[Casslan]

Originally Posted by MyDogSkip

At last count there are at least 100 different sects that utilize the Book of Mormon in their worship services and doctrine. Most agree on the call of the Prophet Joseph to restore the Gospel. As such, many agree with Josephs writings on the First Vision.

I was rather astounded when I was surfing the web one night several years ago, to discover that the Community of Christ web site had refined the First Vison, basically down to a hallucination on the part of the young Joseph.

Let me start with the LDS version of the First Vision:

As Joseph sought truth among the different faiths, he turned to the Bible for guidance. He read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” ( James 1:5). Because of this passage, Joseph decided to ask God what he should do. In the spring of 1820 he went to a nearby grove of trees and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. . . . When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17). In this vision God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. The Savior told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for they “were all wrong.” The Savior stated, “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof” ( Joseph Smith—History 1:19).

Mormon.org - The Restoration of the Gospel

Now the following is the Community of Christ's view of the First Vision:


In the early 1800s, a young boy named Joseph Smith knelt in the woods near his family home in Manchester Township, New York. He felt separated from God; he also wanted to know how he could make his life count for good in a world full of confusion and sin. He wanted to join with God’s people, but he had no idea how to do that. So, in response to the scripture from James, he prayed to God.

How long this first attempt at verbal prayer lasted is not known, but he came to a point of deep despair. At this point, a vision surrounded him with love and mercy. From that light came a voice as clear as his own. As the vision ebbed and the voice faded, Joseph felt that he knew the truth. He felt the healing presence of God within and the forgiving mercy of Christ. He knew that God would be with him.

He struggled through his teen years, trying to balance his experience with God with his desire to be accepted by others in his community. He continued to have significant spiritual experiences, one of which led to the Book of Mormon. He also felt called to establish a church, officially organizing it on April 6, 1830.

Our History - Introduction


As one can read...The Community of Christ has turned its back on the writings of our Prophet Joseph, in favor of a distilled "hallucination" of a young boy.

Additionally...and we can discuss this, the Community of Christ has turned it's back on the divine origins of the Book of Mormon.

Originally Posted by rameumptom

The Community of Christ is struggling. They are trying to have a foot in the Restorationist world, and one in the Protestant world.

Originally Posted by rameumptom

In order to become a member of the World Organization of Churches, they had to downplay the Book of Mormon. The BoM now is optional for its members to believe in. Joseph Smith's testimony has been watered down, so as to make him a charismatic leader rather than a prophet (they don't ascribe hallucinations to him, however).
Many of their precepts have changed in the last decade or so. Their view that the prophet must be a direct descendant of Joseph Smith is no longer followed nor believed.
They have had many break away from the CoC, in order to keep closer to their Restorationist roots. Others have joined the LDS Church over the past few years.
Still, there are many good people in the CoC with a strong testimony of Christ and Joseph Smith.

[An aside note rameumptom: Also do not forget that they have given women the priesthood, as well, like some of the more liberal Christians churches of the world who have women priests].

Responding to 2 posts here. When they joined the Protestant world, the Community of Christ HAD TO MAKE CHANGES in regards [in this instance] to the First Vision. They now teach the doctrine of the Trinity, which allows no possibility of a physical appearance of the Father and the Son together.

The one eternal, living God is triune: one God in three persons. The God who meets us in the testimony of Israel is the same God who meets us in Jesus Christ, and who indwells creation as the Holy Spirit. God is the Eternal Creator, the source of love, life, and truth. God actively loves and cares for each person. All things that exist owe their being to God who alone is worthy of our worship. (cofchrist.org/ourfaith/faith-beliefs.asp)

And in regards to the Book of Mormon, though still accepted as scripture, it has been downgraded:

In 2001, Community of Christ President W. Grant McMurray reflected on increasing questions about the Book of Mormon: "The proper use of the Book of Mormon as sacred scripture has been under wide discussion in the 1970s and beyond, in part because of long-standing questions about its historicity and in part because of perceived theological inadequacies, including matters of race and ethnicity." (McMurray, W. Grant, "They "Shall Blossom as the Rose": Native Americans and the Dream of Zion," an address delivered February 17, 2001)

At the 2007 Community of Christ World Conference, President Stephen M. Veazey ruled out of order a resolution to "reaffirm the Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired record". He stated that "while the Church affirms the Book of Mormon as scripture, and makes it available for study and use in various languages, we do not attempt to mandate the degree of belief or use. This position is in keeping with our longstanding tradition that belief in the Book of Mormon is not to be used as a test of fellowship or membership in the church." (Andrew M. Shields, "Official Minutes of Business Session, Wednesday March 28, 2007," in 2007 World Conference Thursday Bulletin, March 29, 2007. Community of Christ, 2007).