Sects of Mormonism

Even though there are twenty sects of Mormonisms, only a few of the most significant will be outlined here.

1. THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS:

[[Editor's Note: This organization is now known by the name "Community of Christ".]]

Years after Joseph Smith's death in 1859 the new church was established. Its headquarters set up in Independence, Missouri, where Joseph Smith had declared, by revelation, Zion would be built. The decision was made that the presidency of the new church should descend in the line of the original prophet.

The Reorganized Church holds many of the same beliefs as the Mormons, the following list describes their differences:

God is unchangeable, men may develop in righteousness into any degree of glory, (not becoming Gods as Mormons believe.) Accept Doctrine and Covenants written before Smith's death. They do not accept The Pearl of Great Price. The Book of Mormon is accepted as being the word of God. Joseph Smith's Inspired Version of the Bible is accepted.

They do not practice baptism for the dead, reject polygamy, marry only for time. They do not have the elaborate priesthoods nor the temple initiatory rites. They have a system of Pastors, elected from the Eldership, who preach sermons. They trust in good works for salvation, instead of putting complete faith in Christ and His redeeming work.

2. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, STRANGITE:

The followers of Strang accept The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and covenants, and the Law of the Lord. The Law of the Lord is scripture written by Strang, which he received in a vision.

3. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, BICKERTONITE:

The Bickertonite church has a missionary outreach to the Apache Indians at San Carlos, Arizona, also a group in Africa have joined the church.

4. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, HEDRICKITE:

This church is located in Independence, Missouri and holds the property of the Temple Lot, which was set aside for the Temple of Zion. A Prophecy of Joseph Smiths claimed the temple would be built on this property by the generation of 1832.

The Temple Lot Church is located across the square from the tabernacle of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and proudly displays the stone bearing the initials of Joseph Smith and the date 1831. Both the Reorganized Church and the Utah Church have sought to gain possession of the lot, by both purchase and litigation, but the Temple Lot is nor for sale, and the property has been adjudicated as belonging to the present owners.

5. CHURCH OF CHRISH, FETTINGITE:

Otto Fetting was ordained an apostle of the Temple Lot Church in 1926. Fetting claimed to have had a two hour conference with John the Baptist, on November 30, 1930. The messages continued to come, they emphasize the building of the temple and the establishment of Zion.

6. THE FUNDAMENTALISTS:

Are the polygamist in Utah and the West. At least thirteen separate groups, loosely knit, are identifiable. The fundamentalist, as a whole, belong to families that were prominent in the church during the nineteenth century.

The fundamentalist movement developed out of the decision to stop the practice of polygamy and did not constitute the organization of a new church. They consider themselves to be the orthodox section of the Utah Church.

The Salt Lake church has a policy of excommunicating any polygamous members. It has been estimated that there are some thirty thousand people in Utah involved in polygamous families.

Parts taken from: Is Mormonism Christian, Gordon Fraser Pgs.151-165