Posted on 11/30/2002 6:21:09 PM PST by drstevej
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Yes. Community of Christ believes in one God, who is eternal and all powerful. Jesus Christ, the center of the faith, is the Son of God, God incarnate. The Holy Spirit is the living presence of both the Father and Son.
What do you use for scriptures?
Community of Christ recognizes three books of scripture: The Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. We believe in continuing revelation and an open canon of scripture.
Who is eligible for priesthood membership?
All persons, male and female, are eligible for priesthood ordination. We believe God calls those chosen to serve in the ministry, which consists of two basic orders: the Aaronic (offices of deacon, teacher, and priest) and the Melchisedec (offices of elder, high priest, and the various specialized functions of the office of high priest).
What is tithing?
The concept of tithing is deeply rooted in our scriptures and tradition. It is a disciple's generous response, expressing love of God, neighbor, creation, and self. Tithing has two components: mission tithes and community tithes. Mission tithes are a disciple's generous response to world and local mission of the church. Community tithes are a disciple's generous response to church-affiliated organizations and other charitable nonprofit organizations that recognize the worth of persons and are committed to bringing about Christ's ministry.
Do you perform sacraments in your Temple in Independence?
The Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, is a house of public worship, and entrance into the Temple or participation in its ministries is open to all. Communion (the Lord's Supper) is often served during special services in the Temple sanctuary. Other sacraments are provided in local congregations.
Do you plan to build other temples?
The church was instructed to build its Temple in Independence. Since its ministries can be shared anywhere the church is gathered, there is need for only one temple. The building of the Temple began in April 1990, and it was officially dedicated at the 1994 World Conference. Community of Christ does own the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio. This historical site is maintained as a monument to the efforts and dedication of early church members.
The Mormons left Nauvoo in 1846. Joseph Smith III was only twelve. Who became prophet?
A large number of Saints made the journey to Utah in the 1840s under the direction of Brigham Young (the senior apostle at that time), but quite a number did not. Some joined other organizations led by a variety of individuals who had held various responsibilities in the church under Joseph Smith Jr. These organizations established different ways of dealing with the "succession to Joseph" issue and how leadership would be provided.
There are several historical indications that Joseph Smith Jr. designated that his son, Joseph Smith III, would someday follow him in office. Some of the leaders who arose initially indicated that they were only custodial leaders until Joseph III, who was born on November 7, 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio, came of age and could lead the church.
There were a number of congregations in the Midwest that chose not to affiliate with any of these organizations or their leaders. Some of these congregations began to form an association with each other in the early 1850s. They operated under the leadership of the ordained priesthood in each congregation. Some of these priesthood had spiritual experiences indicating that the congregations should prepare for the day when Joseph Smith III would become the next prophet-president of the church. Seeking divine direction and meeting together in conferences, they selected and ordained several apostles. This is the genesis of the "Reorganized Church" as we were sometimes called.
Eventually Joseph Smith III became a part of this organization and was ordained the prophet-president of the church on April 6, 1860, at Amboy, Illinois.
Is there any book regarding the history of the beginning of your church?
There are several. One excellent option is The Church through the Years, a two-volume history by Richard Howard, former church historian. Volume 1 covers the time period to 1860. Volume 2 is from 1860 to 1992.
Another option would be to read Community of Christ author Paul M. Edward's book, Our Legacy of Faith. This is a one-volume summary of our church story. Howard's and Edward's books can both be ordered from Herald House at 1-800/767-8181.
For more details, we have also published an eight-volume history of the church.
Another option is Jan Shipps's book Mormonism: The Story of A New Religious Tradition, an interesting look from a professional historian who is unaffiliated with the restoration churches.
Was Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith Jr., a member of your organization?
Yes. Emma Smith Bidamon, who married Lewis Crum Bidamon three-and-a-half years after Joseph's death, accompanied her son Joseph Smith III to the pivotal conference at Amboy, Illinois, on April 6, 1860. According to the conference minutes, she was received into fellowship by unanimous vote on the basis of her baptism in the early church, as was the custom then. The most respected book on Emma Smith is Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery's Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith, second edition, University of Illinois Press, 1994.
Emma's son was chosen as "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ, and the successor of his father" at the same conference. According to the conference minutes, Joseph was ordained by Zenas H. Gurley Sr. and William Marks on April 6, 1860. (Some sources indicate that Samuel Powers and W. W. Blair were also involved in the ordination.)
Understanding that Joseph Smith III took over leadership in 1860, what happened from 1846 through 1860?
As indicated above, many "independent" congregations continued to function under the leadership of their priesthood until they affiliated with the movement that became our church.
What position does Community of Christ take on Joseph Smith Jr.'s alleged involvement in polygamy?
As a policy, Community of Christ does not take positions on issues of history. We do however place great confidence in sound historical methodology as it relates to our church story. We believe that historians and other researchers should be free to come to whatever conclusions they feel are appropriate after careful consideration of documents and artifacts to which they have access. We then allow the results of that inquiry to inform us about our corporate identity today, where we have been in the past, and our future direction. We benefit greatly from the significant contributions of the historical discipline.
The issue of Joseph Smith Jr.'s connection to polygamy has its roots in the early days of our movement. The controversy, resulting from a lack of definition of that connection, still lingers today. Church members, wanting to protect Joseph Jr.'s good name, embraced Emma Smith's 1879 testimony given in the last weeks of her life that disavowed any connection between her husband and the aberrant marital practice. Joseph III agreed with his mother but held out the possibility of his father's involvement. He determined that his father would have been wrong if he had advanced such a belief.
Today, Community of Christ acknowledges that there is no "smoking gun" evidence that unquestionably links Joseph Jr. to polygamy. But the Church also acknowledges the huge body of circumstantial evidence from sermons, diaries, newspaper articles, personal testimonies, and even specific historical events that point directly to Smith as the author and practitioner of polygamy.
Community of Christ encourages its members to explore all issues pertaining to its story in an open atmosphere. Doing so allows each person to draw their own conclusions based on how they weigh the evidence.
There are several historical indications that Joseph Smith Jr. designated that his son, Joseph Smith III, would someday follow him in office. Some of the leaders who arose initially indicated that they were only custodial leaders until Joseph III, who was born on November 7, 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio, came of age and could lead the church.
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