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 The Church of Jesus Christ's historic chapel in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) is an organization officially titled The Church of Jesus Christ with Headquarters in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. Its members are sometimes referred to as Bickertonites or members of the Bickerton organization, although they generally do not favor this moniker. The church also calls itself "The Church." The Church of Jesus Christ is not affiliated with any other church, and it started in the "Restoration" movement. Generally considered the third largest of the organizations emerging from the 1844 succession crisis, the Church has members in North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa — for an approximate total of 15,000 worldwide. Image File history File links Stop_hand. ...
Image File history File links Church of Jesus Christ Bickertonite --- original photo by John Hamer File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
A Latter Day Saint (LDS) is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement and is a follower of Mormonism. ...
Handsome picture of the Salt Lake Temple from the Dutch wikipedia taken by Bjørn Graabek April 7, 2003. ...
The Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement within Christian Restorationism beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous Latter Day Saint churches. ...
Stained glass depiction of the first vision of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The Church of Christ was the original name given to the church formally organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shared by the larger Latter Day Saint movement, which originated in upstate New York under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their sacred texts (or scriptures) are the Word of God, often feeling that the texts are wholly divine or spiritually inspired in origin. ...
The Bible (From Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning books, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) is the sacred scripture of Christianity. ...
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...
Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. ...
Pearl of Great Price, 1888 Edition The Pearl of Great Price is part of the standard works (canonized scripture) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism) and some other Latter Day Saint denominations. ...
Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Photograph of Oliver Cowdery, taken c. ...
Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793–14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...
φ Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus the lords son Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ...
Joseph Smith III — Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ...
1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ...
Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormon) since March 1995. ...
Stephen M. Veazey (born May 3, 1957) is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ, headquartered in Independence, Missouri. ...
In Mormonism, depending on the era and the denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement, the concept of the Christian Godhead has included a diverse range of views including forms of modalism, binitarianism, tritheism, henotheism, and trinitarianism. ...
The word faith has various uses; its central meaning is similar to belief, trust or confidence, but unlike these terms, faith tends to imply a transpersonal rather than interpersonal relationship – with God or a higher power. ...
Repentance is the feeling and act in which one recognizes and tries to right a wrong, or gain forgiveness from someone that they wronged. ...
Baptism in early Christian art. ...
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a doctrine of the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...
In Mormonism, the Articles of Faith are a creed composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The Great Apostasy is a term of opprobrium used by some religious groups to allege a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, or especially of Catholicism, reformist Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy: that it is not representative of the faith founded by Jesus and promulgated through his twelve Apostles: in short...
Mormonism and Judaism share significant differences and similarities. ...
The Salt Lake Temple is the most well-known Mormon Temple. ...
The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in northwestern Missouri. ...
The Utah War was a 19th century armed conflict between Mormon settlers in Utah Territory and the United States federal government. ...
The Nauvoo Legion was a private militia employed by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...
Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994 Community of Christ, a Christian denomination known for its dedication to the pursuit of peace, claims more than 250,000 members in 50 nations. ...
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Strangite church, is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement and a part of the Mormon faith. ...
The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The Church of Jesus Christ claims to be the spiritual successor to the "Church of Christ," organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830. The Church of Jesus Christ claims that Sidney Rigdon was Joseph Smith's righful successor in the 1844 succession crisis following the assassination of Joseph Smith Jr. because Rigdon was Smith's first counselor in the First Presidency. Brigham Young, the president of the Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, also claimed the right of succession and led the majority of Church members in a migration to Utah, where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints still maintains its headquarters. The Church of Christ was the original name given to the church formally organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
The Succession Crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the assassination of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
φ Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was the second prophet and president of The Church of Jesus the lords son Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). ...
The Church considers Smith to have been a prophet and a seer, but does not view him as the "Choice Seer" predicted by the Book of Mormon (II Nephi, chapter 3). The Church is still awaiting the coming of the Choice Seer whom many in the organization believe will be of Native American heritage (2 Nephi 3:6-7). Many members of the church believe this "Choice Seer" is alive today (though his identity is not yet revealed to the world). The Church does not agree with the Mormon view point that Joseph Smith, Jr. was the "Choice Seer." They believe that the Book of Mormon itself prophesies the Choice Seer will be a descendant of Joseph of Egypt (which they interpret to be the American Indians). The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...
For other uses, see Mormon (disambiguation). ...
History
After the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, the history of The Church of Jesus Christ is separate from the other LDS organizations. After the martyrdom, Sidney Rigdon, the only surviving member of the Church's highest ruling body, the First Presidency, was the First Counselor of the Church with Brigham Young standing as the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Sidney Rigdon gathered a group of members, rebaptizing them, solidifying distinctive points of doctrine, such as rejection of polygamy, and finally forming a new church. The group that Rigdon stayed with in Pennsylvania slowly dissolved until there was only one left, William Bickerton, an ordained elder, who under God's revelation, continued to preach the gospel and began to baptize many again into The Church of Jesus Christ. The core group that remained in Pennsylvania denounced many doctrines such as polygamy, celestial marriage, baptism for the dead, the belief that Joseph Smith was the Choice Seer, and many others that they believed had entered into the different restoration groups after the death of Joseph Smith and the succession crisis. The Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement which began in the early 19th century and is generally considered to be founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
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. ...
At a conference in Green Oak, Pennsylvania in July of 1862, leaders of several branches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia came together and organized The Church of Jesus Christ. Elder William Bickerton presided over the conference and was called "a Seer, a Translator, a Prophet, and Apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Bickerton's two counselors were George Barnes and Charles Brown who were also Apostles. The members of the Quorum of the Twelve (ordered by seniority) were Arthur Bickerton, Thomas Bickerton, Alexander Bickerton, James Brown, Cummings Cherry, Benjamin Meadowcroft, Joseph Astin, Joseph Knox, William Cadman, James Nichols, John Neish and John Dixon. At the conference George Barnes reported receiving the "word of the Lord," which he related: In Mormonism, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy in many Latter Day Saint denominations, members of which are considered to be Apostles, and special...
- "Hear the word of the Lord; Ye are my Sons and Daughters, and I have committed unto you the Keys of the Kingdom, therefore be ye faithful."
The Church was incorporated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in June of 1865 with the legal name, "Church of Jesus Christ of Green Oak, Pennsylvania." In order to operate legally outside the United States, the Church filed a new incorporation on April 5, 1941 with the legal name, "The Church of Jesus Christ with headquarters at Monongahela, Pennsylvania."
Organization of the Church The Church of Jesus Christ views the prophetic office as not limited to a "Prophet" or to the President of the Church. Rather, members believe that it encompasses the Quorum of Twelve Apostles together and that revelations can be given to individual members of the Church. The President of the Quorum of the Twelve and his two counselors also constitute the Presidency of the Church. Other officers of the Church include a first Quorum of Seventy Evangelists. Apostles are called from among the Evangelists; however nepotism appears to be a standard practice, with brothers, cousins, and distant relatives serving in this office together. In Mormonism, the President of the Church is the head of a Latter Day Saint denomination or church. ...
In Mormonism, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (also known as the Quorum of the Twelve, the Council of the Twelve, or the Twelve) is one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy in many Latter Day Saint denominations, members of which are considered to be Apostles, and special...
The Quorums of the Seventy are area and General Authorities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ...
Nepotism means favoring relatives or personal friends because of their relationship rather than because of their abilities. ...
The Church maintains a publishing house and prints its own edition of the Book of Mormon. The edition follows the chapter and versification found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' edition, but the headers and notes are unique. This organization claims to be the first Latter Day Saint group to publish an edition of the Book of Mormon translated into Italian. (Many members in the United States are of Italian descent.) The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...
The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...
The Church records revelations that are deemed valid by the Apostles, and publishes them where appropriate, but these are not bound together in a single volume. Revelations may come from the Quorum of the Twelve singly or together. They also may come from individual members of the Church, and will only be published if they are approved by the Quorum.
The Church does not accept any edition of the Doctrine and Covenants as wholly valid, but it considers many revelations within it to be true. Generally, versions of these revelations found in the Book of Commandments are preferred to the altered versions found in the later book. The Church especially considers purported revelations relating to plural marriage, baptism for the dead and other Nauvoo-era practices to be spurious. In addition to the Book of Mormon, the Church accepts the King James Version of the Bible as scripture. Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes referred to as the D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of Mormonism. ...
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. ...
Plural marriage (also sometimes called celestial marriage or spiritual wifery) is a type of polygamy that was practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...
Baptism for the dead by proxy (or vicarious baptism) is an ordinance practiced by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and schism churches), the Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, some of the Neo-Apostolic congregations of Europe, and some Native American religions. ...
The references in this article would be clearer with a different style of citation, footnoting or external linking. ...
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) The Book of Mormon is one of four sacred texts of Mormonism, which also include the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. ...
This page is about the version of the Bible; for the Harvey Danger album, see King James Version (album). ...
The Bible (Hebrew: ×ª× ×´×š tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hÄ“ biblos) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Word of God, The Word Scripture, Scripture), from Greek (τα) βίβλια, (ta) biblia, (the) books, is the name used by Jews and Christians for their (differing but overlapping) canons of sacred texts. ...
Today, the Church of Jesus Christ has a worldwide membership of about 15,000, with nearly 3,000 located in the United States. The Church continues to experience significant growth in comparison to some of the other smaller Latter Day Saint organizations, though the number is substantially much less than the 50,000 converts each year to the largest LDS denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They engage in constructing a number of new church buildings throughout the United States, specifically in the Detroit area, eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and Arizona area within the last decade. Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 34th 44,825 square miles (116,096 square kilometers) LandArea = 40,986 square miles (106,154 square kilometers) WaterArea = 3,878 square miles (10,044 square kilometers) PCWater...
Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 33rd 119,283 km² 255 km 455 km 2. ...
The Church publishes a monthly periodical called The Gospel News.
Doctrines and Practices The Church of Jesus Christ has a good relationship with the smaller Church of Christ (Temple Lot). Both churches are distinct organizations, however, and independent of any other Latter Day Saint denominations, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) with headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Church of Jesus Christ has long rejected plural marriage and many other doctrines taught by the LDS church and believes that many of the doctrines of the LDS church were not taught by Joseph Smith Jr. and did not even exist before he was martyred. The Church of Jesus Christ views the nature of God as explained in the Bible and Book of Mormon, which differs from the views on the nature of God derived from these texts by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Community of Christ.
Members refer to each other as "Brother" and "Sister." The church counsels members to be moderate in all things including their dress and appearance.
In services, members of the Priesthood church generally do not prepare written sermons prior to the meeting. Instead, the Priesthood allegedly speaks under the inspiration of Jesus Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct their words. Each week, church services begin with preaching from the Priesthood and generally followed by "testimony" portion of the meeting, during which time members of the congregation (and visitors) are given the opportunity to "praise God for what He has done for them."
Chapels of the church contain neither altars nor crosses or even pictures, as the scripture forbids any type of "graven image...or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth." The church belives that serving God and following Jesus is a "365 day per year activity", not just an activity to do on sundays.
The offices of the church are:
Apostle, Evangelist (or "Seventy"), Elder (or "Minister"), Teacher, Deacon, and Deaconess.
Although women may serve as deaconesses, only men may become elders in the church. Deaconesses prepare the communion tables and Deacons set up chairs and prepare the chapel for meetings, as well care for the Saints in general and visit the sick in particular. Deaconesses do not have priesthood authority. Elders are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the church. Church elders are never referred to as "Father" or "Reverend." Elders and all church officials, including the Church Presidency and Quorum of Apostles are volunteers and are not compensated for their activities monetarily, according to the scriptures. Elders will administer to the sick through the "laying on of hands," using oil if the illness is physical. According to the doctrine of the church, Elders are called to their positions by revelations.
In the sacrament or communion, the church uses bread and wine, representing the body and blood of Christ which was sacrificed, as dictated by the Scriptures. The prayers for the Sacrament are not read verbatim from the Book of Mormon (Moroni chapters 4 and 5), rather left to inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A separate prayer is given prior to passing the bread and then another prayer is offered prior to passing the wine. The communion is administered only to the dutiful, baptized members of the church. The wine is served in a communal cup. Unlike in the Catholic church, the ministers serve the congregation by walking around to each person in their seats, first with plate of bread and then with the cup of wine. The bread is not wafers or crackers, but real bread that has been broken into small pieces by the ministry during the ordinance. The ministers are the last to partake of the bread and the wine after the congregation has been served.
Church members also follow the ordinance of "feet washing" (John 13:5) four times a year as a demonstration of personal humility. The church believes that this is a very important ordinace since Jesus expressly told Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Church members always greet each other with a "holy kiss" on the cheek (following New Testament precedents).
The Church practices baptism by immersion in open, natural bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, oceans, etc. After baptism, the laying on of hands is performed by the elders for the reception of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. The Church is strongly against the baptism of babies and believes rather that one should become baptised at the "age of accountability", when the person is of an age where they know of their sins and can repent, in accordance with the holy scriptures.
Members of the church believe in the gifts of the Spirit, as spoken about in the scriptures. Including but not limited to; word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, witnessing of angels, speaking in tongues, and speaking in the word of the lord.
The Church believes that hymns are often revealed through divine inspiration for the edification of the church. The Church uses many different songbooks, but mainly two; The Saints Hymnal and The Songs of Zion. The Songs of Zion are a collection of songs given by revelation to a member of The Church with no musical ability or training. She often hears the lyrics and the melody of a song and will work with someone with musical training to put down on paper what she hears. After a silent period of a few years, she reported that she began to receive more revealed songs again in 2004. Many members of the church find the songs are quite beautiful and esteem them to be "filled with the Spirit of God."
References - W. H. Cadman, A History of the Church of Jesus Christ, Monongahela, PA: 1945.
- Jerry Valenti, "Welcome to The Church of Jesus Christ," The Gospel News, Vol. 56, No. 9, Sept. 2000.
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