The headquarters building of the Church of Christ as seen from the original temple site designated by Joseph Smith, Jr.

The Church of Christ is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement and is headquartered in Independence, Missouri on what is known as the Temple Lot. Members of the church have been known colloquially as Hedrickites, after Granville Hedrick, who was ordained the first leader of the faction in July 1863. The Church no longer has any official dialogue with any other organization. Current church membership is about 5000 with members in several countries.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... A view of the Temple Lot with the Community of Christs Auditorium in the background. ... Granville Hedrick apostate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ...

History

See also: Succession crisis (Mormonism)

The church shares its early history with the larger Latter Day Saint denominations, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS Church). After the assassination of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844, several leaders vied for control of the movement and established rival organizations. By the 1860s, five early Mormon branches found themselves unaffiliated with any larger Latter Day Saint Group. Located in Bloomington, Illinois, Crow Creek, Illinois, Half Moon Prairie, Illinois, Eagle Creek, Illinois, and Vermillion, Indiana, these branches united under the leadership of Granville Hedrick in May of 1863[1], and on July 18, 1863 Hedrick was ordained "President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator" of the group, which at the time was also named "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... According to Latter Day Saint belief, Mormon is the name of the compiler of the book of scripture known as the Book of Mormon. ... United States Illinois McLean 22. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Marshall County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the violent death of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Gallatin County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Vermillion County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... Granville Hedrick apostate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. ...

The name was soon shortened to "Church of Christ" in order to distinguish from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which members of the Temple Lot church refer to as "Utah Mormons," or "Brighamites". Participating in the ordination of Hedrick was John Edward Page [[2]][3], who had been an Apostle in the LDS church before Joseph Smith, Jr.'s death in 1844, and therefore was regarded as providing an undiluted link to the highest levels of authority in the church as it existed before 1844. Both the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints affirm a founding date of April 6, 1830, in Fayette, New York. Hedrick later distanced himself from the title "President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator," in order to further distinguish the church from followers of Brigham Young. The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... According to Latter Day Saint belief, Mormon is the name of the compiler of the book of scripture known as the Book of Mormon. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Authority- is a very talented rocknroll band out of Columbia, S.C. This power rock trio has its roots in rock, funk, hardcore, and a dash of hip hop. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Casting is a process by which a material is introduced into a mold while it is liquid, allowed to solidify in the shape inside the mold, and then removed producing a fabricated object, part, or casing. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 (MDCCCXXX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Fayette is a town located in Seneca County, New York. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

Doctrines of The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) are heavily influenced by the writings of David Whitmer, who was declared an apostate by the LDS church during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, Jr. and who published a pamphlet in 1887 deeply critical of Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith. The pamphlet containing Whitmer's anti-Mormon rant, is today widely read and promoted among membership of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and is on sale in the lobby of its headquarters building.[4]. In it, Whitmer repeatedly claims Smith had 'fallen'--or began to 'fall'--from his Divine calling almost as soon as the church was established on April 6, 1830--or even before then. Reasons for Whitmer believing so include a charge that Smith was to have "pretended to no other gift" except the translation of the Book of Mormon, and was never to be more than a "first elder" among "fellow elders" in the fledgling church. Apparently unbeknownst to modern devotees of Whitmer's perspectives, such as members of the Temple Lot church, Whitmer's arguments clearly drew on his Presbyterian upbringing[5], classical Presbyterians also urging that 'true' churches of Christ have little or no centralized [human] leadership. Doctrine, from Latin doctrina, (compare doctor), means a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805–January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... Apostasy (Greek απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is the formal renunciation of ones religion. ... Polish soldiers reading a German leaflet during the Warsaw Uprising A pamphlet is an unbound booklet (that is, without a hard cover or binding). ... Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793–14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... An anti-Mormon political cartoon from the late nineteenth century. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Fallen could refer to: Fallen angels - angels that have been exiled or banished from Heaven. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A vocation is an occupation, either professional or voluntary, that is seen to those who carry it out as offering more than simply financial reward. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, regarded by Latter Day Saints as divinely revealed, and named after the prophet-historian Mormon who, according to the text, compiled most of the book. ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ...

The church currently occupies a property in Independence, Missouri considered by Latter Day Saints to be the "Temple Lot" designated by Joseph Smith, Jr. to be the site for the temple of the New Jerusalem, a sacred city to be built preparatory to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ that is spoken of in the Book of Revelation. The Hedrickites returned to Independence in 1867 to purchase lots for the temple in the name of the "Church of Christ" and have been headquartered there since then. In the 1930s, the church excavated the site in an attempt to build a temple on the location, but the effort was stalled because of the Great Depression, and the excavation was filled. Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... A Latter Day Saint (LDS) is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement and is a follower of Mormonism. ... A view of the Temple Lot with the Community of Christs Auditorium in the background. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ, an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy such as the resurrection of the dead, last judgment and full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the Reign of God), including the... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... The Great Depression started after October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ...

Since the 1920s, the church has splintered into at least four other factions, including the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message which separated in the 1930s and has since grown to about 12,000 members.^{[citation needed]} The Church of Christ with the Elijah Message in Independence, Missouri. ...

On January 1, 1990, a former member of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) who had recently joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, set fire to the church building.^[1] The fire caused significant damage to the second story of the building, although the first floor containing church records and documents remained intact. On February 1, 1990, the remainder of the building (built in 1905) was razed at the urging of Church leadership, which, before January 1990, had already discussed destroying the building and constructing a newer, safer building. Construction of a new headquarters building began in August 1990. is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

Doctrines

Though the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) initially accepted the leadership and doctrines of the Latter Day Saint movement's founding prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., in the 1920s they changed their policy regarding which of his revelations they would accept. The church thereafter asserted that revelations recorded after the publication of the Book of Commandments in 1833 were not divinely inspired, claiming that Smith "fell" from his calling with such doctrines as plural marriage and the introduction of church hierarchical offices (including the office of High Priest in June of 1831). For this reason, unlike other Latter Day Saint denominations, the church does not have a prophet or a First Presidency. Instead the church declares that it is headed directly by Jesus Christ through a Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The council responds officially through its secretary. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Book of Commandments is among the most rare and valuable books in American history because the original printing was almost entirely destroyed by a mob. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a high priest is a member of the priesthood (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who holds the same priesthood authority as that of an Elder, but who is ordained to the office of a high priest. ... In religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has directly encountered the numinous or the divine and serves as an intermediary with humanity. ... In Mormonism, the First Presidency (or the Quorum of the Presidency of the Church) is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy of several Latter Day Saint denominations. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ...

The Church's official "standards of faith" are the Bible and the Book of Mormon. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement, regarded by Latter Day Saints as divinely revealed, and named after the prophet-historian Mormon who, according to the text, compiled most of the book. ...

Miscelleanea

The missionary representative in the visitors center is William A. Sheldon (as of 2007).

The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... William Bickerton (January 15, 1815—February 17, 1905) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement after the 1844 succession crisis. ... The Church of Jesus Christs historic chapel in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. ... Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793–14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Rigdonite is a name given to members of the Latter Day Saint movement who accept Sidney Rigdon as the successor in the church presidency to movement founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Granville Hedrick apostate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ... Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... It has been suggested that Community of Christ membership statistics be merged into this article or section. ... 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Strangite church, is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... See also, Brigham Young University Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The FLDS Temple near Eldorado, Texas The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is a group of Mormon fundamentalists. ... The FLDS Temple near Eldorado, Texas The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is a group of Mormon fundamentalists. ... Download high resolution version (499x627, 55 KB)Public domain painting from 1800s original in Community of Christ archives. ... Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

References

Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official site