Can someone explain the differences between LDS and RLDS?

[scripturesearcher]

Ok, so now I understand that there are: LDS, RLDS, and FLDS.

Looks like I have a lot more research and praying ahead of me.

It seems a bit ironic to me that Joseph Smith founded these religions by praying about the numerous denominations/religions of his day. The result of that is 3 more options to explore.

Thanks for the responses!

ScriptureSearcher

[Maureen]

It seems a bit ironic to me that Joseph Smith founded these religions by praying about the numerous denominations/religions of his day. The result of that is 3 more options to explore.

Actually there's more than just 3, see link.

This is a list of sects which consider themselves a part of Latter Day Saint Restorationism. All follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr., publisher of the Book of Mormon in 1830. Latter Day Saint Restorationism had its largest schism after the Death of Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1844. Following Smith's death, the largest group of adherents followed Brigham Young, settled in Utah Territory and called themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and denominations headquartered in the west are sometimes referred to as a "Rocky Mountain Saint" sects. Other groups remained in and around Nauvoo, Illinois and Independence, Missouri and are sometimes called a "Prairie Saint" sects.

List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edited August 19, 2008 by Maureen

[Brenton]

You'll notice if you click on the links in the "notes" of the first in those links at the List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement, that the LDS church comes up first. :)

But, really, it's all about faith.

You have to ask God what is true, and to find out for yourself through him.

[Dale]

I do not accuse Joseph Smith of fraud. Nor do those who hold the book is inspired by God, but not historical. It is not my opinion he made up the names. I feel myself he got the names from the plates.

I saw an advance copy of a new film by FAIR responding to Living Hope Ministries Bible vs. The Book of Mormon. I understand at FAIRS You Tube Channel the film will be online soon. That film adequately handles many archeological criticisms the book gets. I do not know when the DVD will get released.

It does not bother me what others think about my faith. my friend and i parted on good terms. I liked sharing with him Book of Mormon reliability evidences and answering his questions.

He said he brought on two separate occasions LDS missionaries to the true Lord. He said they were Evangelical Christians now. He said he felt promptings from the Holy Spirit to witness to them. I felt he needed to hear i felt Satan was pretending to be his Jesus and led him to vulnerable LDS missionaries. And he needed to be told point blank his Anti-Mormon trivia had answers. And i shared some answers for each point he tried to hit me with one after another.

I do not like debate much. Witnessing conversations where i am the target make me cringe. I hate contention. My interest in defending my beliefs is for self defense and helping others. I much prefer to study Anti-Mormon issues as a fun hobby. But i find if i am upfront about my membership in my church i get religious opposition.

[Brenton]

You should never worry about religious opposition.

Let people worship God to their own dictates.

One can share the truth, but ultimately, it's up to the person to accept it or reject it.

[Elphaba]

You'll notice if you click on the links in the "notes" of the first in those links at the List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement, that the LDS church comes up first.

That is because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Salt Lake City, is one of the sects, or what I call a schism. It just happens to be the largest one.

But, really, it's all about faith.

You have to ask God what is true, and to find out for yourself through him.

So say all of the members of the other schisms.

It's really interesting how some schisms use the Book of Mormon as scripture, but that is where the similarity stops.

I saw a television special about some of these groups years ago, so I don't remember it well. I just remember seeing "Read the Book of Mormon" in a car window of a family who was, I believe, a member of the Temple Lot schism. (I know I should look this stuff up to verify it before posting, but really, I wouldn't even know where to begin. So take it for what it is worth.)

They firmly believed in the BoM, but that is about the only thing it had in common with the Salt Lake-based Church.

I think all of the schisms are interesting, but I especially find The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints Strangites group fascinating, as I had no idea the Church Strang founded still existed. Yet it has a fairly nice website, and seems to have a small, but committed, membership.

Elphaba

[Moksha]

They firmly believed in the BoM, but that is about the only thing it had in common with the Salt Lake-based Church.

Elphaba

The defense of polygamy helped shape a lot of our theology. Those branches of Mormonism that did not have to defend polygamy took a different course.

[scripturesearcher]

The defense of polygamy helped shape a lot of our theology. Those branches of Mormonism that did not have to defend polygamy took a different course.

It seems like the major differences are related to who succeeded Joseph Smith as the new prophet.

My understanding of the restoration process was that Joseph Smith reorganized the one true church into a highly organized structure.

Did the prophet Joseph Smith ever give any guidance of who would replace him once he was gone?

[HiJolly]

It seems like the major differences are related to who succeeded Joseph Smith as the new prophet.

My understanding of the restoration process was that Joseph Smith reorganized the one true church into a highly organized structure.

Did the prophet Joseph Smith ever give any guidance of who would replace him once he was gone?

Yes he did, but unfortunately it was not consistent. At different times, he:

1) Gave a blessing to his son Joseph (III), saying he would become the prophet in due time,

2) Declared his youngest son David (who was born after his martyrdom) would lead the Church ...and ...

3) Taught that the keys were the thing to follow and that the 12 apostles had all the keys.

HiJolly

[evangelical]

RLDS is, I think, now called 'The Community of Christ'. Just as Protestantism has many denominations, so too for the Mormon faith. RLDS is the largest denomination after LDS. Whereas the LDS have a personal testimony that Thomas S. Monson is the direct successor of Joseph Smith (as modern prophet of the Church), RLDS have a personal testimony that another man is the direct successor. Do not quote me, but I believe the original divergence was over Brigham Young (LDS believing God told them he was the second modern prophet and RLDS believing God told them another man). Both groups accept the same standard works (Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants). The major difference between LDS and RLDS, to the best of my understanding, is disagreement over who holds the keys of authority for the Church. I was told by an LDS missionary that the LDS faith considers RLDS to be apostates. I was told by an RLDS man that they used to say the same thing about LDS but now hold them as brothers. Neither of those statements where official Church declarations so there may be in house debate on this point.

[QuietHorseman]

As a life long member and priest of the RLDS Church I would correct you. The RLDS Church does in deed view Joseph Smith as a prophet.

The Community of Christ does not speak for us RLDS. Every Prophet after Wallace W. Smith has no spiritually prophetic authority... The Reason Wallace W. Smith had no male heirs for prophetic succession was do to prophecy.

Wallace Smith was warned that if he didn't repent for his sins, he would have no sons... Wallace Had no sons, our church is bereft of earthly leadership... However we still follow Jesus Christ as He commands us. He is our leader, Prophet and King.

However it would be nice to have a prophet or two in the RLDS Church again. It completes the priesthood as God designed it... The lack of a prophet has caused some problems...

We now see the result of that. The COC/RLDS we are in limbo at this time... As per DandC The only authority the current COC propets have at this time, is to pass on the mantel to someone whom God can accept as prophet...

We are waiting upon the Lord for guidance as to whom.

As for what an RLDS Person will say about their Church? I suppose I could say we are the true church Joseph Smith started... Every U.S. Court of Law has back the RLDS claim against the LDS Church, which is we are the original Church Joseph Smith starting, teaching the same doctrines as said original LDS Church... Which is why the RLDS owns almost all original Joseph Smith era pre 1844 Church Property, like Kirtland Temple, and most other famous historical Church spots... This might have changes in the last year or two as the apostatized COC has mentioned selling historically notable church properties.

But is RLDS church the one true Church? That depends. I look at it like Jesus might... A house divided cannot stand.

Doctrine and Covenants says the " Whole Church is under condemnation until we repent.

I would say the RLDS comes closest in doctrine or original church, but does not practice it. The LDS had more will to practice, ( as you can see by the LDS wealth ) But their doctrine is not the same as the Joseph Smith led church... So the my answer is neither church at this time is Christ's church...

But if we all repent together perhaps we could change things.

[QuietHorseman]

Sorry, I thought I was writing to another post and found out I had hit the wrong button.

So if you think I wrote out of context with your thoughts that's why!

Sorry!

[QuietHorseman]

Court Rulings About Joseph Smith, Which Church come closest to Teach Original LDS Doctrine

February 23, 1880, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by its attorneys, appeared before the Court of Common Pleas, Lake County, Ohio, (see journal entry, February term, 1880) as plaintiff, asking for possession of the Kirtland Temple, an edifice erected during the early days of the church, and prior to the death of Joseph Smith the Martyr. The church in Utah, then presided over by John Taylor, was named with others as defendants.

Judge L. S. Sherman rendered the following decision:

"That the said Plaintiff, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a Religious Society, founded and organized upon the same doctrines and tenets, and having the same church organization, as the original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, organized in 1830, by Joseph Smith, and was organized pursuant to the constitution, laws and usages of said original Church, and has branches located in Illinois, Ohio, and other States.

That the church in Utah, the Defendant of which John Taylor is president, has materially and largely departed from the faith, doctrines, laws, ordinances and usages of said original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and has incorporated into its system of faith the doctrines of celestial marriage and a plurality of wives, and the doctrine of Adam-god worship, contrary to the laws and constitution of said original Church.

And the Court do further find that the Plaintiff, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the True and Lawful continuation of, and successor to the said original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, organized in 1830, and is entitled in law to all its rights and property."

In a case tried before Judge John F. Philips, in the Circuit Court of the United States, for the Western District of Missouri, Western Division, at Kansas City, Missouri.

In his decision, rendered March 16, 1894, Judge Philips said:

The Book of Mormon itself inveighed against the sin of polygamy.... Conformably to the Book of Mormon, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants expressly declared "that we believe that one man should have but one wife, and one woman but one husband." And this declaration of the church on this subject reappeared in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, editions of 1846 and 1856. Its first appearance as a dogma of the church (the dogma of polygamy) was in the Utah Church in 1852.

Claim is made by the Utah Church that this doctrine is predicated of a revelation made to Joseph Smith in July, 1843. No such revelation was ever made public during the life of Joseph Smith, and under the law of the church it could not become an article of faith and belief until submitted to and adopted by the church. This was never done ....

(History of RLDS Church Vol 5 pp. 238-239)

[QuietHorseman]

The way you can tell an apostate Church is to read your Bible. God does not change Himself and His Laws to suit man God does not change. Malichi 3:6

[buffyscrubs]

As Long As I Am Here......It Doesn't Matter Where Here Is.....

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[QuietHorseman]

Pam I hope this is not considered derogatory... I'm a Latter Day Saint with a love for Latter Day Saint History... Please don't think I'm being derogatory! I hope only to state the facts.

In 1852 Polygamy became an official doctrine of the LDS Church... Years later, in the late 19th century around 1890, the U.S. government ( Congressional Reed Smoot Hearings ) was moving to revoke the LDS Churches licenses to be a Church... Therefore LDS Church voted out plural marriages so as to satisfy the laws of the U.S. Government.

The new church law, resulted in many Latter day Saint's being disenfranchised, they latter started the FLDS Church, and once again, even to this day, many FLDS members practice polygamy.

I hope this helps!

God Bless

[Maureen]

...The Community of Christ does not speak for us RLDS....

QuietHorseman, do you consider yourself as part of the Restoration Branch of the RLDS?

M.

[QuietHorseman]

While I do participate with the Restoration Branch of the RLDS Church, I do so only because they are best to my knowledge, ( within the RLDS split of the LDS Church ) the closest thing to what Christ Commanded Joseph Smith to start as a church...

To answer your question however, I'm RLDS till the day I die.... Just because some men change the RLDS Churches name to COC does not in my mind change whom I am or my identity... I've no love for the Community of Christ because they are in direct contradiction to the Bible, Book of Mormon and D&C in respects to their NEW DOCTRINE... Not to mention what I sense spiritually... Which in many cases with the COC is a blah feeling! The Holy Spirit just ain't there!

One member of this site said they've protestantized! An accurate observation I feel.

That said, I do understand people are people and just because a church organization apostatizes does not mean the people are bad! I'm sure the Lord is working with many people, members and priesthood alike, beit LDS, RLDS, or some protestant Church...

I don't want you'all thinking I'm polishing my fingernails thinking myself ultra righteous because I believe I'm the one true church! I believe as soon as a man thinks himself in such light, he has allowed pride to set in... And you'all should silicon slap me silly if I act that way!

In John chapter 10 Jesus identifies His Church as sheep who hear His voice! Ezekiel 34 identifies Christ's sheep as having been scattered all over the earth.... It would be silly of me to assume a select group only, say RLDS to be the only sheep of Jesus Christ.

I consider the WHOLE Restoration Movement as being those people whom are called the Elect... And we've all been under attack by Satan since the Churches Inception.