Latter Day Saint movement
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The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches whose members call themselves Latter Day Saints. It is one of a number of movements within Restorationism, which includes the Restoration Movement and the Millerite movement. These group of early 19th century religions attempted to transcend Protestant denominationalism, and to restore what they considered a form of Christianity truer to their interpretation of the New Testament.
The driving force behind the Latter Day Saint movement was Joseph Smith, Jr., and to a lesser extent Oliver Cowdery, who both claimed to have seen angels who restored to them various "keys" to organize and lead the true Church of Christ. In addition, the Latter Day Saint movement was greatly influenced by Sidney Rigdon, a minister within the Restoration Movement who had been associated with the Disciples of Christ before becoming Mormonism's first great theologian. See History of the Latter Day Saint movement.
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Latter Day Saint denominations
The original Latter Day Saint church was organized on April 6, 1830 as the "Church of Christ," see Church of Christ (Mormonism). In 1834, it became known as the Church of Latter Day Saints, and in 1838 the name was changed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
After the Succession Crisis which followed Smith's death in 1844, a number of competing hierarchies were organized that fall into the two main branches of the movement, sometimes called the "Prairie Saints" and the "Rocky Mountain Saints".
Today, there are hundreds of active organizations claiming to be a part of the Latter Day Saint movement. Most of these organizations are very small, but overall, there are possibly more Latter Day Saints world-wide than Jews. Most Latter Day Saints belong to one of the two largest denominations, the largest being The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which reports more than 12 million members worldwide, although census figures and religious adherent polling indicate around 8 million self-identified adherents), followed by the more ecumenical Community of Christ (which reports over 200,000 members).
Denominations through 1844
Denominations which formed prior to the death of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. include:
- The Pure Church of Christ -- organized by Wycam Clark -- 1831 (defunct).
- The Church of Christ (Parrishite) -- organized by Warren Parrish -- 1837 (defunct).
- The Church of Jesus Christ, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife -- organized by George M. Hinkle -- 1840 (defunct).
- The True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- organized by William Law -- 1844 (defunct).
"Prairie Saint" denominations
Prairie Saint denominations include:
- The Church of Christ, later called the Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion -- organized by Sidney Rigdon -- 1844. The original organization of this church dissolved by 1847.
- The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) -- a reorganization of the Rigdonites under William Bickerton -- 1862. This denomination continues to this day and has several thousand members worldwide.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) -- organized by James J. Strang -- 1844. Today this denomination has a following of a few hundred faithful and is headquartered in Voree (now Burlington) Wisconsin.
- The Church of Christ -- a schism in the Strangite church organized by Aaron Smith -- 1846 (defunct).
- The Church of Christ (Whitmerite) -- organized by David Whitmer -- 1847 and 1871. Extant until around 1925.
- The Church of Christ (Cutlerite) -- organized by Alpheus Cutler -- 1853. Survives today with a handful of members in Independence, Missouri.
- The Community of Christ -- organized by Joseph Smith III -- 1860. This movement gathered together many followers of other Latter Day Saint denominations. Based in Independence, Missouri, the Community of Christ is the second largest Latter Day Saint denomination.
- Independent branches Restoration RLDS movement -- a schismatic movement in the Community of Christ after 1985 of independent branches who oppose recent doctrinal innovations.
- The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- organized by Frederick Niels Larson -- 2000, chiefly from former members of the Community of Christ who oppose recent doctrinal innovations.
- The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) (Hedrickites) -- organized by Granville Hedrick -- 1863. Headquarted today on the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri.
- The Church of Christ with the Elijah Message -- organized by Otto Fetting -- 1929. A denomination which split with the Temple Lot church over reported revelations from John the Baptist.
"Rocky Mountain Saint" denominations
Rocky Mountain Saint denominations include:
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- organized by Joseph Smith Jr. -- 1830. This organization is by far the largest Latter Day Saint denomination.
- The Church of the First Born -- organized by Joseph Morris -- 1861. Probably defunct, remnants of this organization survived into the mid-20th century.
- The Church of Zion -- organized by William S. Godbe -- 1868 (defunct).
- The Kingston clan -- organized by Thomas R. King -- 1926. A large group of Latter Day Saints who practice plural marriage.
- The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- organized by John Y. Barlow -- 1935. Headquartered in Colorado City, Arizona, this is the largest group of Latter Day Saints who practice plural marriage.
- The New Covenant Church of God -- organized by Christopher C. Warren -- 1986.
- The True & Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days -- organized by James D. Harmston -- 1994. Headquartered in Manti, Utah, this is a relatively small group that practices plural marriage.
For a discussion of the usage of "Mormon," "Latter Day Saint," "Latter-day Saint," and related terms, see Mormon.
References
- Steven L. Shields, Divergent Paths of the Restoration: A History of the Latter Day Saint Movement, Los Angeles: 1990.