Courier. By that time, the two missionaries are living among the Dead Horses and the Sorrows tribes, actively helping them defend against threats while spreading their faith. The missionaries and tribe members will tell the Courier about their beliefs, including that of souls, salvation, and the afterlife.

Daniel will offer to provide the Courier with a book called Scripture, and if they respond affirmatively, he remarks about it being a better response than he usually gets from wastelanders. He will continue to explain why he and Joshua visit the tribes and spread their faith, stating, "that's why we visit the tribes, to spread the good news. For all we know, we New Canaanites may be all that remains of Christ's followers."

Appearances
Mormons appear in Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Honest Hearts. <!--

Behind the scenes

 * Mormons were a large contingent of content planned for Black Isle Studios' canceled Van Buren, as residents of Vault 70. In that setting, they emerged in 2190, 113 years after the Great War, after their Vault opened and its residents used the three G.E.C.K.'s within to finally realize Joseph Smith's dream of a New Jerusalem, atop the ruins of Salt Lake City. Between 2220 and 2233, New Jerusalem's prophet and apostles repeatedly voted to have no commerce with outsiders from other, failed communities, refugees, or tribals. Finally, in 2233, many disgruntled and desperate refugees stormed New Jerusalem's gates and overwhelmed the militia, certain the Mormons were hoarding food and water while everyone outside the city walls suffered and died. Most of the Mormons were slaughtered and those that survived scattered into the desert. Two years after the fall of New Jerusalem, the new living prophet, Judah Black, led most of the survivors of the Mormon community north to Ogden. There, they established the town of New Canaan. A year later, they and a group of squatters fixed the Jericho water plant to run fresh water into the city. Judah Black died of old age in 2245, and within two years, Jeremiah Rigdon emerged from a strange and powerful fever, claiming that an angel appeared to him in a vision, calling him to be the living prophet of God. The player would interact with numerous Mormon characters (Apostle Matthew, Apostle Jude, Judah Black, Pablo, Gabriel, Jacob, Daniel, Marshall, Jeremiah Rigdon), and at least one Mormon sub-faction, the Hands of God.
 * Although ultimately not released, many elements from Van Buren were recycled for Fallout: New Vegas. Although not directly featured as a major faction, Mormons were reincorporated into the series' canon, as a major power in Utah that was nearly destroyed at Caesar's behest due to their ties to Joshua Graham, and featured as a major element of Honest Hearts (a DLC itself named after Brigham Young's proverb, Honest hearts produce honest actions. Obsidian Entertainment's portrayal of Mormons and their faith received praise, particularly "the time and energy Obsidian clearly spent researching Mormonism historically, culturally, and spiritually".-->