The vast majority of American religious groups (with the exception of Native American tribes) can trace their roots to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East. But in mid-Nineteenth Century America, amid new developments in Protestant theology, health, diet, science, spirituality, and lifestyle, three influential Americans founded new “home grown” religious communities that still thrive in America and here in El Dorado County today. It’s pretty rare that one male and two female New Englanders from the same era (Joseph Smith, born 1805, Mary Baker Eddy, born 1821, and Ellen Gould White, born 1826) would go on to establish what we now call the Mormons, the Christian Scientists, and the Seventh Day Adventists respectively.   We’ll examine their personalities, ideas, teachings, and texts, aided by a richly illustrated PowerPoint slide show.  We’ll also explore the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their founder and “Watchtower” publisher Charles Taze Russell..