Since the creation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there have been over 70 denominations. Some sources have estimated the number of Mormon sects to be closer to 400.
We are not the first. We will not be the last. We are the Brighamite Branch: we chose to follow Brigham. Others chose to follow others.
Brigham’s separation from the splinter groups which might undermine his rule began with his quest out West. The West was a Petri dish in a warm incubator for the bacteria of Brigham’s Mormonism. Children were born in swaths. Church buildings were erected by the hundreds.
The Church flourished because there was nothing to stop it—Utah wasn’t a state yet, so the Saints could marry as many wives as they pleased. They could worship however they wanted. There were hardly any other Churches in the area for its members to join, so, whether they liked it or not, they were Brighamites. And Brigham’s Mormonism spread like butter on warm bread. It is not a testament to the truthfulness of the Church. It’s not a testament of Brigham’s Joseph-given authority. It’s a testament to the desolation of the West at Brigham’s time.
Mormonism’s other branches were not so fortunate. Mostly remaining in the East, they found growth more difficult. Polygamy was forbidden, so polygamist branches fell. Land was expensive, so Church buildings were seldom built. Many of these denominations were forgotten, or absorbed by other soon-to-be forgotten branches.
Of those that survived the 1800s, a few remain today. We are the largest. We are not the best.
Joseph Smith III: The Community of Christ Church
The largest branch (besides ours) is the Community of Christ Church, named the “Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” until 2001. This branch contains 250,000 members worldwide. The Community of Christ Church claims a connection to priesthood authority through the lineage of Joseph Smith, its first reorganized leader being his son, Joseph Smith III.
It has long been speculated that Joseph Smith the Prophet bestowed a blessing upon his son’s head, calling him as his successor. The Community of Christ Church believes they are the true, restored Church upon the Earth; the only Church with a direct line of authority to Joseph Smith.
The Community of Christ Church has separate doctrines to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1984, their Prophet, Wallace B. Smith, received a revelation to ordain women to the priesthood. Since then, women have had priesthood callings, and currently there are five women serving as Apostles. The Community of Christ Church has not closed its Doctrine and Covenants. Prophets in the religion regularly receive revelations and prophecies. They are accepting of same-sex marriages. From their beginning, they have opposed plural marriage. Joseph Smith III was vehemently against the practice. Joseph III was also in favor of complete racial integration in his Church. Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith Jr., followed her son, joining the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1860.
Sidney Rigdon and William Bickerton: The Church of Jesus Christ
When Sidney Rigdon separated from the Brigham-led Church, he began his own. His branch, called the Church of Jesus Christ of the Children of Zion was not very successful. By 1847, his branch, though it had a relatively strong following in its beginnings, had dissolved.
William Bickerton was a leader of Rigdon’s branch of Mormonism. Though his numbers were falling, he continued preaching his gospel, Rigdon’s gospel, and in 1865 his branch was incorporated into Pennsylvania. Today, his Church is “The Church of Jesus Christ.”
The Church of Jesus Christ has vehemently opposed polygamy in all forms. Since their organization in 1862, the Church has opposed all forms of racial segregation, and allowed every member, no matter the race, all blessings offered in the Church. Several of its highest leaders have been black, even during times of major racial segregation in the United States.
Granville Hedrick: The Church of Christ
In 1863, Granville Hedrick organized his branch of Mormonism. Today, it is known as the “Church of Christ.”
The Church of Christ accepts the Book of Mormon as scripture. Where it differs, is in its leadership. The leadership of the Church of Christ consists of apostles only. There is no President of the Church. The apostles lead and share power equally. The Church rejects polygamy in any form.
My purpose in listing a few of the many branches of Mormonism is not to say that one of those branches is true, while ours is false.
Rather, I seek only to ask a question: If The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has priesthood authority and prophetic revelation, why are plural marriage, racism, and sexism excused in their history, while other branches (which do not have authority nor revelation) have no such history? In other words, why would a Church led by imperfect men without revelation or authority make better choices than a Church led by imperfect men with revelation and authority?
I’ve often heard members excuse Brigham Young’s false doctrines by calling him a “product of his times.” Church leaders have said terrible, racist things, but it’s not their fault! They were just swayed by the world in which they lived. Why, then, were leaders of “non-authoritative” branches of Mormonism not so swayed? Shouldn’t the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have better, more righteous, more Christian policies than other branches?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not true.
It’s a house with white siding and black shutters. It’s inviting. It’s warm. But under the floorboards, rats run in swarms. Deep in the basement, mold covers the walls. Insects devour the food in the cellar.
And the men in the house, the proprietors—they cover the mold in thick gobs of paint. They trap the roaches on glue-paper and they poison the rats with cyanide-cheese. And they burn a log in the fire to cozy up the place. They light a candle in the entryway to keep the stench at bay.
And they call their house the pretty one. The warm one. The coziest white house on the white-house street.
And no one hears the rat-babies cry. And no one sees the glue-traps. And the doors are locked, and the windows are dark, and the house stands tall. Creaking, and looming, and rotten. Full of mold. Full of thieves.
