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The RLDS and the LDS

 

  

“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” 

                                                – Hebrews 13:9

   

   There is considerable confusion within the Christian community regarding the relationship between the Mormons (Latter-day Saints) and the RLDS (Reorganized Latter Day Saints). This confusion is understandable since the two churches share the same origins and history from 1805 to 1844, have many of the same beliefs, and because members of both churches refer to themselves as Latter Day Saints. In this chapter we will explore how the two groups are similar and also how they are different. 

Similarities

     The two churches share many of the same non-Biblical doctrines, some of which are:

 

·        That the New Testament Church, which Christ established, went into complete apostasy shortly after the death of the Apostles and disappeared from the earth. It was re-established on earth in l830 by the Prophet Joseph Smith.[1]

 

 

 

 

·        That many “plain and precious parts” were removed from the Bible down through the centuries by the “great and abominable church.” That Joseph Smith restored these lost truths, so that the ‘scriptures’ he produced, contain the fullness of the gospel.[2] 

 

 

 

 

·        That the Doctrine and Covenants is a collection of God’s continuing revelations to the prophets of His restored church in these latter days (Doc. and Cov. Sec. 1:5d,e).

 

 

 

 

·        That the authority of the priesthood system instituted in Adam’s lifetime (but taken from the earth after the apostasy of the New Testament Church) was restored through Joseph Smith. [3]

 

 

 

 

·        That Zion, the Kingdom of God, will be established in Independence, Missouri, before Jesus can come again (Doc. and Cov. 57:1, 83:1-2).

 

 

 

 

·        That all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of Joseph Smith’s restored gospel.[4]

 

 

 

 

·        That heaven consists of three kingdoms; the celestial, terrestrial and telestial glories and only worthy Latter Day Saints will go to the highest, or celestial glory (Doc. and Cov. 76:6).

 

 

 

 

·        That those who do not hear Joseph Smith’s gospel in this life will have the opportunity to hear it in the next (Doc. and Cov. 76:6c).

·        That all existing churches in 1820 were wrong, their creeds an abomination in God’s sight and all their professors (adherents) corrupt.[5]

Differences

       Several non-Biblical doctrines introduced by Joseph Smith Jr., which the LDS have accepted but which are rejected by the RLDS are:

 

1.      Marriage for time and eternity

 

 

 

 

2.      Baptism for the dead

 

 

 

 

3.      Eternal progression to Godhood

 

 

 

 

4.      Polygamy[6]

 

 

      Other differences between the two churches are illustrated in the following chart. 

 

 

RLDS

LDS

Headquarters

Independence, Missouri

Salt Lake City, Utah

Membership

Approx. 250,000

Approx. 10 Million

Prophet

W. Grant McMurray

Gordon B. Hinckley

Temples

2—Kirtland, Ohio and Independence, Missouri

52 worldwide (another 46 under construction)[7]

Purpose of Temples

Place of public worship and education

For the practice of secret ordinances—baptism for the dead and marriage for eternity

LDS & RLDS Beliefs versus Christian Beliefs

      For the Christian, it is imperative that the deviation from orthodox Christianity by both churches be clearly understood. That both groups have radically redefined Biblical terms is illustrated below.

 

 

Christianity

RLDS

LDS

God

·         Only one God—No God formed before or after Him.

·         God the Father is invisible.

 

·         God is not a man

 

·         God is Spirit [8]

·         God the Father is an eternal being – not invisible (both the Father and Son appeared together in Joseph Smith’s first vision story.)

·         Joseph Smith taught a plurality of gods in the book he allegedly translated as the Book of Abraham.[9]

 

·         God the Father has a flesh and bones body.    God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood.

 

·          God the Father in His glorified physical body had sexual intercourse with the virgin Mary that resulted in the conception of the physical Christ.

·          Brigham Young declared, “He [God] is our Father – the Father of our spirits, and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being.”[10] 

 

 

Christianity

RLDS

LDS

Christ

·         Jesus is God manifested in the flesh, Creator of the universe.

·         In Him was no sin.[11]

·         Jesus is our example. His Deity is equivocated on but He is seldom the doctrinal focus.

·         Joseph Smith said:  “All will agree that he [Jesus] is the prototype or standard of salvation, or that he [Christ] is a saved being.” [12]

·         By obedience and devotion He attained to the pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a god, even in his preexistent state.

·         Jesus was Lucifer’s spirit brother (the result of the Father’s intercourse with His eternal wife before the earth was formed) and became a god, equal to the Father, after his death, ascension and exaltation.

·         Christ, before his earthly ministry, was the first spirit child born to the Heavenly Father and Mother.[13]

Holy Spirit

·         The Holy Spirit is a person.

·         He is the third person of the Godhead (God the Holy Spirit).[14]

  • The living presence of both the Father and Son.

·         The shared “mind” of the Father and Son. The power emanating from God and Christ.[15]

·         The Holy Ghost is a “personage of Spirit.” He does not have a body of flesh and bones, like the Father and the Son.

·        He is the influence of deity.[16]

Sin

·         All humans are born with a sin nature—“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We are in spiritual rebellion until we are born again.[17]

·         Children are born without a sin nature. Sins are human errors, not man’s basic nature.[18]

·         Children are born without a sin nature. Men will be punished for their own sins, not for Adam’s transgression.[19]

Salvation

·         It is impossible to save oneself through good works or membership in an earthly organization.

·         It is by grace we have been saved, not of works, lest any man should boast, it is the gift of God.[20]

·         Baptism into the RLDS Church and confirmation by RLDS priesthood. Salvation is a progression, not a one-time event. People have opportunity for salvation after death.

·         All will be damned who refuse to believe Joseph Smith’s restored gospel. RLDS must keep the commandments given by Joseph Smith in order to “work” their way to heaven.

·          Salvation comes by faith plus works.[21]

·         Salvation comes through a combination of faith, baptism into the LDS church, and works.

·          Eternal life (the power to attain godhood and have children in heaven) can only be achieved through obedience to Mormon teachings and having one’s marriage sealed in a Temple ceremony by the Mormon priesthood.

·         The President of the [LDS] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints holds the keys of salvation for all men now living.

·         People may be saved after death.[22]

 

 

Christianity

RLDS

LDS

Scriptures

·         The Bible alone is the Inspired Word of God and the standard for all truth. It is authoritative and totally reliable in its present form and inerrant in the original autographs.

·         The Dead Sea Scrolls attest to the accuracy of Bible transmission.[23]

 

 

·         The Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants are the three books of sacred Scripture.

·         The Bible is not totally reliable. The Book of Mormon declares that many “plain and precious things” were taken from the Bible.

·         The Book of Mormon contains the “fullness of the gospel.”

·         As new “revelations” are given to the prophet and to priesthood members, they are considered scripture.[24]

·         The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.   

·         Selected Revelations are added to the Doc. and Cov. on an ongoing basis. 

·         The King James Version is used but is believed to be flawed. [25]

Gospel

·         The good news that God Himself came to earth, took the form of a man, died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead to provide eternal life for all who believe in Him.

·         “He that hath the son hath life, and he who hath not the son hath not life.”[26]

·         The doctrines taught by Joseph Smith as found in the Inspired Version of the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.

·         God restored the “fullness” of the gospel through Joseph Smith Jr. [27]

·         The teachings of Joseph Smith. It includes “all of the laws, principles, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to exalt men in the highest heaven.”[28]

  

 

Christianity

RLDS

LDS

Zion

·         Zion refers to Jerusalem in the Middle East or to the New Jerusalem kept in heaven until Christ returns.[29]

·         The kingdom of God which is to be built in Independence, Missouri before Christ's return.[30]

·         God’s Kingdom on earth. Center Place in Independence, Mo. To be established before Christ’s return.[31]

Priesthood

·         All born-again believers belong to the “royal priesthood.” These believers are a kingdom of priests offering up spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. 

·         The only High Priest in the Christian Church is Jesus Christ. [32]

 

·         The Old Testament Aaronic priesthood is blended with a Melchizedek priesthood to form a complex, multi-layered pyramidal authority system, with the RLDS prophet at the head.

·         Many RLDS serve as high priests at the same time.

·         Only RLDS priesthood members have authority to preach the gospel and administer ordinances.[33]

·         Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.

·         Automatic progression for loyal church members.

·         Only LDS priesthood members have authority to preach and perform ordinances.[34]

 

 

Christianity

RLDS

LDS

Heaven

·         Heaven is where God abides and where all born again believers go when they die.[35]

 

·         Heaven is divided into three kingdoms:

·         Celestial glory is for faithful RLDS.

·         Terrestrial glory is for Honorable men of the earth who reject Christ in this life but accept him after death.

·         Telestial glory is for liars, adulterers, sorcerers, etc.  Those who reject Jesus in this life but later accept Him. [36]

·         Divided into three kingdoms, Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial

·         Celestial, the highest glory is for worthy LDS only.[37]

Ordinances

·         Only two: Lord’s supper and baptism.[38]

 

·         Six ordinances – blessing of babies, baptism, laying on of hands, Lord’s supper, marriage and administration for the sick.

·         Only RLDS priesthood members can perform these ordinances.[39]

·         Baptism, baptism for the dead, marriage for time and eternity, ordination, Lord’s supper, temple rites.

·         All ordinances performed only by LDS priesthood members. [40]

 Note: The majority of the resource materials used in this book reflect the teachings of Joseph Smith Jr., which were embraced by the RLDS church for more than a century. In the past three to four decades, the church has reinterpreted many of Joseph’s early teachings to conform to a more liberal Protestant view. The authority to reinterpret earlier revelations is seen in the following excerpt from a revelation given by W. Wallace Smith.

 

“Instruction which has been given in former years is applicable in principle to the needs of today and should be so regarded by those who are seeking ways to accomplish the will of their heavenly Father. But the demands of a growing church require that these principles shall be evaluated and subjected to further interpretation” (Doc. and Cov. 147:7).

Because the Mormon Church continues to uphold most of Joseph Smith's aberrant teachings, the Christian community at large considers it to be a pseudo-Christian cult.

      However, the RLDS church has redefined and reinterpreted Joseph Smith's teachings, so the question must be asked, is the RLDS church now Christian as it claims, or does it also fit the description of a pseudo-Christian cult? The following chapters will provide the answer.


[1]     Evan Fry, The Restoration Faith, (Independence, Mo. Herald Publishing House, 1962), 170-175, Doc. and Cov. Sec. l:5d,e. 

[2]     Doc. & Cov. Sec. l7:2c,d, 2:6, 26:2, 83:8, l07:35, (1955 ed.)  Book of Mormon, I Nephi Ch. 3, pp. 35-37.

[3]    RLDS Church History, vol. 1, pp. 35,77, Doc. and Cov. 83:2.

[4]     Doc. and Cov.  42:16a, b, Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 11:44, Rom. 4:16, Inspired Version (hereafter referred as I.V.).

[5]     RLDS Church History, Vol. 1, p. 9.

[6]     LDS Doc. and Cov. Sec. 32, RLDS Doc. and Cov. Sec. 107, 1955 ed.

[7]     Christianity Today, June 15, 1998 p. 28.

[8]     Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 44:6, I Tim. 1:17, Num. 23:19, John 4:24.

[9]     RLDS Church History Vol. 1, p. 9, Book of Abraham.

[10]    LDS Doc. and Cov. 130:22, LDS History of the Church, v. 6, p. 305, Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, (West Valley City, Utah, Bookcraft Inc., 1958), p. 547, Journal of Discourses Vol. 1, p. 51, 218, Vol. 7, pp. 105-106, 333.

[11]    Matt. 1:23, Phil. 2:5-6, Col. 1:16, Heb. 4:15.

[12]    Lectures of Faith, p. 95.

[13]    Bruce McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p, 192, Milton R. Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, (Salt Lake City, Utah, Stevens and Wallis, Inc., 1945), p. 21, McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 278,589.

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