Community of Christ

The Community of Christ, originally known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a religious group that separated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) after the death of its founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844.

Following the founder's death, the church fell into a state of confusion, and split up into factions. The largest of these, led by Brigham Young, moved to the Great Salt Lake Valley[?], and retained the original name. A smaller faction, led by the founder's eldest son, Joseph Smith III[?], initially remained in Illinois. There, on April 6, 1860, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized.

Joseph Smith III died on December 10, 1914, leaving the Reorganized Church without a leader. However, the leadership of his son Frederick Madison Smith was accepted shortly afterwards, with his becoming the new president of the church in 1915.

Like the LDS, its scriptures include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. Unlike the LDS, it does not count the Pearl of Great Price among its scriptures.

On April 6, 2001 this group changed its name from the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" to the present name, the "Community of Christ".

External link

• http://www.cofchrist.org/seek/history.asp - Church history and records