Kirtland Safety Society

The Kirtland Safety Society was a financial institution organized in 1837 by Joseph Smith and other church leaders in Kirtland, Ohio. When denied a bank charter by the state, they operated as an "anti-banking company." The institution failed within months, causing significant financial losses for many members who had invested their savings. The failure led to widespread apostasy and contributed to Joseph Smith fleeing Kirtland. Critics see this as evidence of Smith's poor judgment or financial fraud.

Profiles with Kirtland Safety Society on their "shelf":