Can someone explain the differences between LDS and RLDS?

[scripturesearcher]

Can someone help me to understand the differences between LDS and RLDS?

I am not a member of either church at the moment, but would like to be able to compare the two before I consider joining either one.


Thanks,
ScriptureSearcher

[HiJolly]

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

Can someone help me to understand the differences between LDS and RLDS?

I am not a member of either church at the moment, but would like to be able to compare the two before I consider joining either one.


Thanks,
ScriptureSearcher

The original Church was formed in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. He established it and rec'd many revelations for its organization and doctrines.

From the beginning, there were people who, individually or in groups, became disaffected and left. Some of these united to form Churches.

In 1844, Joseph was martyred and shortly thereafter a major rift occurred, as Brigham Young became the new leader for most of the Saints, but other groups split off, following people such as James Strang, Sidney Rigdon, Charles Thompson and Jason Briggs.

After the Church (led by Brigham and the other apostles) left Nauvoo many members who did not go with them simply were leaderless. After Joseph Smith III got a bit older, he felt inspired to start the Reorganized Church, mostly due to the efforts of Briggs and Gurley and some of their associates. Emma (Joseph Smith Jr.'s widow) didn't mind, as long as there was no talk of polygamy, which was probably a key factor in why she and several others did not follow Brigham Young and the rest of the Church to Utah.

The Reorganized Church had some shared beliefs with the LDS (Book of Mormon, JSJr. as a prophet, revelation and continuing prophets) and then some unique beliefs apart from the LDS -- no killing except in direct defense of family (ie, conscientious objectors), and leadership by descent. This last has caused great trouble in the last 50 years, as no more male descendants have been available to take the leadership of the RLDS church.

The RLDS has re-defined Joseph Smith Jr. as not-quite-a-prophet (imo), has redefined the Book of Mormon as an expression of Joseph's belief (instead of an actual ancient scripture), has changed their name to the Community of Christ, has begun to ordain women to the priesthood, and many other things. With each move, more offshoots have formed in protest. This has also happened with the LDS Church, mainly with those that did not agree with the discontinuing of polygamy in 1890. (the FLDS, and Church of the Firstborn, for examples).

Hope that helps.

HiJolly

[Misshalfway]

The relationship of the LDS and RLDS church is much like that of Isaac and Ishmael. There was a division over birthright.

[bytor2112]

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

Can someone help me to understand the differences between LDS and RLDS?

I am not a member of either church at the moment, but would like to be able to compare the two before I consider joining either one.


Thanks,
ScriptureSearcher

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the LDS church. The RLDS church is now the Community of Christ. After Joseph Smith was martyred their was some confusion regarding Prophetic succession. Some contended that Joseph's son, who was still a boy should be the next President of the Church, and left the church to form the RLDS. The mantle ultimately fell on Brigham Young and he led the Saints to the Rocky Mountains and that is where the headquarters of the church is established in Salt Lake City, Utah. The RLDS or Community of Christ still exists but are few in number and are not affiliated with the LDS church.

[Maureen]

After Joseph Smith III got a bit older, he felt inspired to start the Reorganized Church, mostly due to the efforts of Briggs and Gurley and some of their associates.

Not quite inspired to start. Here's a more precise explanation:

…As the years passed, many of those who had left Nauvoo with various groups began to gather together. They had tried to find leaders who followed the original doctrines but concluded that none existed. So they banded together in a loose affiliation they called the New Organization.

Jason Briggs and Zenos Gurley were two of the leaders in this organization. Briggs had been involved in other splinter groups but found disappointment in each. In 1851, he had a spiritual experience on his farmland prairie that gave him new hope for recovering the spirit, beliefs, purpose, and structure of the original church. He wrote his experience and began to share it with friends. Although some had some questions about his authority to receive a revelation for the entire group, they prayed and received testimony of its truthfulness.

Zenos Gurley had a similar experience. In 1851, he had a visionary experience in which he was told that God would raise up a prophet. Eventually he received a copy of Briggs’ revelation, and the two groups joined together in 1852 to wait for a descendant of Joseph Smith to become their prophet.

Joseph Smith III was only eleven years old when his father was murdered. After that experience, he had nothing to do with any of the splinter groups that left Nauvoo, nor did he have any interest initially in joining with the New Organization. When Briggs and Samuel Gurley came to visit him in 1856 to invite him to become church president, he was not flattered. His initial reaction was to reject their invitation strongly. After further reflection, he told them that before he could accept their invitation, he would have to have a testimony of his own.

During the next four years, he struggled with this decision, finally receiving his testimony of the rightness of the call in the fall of 1859. He and his mother attended the 1860 conference in Amboy, Illinois, where he shared a statement about his struggle. Then he was presented to the people and unanimously accepted as their prophet, seer, and revelator.

Our History - Years of Confusion and Disorganization

M.

[Maureen]

Sorry for my messy post, but my computer at work is very uncooperative. I will edit when I get home, so it's easier to read.

M.

[HiJolly]

Originally Posted by Maureen

Not quite inspired to start. Here's a more precise explanation:************************************** ************************************************…As the years passed, many of those who had left Nauvoo with various groups began to gather together. They had tried to find leaders who followed the original doctrines but concluded that none existed. So they banded together in a loose affiliation they called the New Organization. Jason Briggs and Zenos Gurley were two of the leaders in this organization. Briggs had been involved in other splinter groups but found disappointment in each. In 1851, he had a spiritual experience on his farmland prairie that gave him new hope for recovering the spirit, beliefs, purpose, and structure of the original church. He wrote his experience and began to share it with friends. Although some had some questions about his authority to receive a revelation for the entire group, they prayed and received testimony of its truthfulness. Zenos Gurley had a similar experience. In 1851, he had a visionary experience in which he was told that God would raise up a prophet. Eventually he received a copy of Briggs’ revelation, and the two groups joined together in 1852 to wait for a descendant of Joseph Smith to become their prophet. Joseph Smith III was only eleven years old when his father was murdered. After that experience, he had nothing to do with any of the splinter groups that left Nauvoo, nor did he have any interest initially in joining with the New Organization. When Briggs and Samuel Gurley came to visit him in 1856 to invite him to become church president, he was not flattered. His initial reaction was to reject their invitation strongly. After further reflection, he told them that before he could accept their invitation, he would have to have a testimony of his own. "During the next four years, he struggled with this decision, finally receiving his testimony of the rightness of the call in the fall of 1859. He and his mother attended the 1860 conference in Amboy, Illinois, where he shared a statement about his struggle. Then he was presented to the people and unanimously accepted as their "prophet, seer, and revelator."********************************** ************************************Our History - Years of Confusion and Disorganization

You're right - the others had established the Church and Joseph later joined them as the prophet. He clearly states, though, that he felt inspired to do so.


HiJolly

[scripturesearcher]

Originally Posted by HiJolly

The Reorganized Church had some shared beliefs with the LDS (Book of Mormon, JSJr. as a prophet, revelation and continuing prophets)...

If both LDS and RLDS believe in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Jr as a prophet, then which one is the one true restored church?
Additionally, how can one go about finding an unbiased answer to this question?

I assume that an LDS person is going to say that LDS is true and an RLDS person is going to say that RLDS is true.

Are they both true?
Can they both be true?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
ScriptureSearcher

[Vort]

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

If both LDS and RLDS believe in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Jr as a prophet, then which one is the one true restored church?
Additionally, how can one go about finding an unbiased answer to this question?

Ask of God in faith, believing that he will tell you.

Are they both true?
Can they both be true?

No. Their belief systems are mutually exclusive. Either or neither might be true, but not both.

[HiJolly]

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

If both LDS and RLDS believe in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Jr as a prophet, then which one is the one true restored church?

100 years ago, this was a pretty tough question.

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

Additionally, how can one go about finding an unbiased answer to this question?

You read information from all sources, rejecting the author's opinions and conclusions, and draw your own conclusion. If you do so prayerfully, my guess is that before too long you'll have your answer.

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

I assume that an LDS person is going to say that LDS is true and an RLDS person is going to say that RLDS is true.

Yeah. I'm biased, so my answer would be, if you read the RLDS history for the past 30 years, it's a no-brainer. That alone would do it.

Originally Posted by scripturesearcher

Are they both true?
Can they both be true?

No, I don't think they can both be true.


HiJolly