system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
Historically it went way deeper than just owning a state too. The Mormons had an army, and even went and did some colonizing for the American gov't. A lot of colonizing actually. The reason why Hawaii is a US State is basically because the Mormons colonized it and converted the inhabitants.
gpt
And there was violent resistance against the US government when they didn't permit polygamy (which, for Mormons, typically involved grown-ass men marrying girls age 12-14) in Mormon communities.

*Under the Banner of Heaven* is a good read about this.

Joseph Smith was a con-man.