Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)

Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints). The Church of Christ, organized in 1830, was the original legal embodiment of the Latter Day Saint movement founded by Joseph Smith. Established in Fayette, New York, following the publication of the Book of Mormon, it served as the central institution for early adherents, known as Mormons, during the formative years in Kirtland, Ohio and Independence, Missouri. This initial organization underwent significant evolution, schism, and reorganization after Smith's death, ultimately giving rise to multiple denominations, most notably the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

History

The Church of Christ was formally organized on April 6, 1830, at the Peter Whitmer farm in Fayette, New York. This event followed years of foundational events, including Joseph Smith's First Vision and the translation of the Book of Mormon, published earlier that year by E. B. Grandin in Palmyra. The early church quickly moved its center to Kirtland, Ohio, where it constructed the Kirtland Temple and established a United Order. Persecution and conflict led to a subsequent relocation to Independence, Missouri and later to Nauvoo, Illinois. The period in Nauvoo saw the introduction of controversial doctrines, the establishment of the Nauvoo Legion, and the assassination of Joseph Smith at Carthage Jail in 1844. Smith's death precipitated a major succession crisis, leading to the schism between factions led by Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon, and James Strang.

Beliefs and practices

The early Church of Christ's beliefs were rooted in the teachings of Joseph Smith and the canonical works he produced, including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Core doctrines included belief in Restorationism, modern prophets, continuing revelation, and the Gathering of Israel. Key practices involved the administration of ordinances such as baptism by immersion, the Sacrament, and the endowment ceremony first introduced in the Kirtland Temple. The church also practiced plural marriage under Smith's leadership, a principle that became publicly acknowledged in Utah under Brigham Young. Other distinctive practices included the Word of Wisdom and the concept of exaltation.

Organization and leadership

Initially, the Church of Christ was led by Joseph Smith as its first President, supported by two counselors forming the First Presidency. Below this presidency, the governing structure included the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorum of the Seventy, and a presiding Presiding Bishopric. Local organization was managed through stakes and wards, with Kirtland, Ohio and later Nauvoo, Illinois serving as central headquarters. This hierarchical pattern, established in the 1830s and 1840s, became the blueprint for subsequent Latter Day Saint churches, particularly the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which continued the system under Brigham Young after the 1847 Mormon Trail migration.

Relationship to other Latter Day Saint groups

The original Church of Christ is the direct institutional predecessor of all modern denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement. The largest continuation is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, which traces its leadership through Brigham Young. Other significant groups originating from the 1844 succession crisis include the Community of Christ (originally the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), led by Joseph Smith III, and smaller bodies like the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and followers of James Strang. These various organizations share a common origin in the early church but differ in doctrines, scriptures, and leadership lineage.

Notable members and legacy

Early notable members of the Church of Christ included key figures in Joseph Smith's inner circle, such as Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer (the Three Witnesses), along with early apostles like Parley P. Pratt and Heber C. Kimball. Emma Smith, Joseph Smith's wife, remained with the Midwestern Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The legacy of the original church is profound, having initiated a major new religious movement that spread globally. Its history is preserved in sites like the Smith Family Farm, the Kirtland Temple (owned by the Community of Christ), and through extensive historical records held by the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.

Category:Latter Day Saint movement Category:Christian denominations established in the 19th century