What is The Difference Between ....

[GNews4BadTimes]

Not to stir up controversy but what is the Difference between the Utah (LDS) Church and the Reorganized LDS (Community of Christ)? Is it liturgy, ordinances and doctrine?

[pam]

After Joseph Jr. was martyred, there were many saints that felt that the position should have gone to his son Joseph Smith III. When Brigham Young was called to the position there was a break off by those saints from the main body of the LDS Church.

While both believe in the visitation Joseph Smith had in the sacred grove and both believe he was key to the restoration of the gospel on the earth...there are some differences.

The scriptures used are slighly different than those used by LDS. The Pearl of Great Price which we consider to also be scripture are not part of the Church of Christ' canonized scriptures. Also the temple rituals that we hold sacred are not used by the Community of Christ. Their temples are open to everyone.

Plus there is the polygamy issue. While those of the LDS Church do not practice it, it is practiced in the Church of Christ.

[mnn727]

Plus there is the polygamy issue. While those of the LDS Church do not practice it, it is practiced in the Church of Christ.

Polygamy was NEVER practiced by the Reorganized Chuch which became the Community of Christ, that was one of the major differences in the beginning.

CoC has IMHO become another Protestant Church on the order of Unitarions with a bit of LDS thrown in -- and thats not necessarily a bad thing.

[Maxel]

Pam gave a good groundwork, but some further things should be said.

First, the Community of Christ (which were the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until a few years ago) has always taken a stance against polygamy; its doctrine was opposed to it in Joseph Smith's day and has been vehemently ever since. It is the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the FLDS) that still practice polygamy.

Second, there has been divergence on many core doctrines, such as who can hold the Priesthood, ordinances for the dead and temple work, etc. Women and men can be ordained to the CoC Priesthood, while only worthy males can enter the LDS Priesthood. The CoC only have one temple (in Independence, Missouri and dedicated in 1994) besides the Kirtland, Ohio temple they maintain.

Also, the version of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants the CoC uses are formatted differently than the LDS Church's. Additionally, the CoC's Doctrine and Covenants contains additional revelations given through their prophets since its inception, and do not include the official declarations of the LDS church (Official Declarations 1 & 2, etc.). Both churches maintain an open canon.

The Community of Christ's homepage is here, while the Frequently Asked Questions page is here, and the Basic Beliefs page is here.

Everything I've just stated has been derived from this most recent visit to the CoC's homepage, as well as different visits spanning the past 2-3 years.

Edited February 15, 2009 by Maxel
Clarification

[LittleWyvern]

Wikipedia has made this excellent graph:

Our church is the big green line.

[cofchristcousin]

Not to stir up controversy but what is the Difference between the Utah (LDS) Church and the Reorganized LDS (Community of Christ)? Is it liturgy, ordinances and doctrine?

Hi GNews4BadTimes, Cool name! I am a member of Community of Christ and can answer from my perspective. The LDS and RLDS, now Community of Christ were one for only 14 years. After the Nauvoo period and Joseph Smith, Jr was killed there were some people who did not follow Brigham Young. Eventually Joseph Smith III grew up, and agreed to lead a Reorganization of the Church.

We have grown into 2 quite different denominations. We have never practiced polygamy, however we do have some members from polygamist tribes in India. They are baptized and full members, and they agree to not take any further wives. We don't ask them to divorce their current wives because divorced women would not be able to survive socially or economically in that culture.

The Community of Christ and the LDS share scriptures in common. The Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Our Doctrine and Covenants is pretty much the same until the Nauvoo times, and from then on each of our Prophets have added counsel to the church. The Book of Mormon is not used as a test of faith. Some members believe it to ancient history of this continent, some see it as a spiritual allegory, and some do not use it at all. This is a current struggle in our denomination.

As has also been mentioned, since reorganizing we have not practiced baptism for the dead or sealed marriages. We ordain women as well as men. Our practice of calling is different too. I believe in the LDS there are automatic callings to deacon, Teacher, priest, etc . In Community of Christ people are called at any time in their life, to an office appropriate to their gifts. A person might be called in their teens, or later in life, or not at all.

I think we have a different denominational culture as well. There is not alot of oversight and authority over the members lives. Generally, we don't smoke or drink alcohol, and Priesthood must not do either. Forty years ago our leaders began a deep and faithful self-examination of what we proclaim as a church. We do not see ourselves as the one true church, and we are moving in the direction of focusing on the Kingdom/Zion lifestyle, and working in peace, justice and reconciliation. Hope this helps, and I can clarify stuff if there are questions.

edit: Here is our most recent inspired counsel from our Prophet. I thought it might be helpful to get insights into where we sense God is calling us.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 163

Edited February 15, 2009 by cofchristcousin

[Book_of_Mormon_Warrior]

After Joseph Jr. was martyred, there were many saints that felt that the position should have gone to his son Joseph Smith III. When Brigham Young was called to the position there was a break off by those saints from the main body of the LDS Church.

While both believe in the visitation Joseph Smith had in the sacred grove and both believe he was key to the restoration of the gospel on the earth...there are some differences.

The scriptures used are slighly different than those used by LDS. The Pearl of Great Price which we consider to also be scripture are not part of the Church of Christ' canonized scriptures. Also the temple rituals that we hold sacred are not used by the Community of Christ. Their temples are open to everyone.

Plus there is the polygamy issue. While those of the LDS Church do not practice it, it is practiced in the Church of Christ.

And just another clarification...

It's the Community of Christ, not the Church of Christ. The Book of Mormon believing Church of Christ is a separate organization and is the current owner of the land upon which will be built the New Jerusalem Temple. Their site is The Church of Christ, Restored April 6, 1830, Independence Missouri

Edit: And they don't and never have practiced polygamy either.

Edited February 15, 2009 by Book_of_Mormon_Warrior

[cjmaldrich]

Great post... I'm reading "From Mission to Madness" which is a biography of David Hyrum Smith... It gives a lot of interesting information about Joseph III, Alexander Smith, and Emma Smith... You should check it out...

Edited February 16, 2009 by cjmaldrich

[pam]

And just another clarification...

It's the Community of Christ, not the Church of Christ. The Book of Mormon believing Church of Christ is a separate organization and is the current owner of the land upon which will be built the New Jerusalem Temple. Their site is The Church of Christ, Restored April 6, 1830, Independence Missouri

Edit: And they don't and never have practiced polygamy either.

You are correct and I apologize. I was reading on a website today about the Community of Christ and for some reason typed Church of Christ. Also I went back to what I was reading and I misinterpreted what was said about polygamy. So thanks for clarifying that for me. I learned something today.

[Book_of_Mormon_Warrior]

Great post... I'm reading "From Mission to Madness" which is a biography of David Hyrum Smith... It gives a lot of interesting information about Joseph III, Alexander Smith, and Emma Smith... You should check it out...

You should read and hear some of David Hyrum's poems and songs... absolutely beautiful. He was called the "Sweet Singer of Israel", and definitely deserved the title.

[cjmaldrich]

There are a few poems printed in the book, and a lot more than that mentioned... Do you know if there's a collection of his writing in a book? I'd definitely like to read it

[GNews4BadTimes]

Thanks, folks ! I appreciate your clarifications on this.