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by karen620 on March 28th, 2007

karen620

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Is there also a 'Reorganized reformed church of LDS?

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  • by Anonymous on March 29th, 2007

    Anonymous

      There are two organizations of which I know to which this question might refer.

      First, is the organization that used to be called “The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” or RLDS.  After Joseph Smith was murdered, the church split into a number of different factions.  The biggest faction was ultimately led by Brigham Young, was driven out of what, at the time, constituted the United States, and eventually settled into what is now Salt Lake City.  Another organization consisted of those who believed that the leadership of the church was meant to be hereditary — to pass from father to son.  Joseph Smith's oldest son was about three years old at the time, so this group laid low, and waited until Joseph Smith III was old enough to lead them.  This group was the RLDS.  They recently changed their name to “The Community of Christ” and have generally abandoned most of the teachings and practices that distinguished any of the LDS sects from generic Protestantism.  Their web site is at http://www.cofchrist.org/
     
     
      The other group that I know about appears to be a fairly disorganized movement calling itself “Reform Mormonism” and from what I can discern from its web site at http://www.reformmormonism.org/ it appears to be a very watered-down version of generic Christian thought, with only the slightest superficial connection to anything “Mormon”.

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  • by wade into the ocean on May 14th, 2007

    wade into the ocean

    One of the groups is here:

    http://www.cofchrist.org/

    Thier FAQ state:

    Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

    Yes. Community of Christ believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.

    What do you use for scriptures?

    Community of Christ recognizes three books of scripture: The Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. We believe in continuing revelation and an open canon of scripture.

    Who is eligible for priesthood membership?

    All persons, male and female, are eligible for priesthood ordination. We believe God calls those chosen to serve in the ministry. Most of our ministers earn their living outside of church employment and serve in various offices according to their gifts and callings..

    What is tithing?

    The concept of tithing is deeply rooted in our scriptures and tradition. It is a disciple's generous response, expressing love of God, neighbor, creation, and self.

    Do you perform sacraments in your Temple in Independence?

    The Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, is a house of public worship, and entrance into the Temple or participation in its ministries is open to all. Communion (the Lord's Supper) is often served during special services in the Temple sanctuary. Other sacraments are provided in local congregations.

    Do you plan to build other temples?

    The church was instructed to build its Temple in Independence. Since its ministries can be shared anywhere the church is gathered, there is need for only one temple. The building of the Temple began in April 1990, and it was officially dedicated at the 1994 World Conference. Community of Christ maintains the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio. This historic site continues to be used as a worship space of special significance.

    The Mormons left Nauvoo in 1846. Joseph Smith III was only twelve. Who became prophet?

    A large number of Saints made the journey to Utah in the 1840s under the direction of Brigham Young (the senior apostle at that time), but quite a number did not. Some joined other organizations led by a variety of individuals who had held various responsibilities in the church under Joseph Smith Jr. These organizations established different ways of dealing with the "succession to Joseph" issue and how leadership would be provided.

    There are several historical indications that Joseph Smith Jr. designated that his son, Joseph Smith III, would someday follow him in office. Some of the leaders who arose initially indicated that they were only custodial leaders until Joseph III, who was born on November 7, 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio, came of age and could lead the church.

    There were a number of congregations in the Midwest that chose not to affiliate with any of these organizations or their leaders. Some of these congregations began to form an association with each other in the early 1850s. They operated under the leadership of the ordained priesthood in each congregation. Some of these priesthood had spiritual experiences indicating that the congregations should prepare for the day when Joseph Smith III would become the next prophet-president of the church. Seeking divine direction and meeting together in conferences, they selected and ordained several apostles. This is the genesis of the "Reorganized Church" as we were sometimes called.

    Eventually Joseph Smith III became a part of this organization and was ordained the prophet-president of the church on April 6, 1860, at Amboy, Illinois.

    Is there any book regarding the history of the beginning of your church?

    There are several. One excellent option is The Church through the Years, a two-volume history by Richard Howard, former church historian. Volume 1 covers the time period to 1860. Volume 2 is from 1860 to 1992.

    Another option would be to read Community of Christ author Paul M. Edward's book, Our Legacy of Faith. This is a one-volume summary of our church story. Howard's and Edward's books can both be ordered from Herald House at 1-800/767-8181.

    A different perspective can be found in The Story of the Church by Inez Smith Davis.

    For more details, we have also published an eight-volume history of the church.

    Another option is Jan Shipps's book Mormonism: The Story of A New Religious Tradition, an interesting look from a professional historian who is unaffiliated with the restoration churches.

    Was Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith Jr., a member of your organization?

    Yes. Emma Smith Bidamon, who married Lewis Crum Bidamon three-and-a-half years after Joseph's death, accompanied her son Joseph Smith III to the pivotal conference at Amboy, Illinois, on April 6, 1860. According to the conference minutes, she was received into fellowship by unanimous vote on the basis of her baptism in the early church, as was the custom then.

    Emma's son was chosen as "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the successor of his father" at the same conference. According to the conference minutes, Joseph was ordained by Zenas H. Gurley Sr. and William Marks on April 6, 1860. (Some sources indicate that Samuel Powers and W. W. Blair were also involved in the ordination.)

    There is not much published information on Emma. In 1954, Margaret Wilson Gibson wrote Emma Smith: The Elect Lady as a historical novel based on Emma's life (Herald House). Roy A. Cheville wrote Joseph and Emma, Companions (Herald House, 1977), sharing the story of two people and their relationship.

    A brief biography of Emma can be found in First Ladies of the Restoration by Frances Hartman Mulliken (Herald House, 1985).

    A more recent book, Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith (second edition) provides information on the beginning of our movement and Emma's involvement with it. It was written by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippets Avery and published in 1994 by the University of Illinois Press.

    Two articles dealing with her life and faith have been published in the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal: "The Faith of Emma Smith" by Don Compier (Volume 6, 1986), and "Emma's Enduring Compassion: A Personal Reflection" by Joni Wilson (Volume 19, 1999).

    Understanding that Joseph Smith III took over leadership in 1860, what happened from 1846 through 1860?

    As indicated above, many "independent" congregations continued to function under the leadership of their priesthood until they affiliated with the movement that became our church.

    What position does Community of Christ take on Joseph Smith Jr.’s alleged involvement in polygamy?

    Our faith is grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ and not in the actions of any particular person. The Community of Christ affirms its long history of vigorous opposition to polygamy as a doctrine or practice, regardless of what historical research may ultimately conclude about its origins in the early Latter Day Saint movement. The church has consistently taught monogamy as the basic principle of Christian marriage (Doctrine and Covenants, Sections 111 and 150).

    As a policy, the Community of Christ does not legislate or mandate positions on issues of history. We place confidence in sound historical methodology as it relates to our church story. We believe that historians and other researchers should be free to come to whatever conclusions they feel are appropriate after careful consideration of documents and artifacts to which they have access. We benefit greatly from the significant contributions of the historical discipline.

    The issues of polygamy and whether Joseph Smith Jr. was connected with its inception at Nauvoo, Illinois, in the 1840s have been of considerable interest to Community of Christ members and others through the years. The early RLDS Church (1860–1960) consistently opposed the doctrine and fought against the assertion by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Mormon] that Joseph Smith Jr. advocated this practice as part of a divine plan. Joseph Smith III, son of the founding prophet and first prophet-president of the RLDS Church (1860–1914), spent much of his life trying to clear his father’s name from the stigma of polygamy and polygamous doctrine, even though there were leaders in the early RLDS Church who believed otherwise. While it is clear that Joseph Smith III sincerely believed that his father was innocent, he was heard to affirm on more than one occasion that even if his father was guilty, he was wrong.

    Today the Community of Christ takes into account the growing body of scholarly research and publications depicting the polygamous teachings and practices of the Nauvoo period of church history (1840–1846). The context of these developments included a time of religious and cultural experimentation in the United States and the emergence of a system of secret temple ordinances in Nauvoo that accented the primacy of family connections, both in this life and the next. The practice of plural marriage emerged from that context and involved a select cadre of key leaders entering into polygamous marriage rituals and covenants. The research findings seem to increasingly point to Joseph Smith Jr. as a significant source for plural marriage teaching and practice at Nauvoo. However, several of Joseph Smith’s associates later wrote that he repudiated the plural marriage system and began to try to stop its practice shortly before his death in June 1844.

    The Community of Christ, in its ongoing quest for truth, remains open to a more complete understanding of its history. Through careful study and the ongoing guidance of the Holy Spirit, the church is learning how to own and responsibly interpret all of its history. This process includes putting new information and changing understandings into proper perspective while emphasizing those parts that continue to play a vital role in guiding and shaping the church’s identity and mission today. In this way, we can genuinely affirm the prophetic vision of Joseph Smith Jr., while acknowledging the fallibility present in his life and in the lives of all prophetic leaders.

    Over time the Community of Christ has moved away from an identity rooted in battling polygamy and charges that Joseph Smith Jr. was somehow involved in order to pursue a broader and more future-oriented focus for its resources and energies. Today, members and friends in many nations are finding blessings of meaning and hope in the church’s mission of promoting peace, reconciliation, and healing of the spirit through Christ-centered community.

    The Community of Christ encourages its members and other interested parties to explore all issues pertaining to its history in an open atmosphere. Doing so allows people to draw their own conclusions based on how they weigh the evidence.

    For more information, please e-mail Missionary Ministries; or call 816/833-1000 or 1-800/825-2806, ext. 2244 or 2240; FAX 816/521-3098; or mail inquiries to Missionary Ministries, 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, MO 64050-3562 USA.

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  • by kona88 on March 29th, 2007

    kona88

    Actually, yes. They accept the Book of Mormon but it is a much more open-minded, liberal group of people with no physical church/gathering place. I cannot find the link to the website at this moment, but I'm sure you can google it and find it.

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  • by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on May 5th, 2009

    Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here

    SHORT ANSWER: Why yes there is! Thank you for asking.

    And the history of the RLDS (now "Community of Christ") is fascinating. It will comprise the LONG answer that follows . . .

    LONG ANSWER:
    From WikiPedia:

    "Formerly known as Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this denomination regards itself a reorganization of the church organized in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr., and regards Joseph Smith III, the eldest surviving son of Smith Jr., to have been his legitimate successor. The church was "legally organized on April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York"[16]. The formal reorganization occurred on April 6, 1860 in Amboy, Illinois as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, adding the word Reorganized to the church name in 1872.

    Community of Christ today considers the period from 1830 to 1844 to be a part of its early history and from 1844, the year of the death of the founder, to 1860, to be a period of disorganization. Since 1844 the doctrines and practices of Community of Christ have evolved separately from the other denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.[17] Within the past several decades, the church has undergone radical changes, discarding many of its distinctive doctrines. Some changes included the ordination of women to priesthood, open communion, and changing the church's commonly-used name from Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the current name in April 2001.[18]

    The church owns two temples, the Kirtland Temple dedicated in 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio, (operated in part as a historic site as part of its educational ministry), and the relatively new Independence Temple, which serves as the church's headquarters in Independence. The church sponsors Graceland University with a campus in Lamoni, Iowa, and another in Independence, where the School of Nursing and Community of Christ Seminary is based. These structures are open to the public and used for education and gatherings. The church also owns and operates some Latter Day Saint historic sites in Far West, Missouri; Lamoni, Iowa; and Plano and Nauvoo, Illinois. The Auditorium in Independence, Missouri, houses the Children's Peace Pavilion and is the site of the major legislative assembly of Community of Christ, known as World Conference.

    As of January 2009, the church is 9% behind budget.[19]"
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Christ

    ATTACHMENTS:
    - Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994.

    - Joseph Smith III

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  • by NauvooSaint on May 5th, 2009

    NauvooSaint

    Traditional/conservative members of the RLDS church or 'RLDS Restorationists' worship independently from the Community of Christ due to 'Women in the Priesthood', Open Communion/Sacrament among other changes.
    www.centerplace.org, www.restored.org
    RLDS Restorationists at times have church buildings of their own or worship in homes, schools, commercial buildings. Their signs may read as example: 'Oak Grove Restoration Branch, Proclaiming the original doctrines & beliefs of (in small lettering) The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (in large lettering)' The Community of Christ retains the RLDS name legally on paper & this explains why the clarification on signs.

    Although there have been some new factional churches to emerge from the RLDS church in the last 20 years, these are relatively small & have names like 'Remnant CofJC of LDS', 'Restoration CofJC of LDS', etc. The newest & perhaps the largest to organize is the JCRB or 'Joint Conference of Restoration Branches', which does not have majority support among RLDS Restorationists.

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