Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) facts for kids
The Church of Christ was the first name of a religious group started by Joseph Smith. It began informally in 1829 in upstate New York and was formally organized on April 6, 1830. This church was the first to follow the ideas found in Smith's new book, the Book of Mormon. Its creation marked the official start of the Latter Day Saint movement. Over time, the church's name changed several times. It was called the Church of the Latter Day Saints (in 1834), the Church of Jesus Christ, the Church of God, the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, and finally the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (in 1838).
Joseph Smith and his followers believed the Church of Christ was a restoration of the early Christian church from the first century. Smith taught that the original Christian church had lost its way and its authority from God. He called this a "Great Apostasy". After Smith died in 1844, there was a disagreement about who should lead the church. Most members followed Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. However, several smaller groups stayed in Illinois or moved to Missouri and other states. Each of these groups believes it is the true continuation of Smith's original "Church of Christ," even if they have different names today. Examples include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church), Community of Christ, and others.
This church is different from other groups with similar names, like the United Church of Christ or the Churches of Christ. Today, several Latter Day Saint groups are called "Church of Christ."
Contents
Early Ideas Before 1830
The idea of the "church of Christ" first appeared in the Book of Mormon, which Joseph Smith dictated in 1829. As he dictated, the idea of a church with God's authority, special ceremonies like baptism, and leaders became clear. The book described a leader named Alma the Elder who baptized his followers. He called his group the "church of God, or the church of Christ." The leaders in Alma's church were called priests and teachers. They taught about repentance and faith in God.
In May 1829, Smith said he received a message that described the church simply: "whoever repents and comes to me, the same is my church." The Book of Mormon also mentioned there were only "two churches": "the church of the Lamb of God" and "the church of the devil."
Also in May 1829, Smith and Oliver Cowdery said that John the Baptist appeared to them. He gave them the authority to baptize people in Jesus Christ's name. Smith and Cowdery then baptized each other. They also baptized many other people starting in June 1829. These new believers called themselves "the Church of Christ." They lived in three New York towns: Fayette, Manchester, and Colesville.
By April 1830, this informal "Church of Christ" had about six leaders called elders and 70 members.
Organizing the Church
On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and about 30 other believers met. Their goal was to formally organize the Church of Christ as a legal group. It is debated whether this meeting happened at the home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, New York, or at the log home of Joseph Smith Sr. near Manchester, New York. Soon after this formal organization, small groups called branches were set up in Manchester, Fayette, and Colesville.
Where the Church Was Organized
Before 1834, all church writings said the church was organized at the Smith log home in Manchester, New York. However, starting in 1834, some church writings began to say the meeting happened in Fayette, at the home of Peter Whitmer Sr.. Many other important meetings had taken place at the Whitmer home around that time.
Today, the largest church that came from this movement, the LDS Church, officially says that Fayette was the location of the organizing meeting.
What Happened at the Organization
Later accounts describe the April 6 meeting as a very spiritual event. Some members said they had visions, prophesied, spoke in tongues, shouted praises, and even fainted. At this meeting, the church officially appointed its first leaders. These leaders held offices like deacon, teacher, priest, and elder. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were both appointed as "an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church." Later, this account was changed to say Smith was the "First Elder" and Cowdery was the "Second Elder."
First Members of the Church
According to the LDS Church, the first six members of the Church of Christ were:
- Oliver Cowdery
- Joseph Smith
- Hyrum Smith
- Peter Whitmer Jr.
- Samuel H. Smith
- David Whitmer
Other early members included the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. Members of the extended Whitmer and Smith families also joined. Friends and acquaintances, like Porter Rockwell, were also early members.
The Church's Name
Why the Name Changed
Joseph Smith said that God commanded the organization of the "Church of Christ" in 1830. Smith taught that this church was a return to the original Christian church that Jesus started. He also taught that this "restoration" was happening in the "Latter Days," meaning the time just before Jesus's return.
Early Name Changes
Many other religious groups were also called "Church of Christ." This caused some confusion in the early years of the Latter Day Saint movement. Because Smith's followers believed in the Book of Mormon, people outside the church started calling them "Mormonites" or "Mormons." Smith and other church leaders thought the name "Mormon" was insulting.
In May 1834, the church decided to change its name to "The Church of the Latter Day Saints." At different times, it was also called "The Church of Jesus Christ," "The Church of God," and "The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints."
In the late 1830s, Smith and his loyal followers moved to a new main location in Far West, Missouri. In 1838, Smith announced a new message that renamed the church "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
Later Name Variations
Until Smith died, the church was known as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" (sometimes with a hyphen). After Smith's death, different Latter Day Saint groups formed. The largest of these, led by Brigham Young and now based in Salt Lake City, Utah, continued using the name. In 1851, they officially set the spelling as "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (LDS Church).
Another group, led by Smith's son, Joseph Smith III, also used the name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." However, in 1872, this group officially became the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" (RLDS Church). This helped tell it apart from the larger Utah church. In 2001, the RLDS Church changed its name again to "Community of Christ," bringing back a part of the original "Church of Christ" name.
Other Latter Day Saint groups also returned to the original name or a similar one. These include the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite).
Who Claims to Be the Original Church?
Almost every Latter Day Saint group today claims to be the true continuation of the original Church of Christ. They all see Joseph Smith as their founding prophet or first president. For example, the LDS Church, Community of Christ, and Church of Christ (Temple Lot) all say they were organized by Smith on April 6, 1830. Other groups, like The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), admit they formed later but still believe they are a re-establishment of the original church.
See also
- History of the Latter Day Saint movement
- List of denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement
