LDS Church vs. Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites) vs. RLDS (Community of Christ)

These are 3 of the best known denominations that believe in the Book of Mormon. I’ve been trying to compile my own list, and if you include Strangites, Brewsterites, FLDS, and many others, I’ve come up with 40 (many are defunct) organizations that believe in the Book of Mormon. (Of course that comes from Wikipedia, but it seems to be fairly reliable.) I have a spreadsheet of some of them and I’m researching the different break-off organizations. Of course, we know that there are more than one polygamous groups who believe in the Book of Mormon, in addition to the FLDS group.

Mormon Matters has a story about the first Black Apostle (a Bickertonite) at

http://mormonmatters.org/2008/02/14/the-first-black-apostle-a-black-history-month-story/

Incidentally, I found a baptist who believes in the Book of Mormon here, so maybe it is becoming more mainstream after all….

http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm

LikeLike

Having a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon is only part of what is necessary to be a member in good standing in the LDS Church. I think the baptismal interview and temple recommend interview gives good insight into what things we must have a testimony of to be in good standing which includes believing in the authority of the current prophet and apostles, the word of wisdom, being honest with our fellow man, being chaste, etc. If you are going to “stay strong” in the faith, you must have a temple recommend and therefore will have attested to your faith in the questions in the interview.

Joseph Smith gave the keys of the priesthood to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and since Brigham Young was the senior apostle, the authority rested on him to reorganize the First Presidency and continue the true vine of apostolic succession. Counselors don’t have claim to that authority and neither do children.

LikeLike

A few clarifications. Strang’s letter from Joseph Smith has been uniformly assessed by experts as a forgery. Strang declared himself king of Beaver Island (and possibly a lot more), instituted polygamy, and was murdered by two of his own followers. Joseph III did not found the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was begun by Jason Briggs and Zenas Gurley, followers of Strang who became disillusioned when he began polygamy. Joseph III at first wanted nothing to do with Mormonism but later changed his mind and agreed to preside over the Reorganization on April 6, 1860. Contrary to popular LDS belief, his mother, Emma, did not encourage this. Rather, she raised her sons as good Christians but didn’t really teach them much about their father’s religion.

An interesting group that split off from the Reorganization is the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, presided over by Fred Larsen, a direct descendant of Joseph Smith through his mother, Lois Smith.

Although Joseph Smith left no clear instructions on how succession should occur after his death (indeed, he gave conflicting signals), aside from a personal testimony, the best method of ascertaining which group is the authentic article is simply to look at the fruit borne by the various branches of Mormonism. Strangism pretty much died out after Strang’s murder, although perhaps 100 Strangites persist. Rigdon’s group has amounted to nothing. The Reorganization held together for a hundred years or so, although it never accepted any of Joseph’s teachings after Kirtland. In its current form, however, as the Community of Christ, it is little more than another Protestant sect. It is distancing itself from Joseph Smith and his teachings and regards the Book of Mormon as fiction. The Restoration Branches that broke away from the Reorganization during the 1980s are in disarray, believing that their prophet and twelve apostles all apostatized. The polygamous fundamentalist groups are like a child plunking away on one key of the piano. The only group that still follows most of Joseph’s teachings and is thriving in the world is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Utah church). Sure, it has adapted and evolved over the years, and it certainly isn’t perfect, but it is obviously the one branch of the original tree that has any root to nourish it.

Brigham Young never claimed to be Joseph Smith’s successor. He never called himself the prophet, just the president of the Church. In fact, he held open the possibility that Joseph’s sons would come and take their rightful place in the leadership of the Church when they came of age, but that didn’t happen, so the LDS Church is led by an apostolic presidency (the senior apostle leads the Church). In a technical sense, they are not Joseph’s successors, but they have the appropriate authority, as the Savior’s Apostles did after his Crucifixion, to direct his work on earth. No other group can make this claim.

LikeLike

It is critical that one have a testimony of God, both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and and understanding that they have never, nor will they ever, stop communicating with man. If one comes to understand that truth, then next comes the necessity of a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. If the Book of Mormon is true then Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. If Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, then the Book of Mormon is true.

Within the writings of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, as a second witness of Jesus Christ, readers will find a craving and desire for order.

Yes, Joseph believed that his son would be the next prophet, but the prophet did not live to raise his sons and daughters in the gospel. His brother, William (who was a troublemaker off and on during Joseph’s life) was the one who began the RLDS, now known as the Church of Christ. He and others, ran the church until Joseph III was old enough to take over. He has groomed and brainwashed to believe he should be the next prophet and that Brigham Young and the saints who followed him west were the heretics and estranged from the true gospel of Jesus Christ. When ego replaces humility, when lies replace truth, when arrogance replaces the deep burning desire to know the truth you have stepped into Satan’s domain.

Upon Brigham Young’s return to Nauvoo, after the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, saints gathered by the thousands to hear the president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles speak. At that time, many testified that Joseph’s image superimposed itself over Brigham’s and the Holy Ghost bore witness that the Church was to follow Brigham and the Apostles, not those leaving in a huff because they felt they should run the Church.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has ALWAYS followed an orderly and inspired path of succession. It is a thing of beauty that has no comparison to the process of choosing a pope, or other sects killing each other’s leaders off in order to gain control, or firing a preacher and hiring another because you don’t like what they say.

It behooves each and every Latter-day Saint that they stand and bear witness of truth and that truth is that a testimony is built layer upon layer, line upon line and precept upon precept. God lives. Joseph was a prophet and those keys were handed down to each succeeding prophet. The Book of Mormon contains the prophesied writings mentioned in the Old Testament and testifies of Jesus Christ, from the first page to the last.

Months before his assassination, Joseph and the apostles were sequestered as he taught them everything which had been revealed to him over the previous 14 years. He taught them truths, saving and redeeming ordinances, in short, he taught the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ. When he finished, after many weeks, he rolled his shoulders back and said, paraphrasing, “Now it doesn’t matter what happens to me. The gospel can never be taken from the earth again.”

Had any of the saints who left the Church in huff, rage, sense of pique or offense bothered to fall on their knees and pour their hearts out to God, begging for the truth about the gospel, the succession and the pending course of the Church at that time it would have been testified to them to “Repent of their aggression, arrogance and condescension and follow the chosen leader who was later ordained as the second modern prophet, Brigham Young.”

People can run about to and fro, shouting truths interspersed with lies, shouting outright falsehoods, literally screaming at the top of their long trying to deter Latter-day Saints from our path. But the way of the Holy Ghost, the testator of truth, is a quiet whisper deep within the battered and torn confines of the heart. If allowed by the petitioner, the light of Christ will touch each and every corner and hearts can be changed, minds can be cleared and hope can enter the soul.

That’s what the gospel is all about . . . not the screaming, raging lies of the antis.

LikeLike

Candice,

It is very arrogant to assume that the other groups did not “fall on their knees and pour their hearts out to God, begging for the truth about the gospel,”

Are you calling RLDS a bunch of hate-mongering anti-mormon liars?

My experience tells me that RLDS are thoughtful, and for you to spew insults is, well insulting. I think you can get your point across without all the invective. If someone here were to imply that you do not pray, I think you would probably find that insulting as well.

I think that most of these early leaders prayed. To assume Sidney, Joseph 3, and others did not is quite arrogant, and most likely an incorrect assumption. While you may certainly say that you believe they misinterpreted the answers to these prayers, it is quite insulting to assume that Sidney, Joseph 3, and others did not pray. I believe that they did “pray, with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”, but that they either misinterpreted his answer (which I think all of us do at times), or that they let their own biases influence their decisions (which I think all of us do at times.)

To assume evil intentions (ie they were offended) on their part does not exhibit the charity that Moroni speaks of in the BOM.

Let’s talk about the people who were offended for a minute. And let’s say, for arguments sake, that Thomas Monson was suddenly found cavorting with women who were not his wife, and then he came out later saying he had received a secret revelation about polygamy. Shouldn’t the revelation be made public, before all the rumors of his philandering were known? Wouldn’t it seem reasonable to assume the post-polygamy revelation was “covering his tracks”? I think that some of Joseph’s secrecy regarding this secret revelation was the cause of some early saints to become disillusioned.

I’m sure you’ll say that Joseph was doing God’s will, and you are probably correct. But I am saying that I can understand (though not necessarily agree) with some of the early saints misgivings about polygamy. After all, Brigham said he would rather die than live “this awful thing” of polygamy. Are you saying Brigham didn’t pray enough?

I just think there is much more room for understanding people who may pray but come to different conclusions.

LikeLike

Believer–thanks for the reference! I was able to read those pages via google.

LikeLike

Maybe this will help some people out.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwN4lDTCDmE

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcMY9K8maX0

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLcaODMwCM

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ESoK-VVwP4

And Last but not least

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVbTeW7D5D4

LikeLike

Patti 221. All I have to say is that when I read your blog I di a cheer inside my head! Thanks!

ama (the moderator I assume) asked a great question that peaked my curiousity she said

“what are your thoughts on the Church(from what I understand…perhaps you can clarify) changing it’s views on the Book of Mormon and also key doctrines such as the Trinity?”

I would be curious to know as well how you felt about this?

LikeLike

I just finished reading a biography about Sidney Rigdon, and I thought you might want to check it out. In my 5th post about Sidney Rigdon, I referenced a BYU studies article about the succession crisis. (Eight people claimed that Joseph told them to lead the church.) Also, I have some interesting info on the Bickertonites, if anyone is interested.

LikeLike

The info in my blog is from an appendix of the book, Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait of Religious Excess, by Richard Van Wagoner. That BYU studies paper in my blog is a cool reference. I like Wikipedia as well (though you should always try to verify the info), and the Bickertonites official church website is http://www.the-church.org/

Their general conference is scheduled for April 17-19 in Greensburg, PA. It would be interesting to get a transcript or podcast–they still do the old 3 day conferences like the early LDS church did.

LikeLike

I really feel like Sidney’s life almost seems to represent a Greek Tragedy. It is obvious that he had a yearning for God in his life, and embarked on a ministry in the Baptist Church. When he was exposed to Mormonism, he found many of his beliefs were shared in this new religion. Apparently, he was an amazing preacher, as both his Baptist and Mormon congregations attest.

He rose like a comet in the church, entering the First Presidency. When Joseph died, he felt like he was supposed to lead the church. Yet his own son later wrote that Sidney was a terrible leader, and needed someone like Smith to guide him. I feel really bad for the disputes he had with Brigham Young, leading to his excommunication.

Sidney did the best he could to lead a branch of Mormonism, but he really was an erratic leader. His last days were days of loneliness. Even though Brigham tried to reconcile, Sidney was just too bitter. Deteriorating health left him alone.

As for the Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonites), I don’t know much more than you. Along with Sidney, they were against polygamy. I must say I am quite sympathetic to this position. I wish the website had more–I’d love to hear some of their conference talks over the internet…

LikeLike

a guy Nathan,

Your points are well taken. We all could communicate better.

LikeLike

James, how come you haven’t approved my comments on your blog?

LikeLike

ephphtha, are you the arbiter of truth?

LikeLike

why do they say that brgham young had samual smith poisened,he was supposed to be joesph choice.why did the danites kill so many people in utah by brighams orders.i think brigham young was a wonderful man a profit of god and a lover of christ-hian women he made sure that the church grew by haveing lots of kids,he would of had more if they had viagra in those days,look how the church has grown today

LikeLike