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Community of Christ company history timeline

1830

Following its publication, Joseph and a small group of believers established a new church, officially organized as the “Church of Christ” on April 6, 1830.

1831

While the Kirtland experiment grew, missionaries visited Jackson County, Missouri, designated by Joseph Smith as the center of God's earthly kingdom (Zion) in 1831.

1835

In their view, Joseph Smith Jr. became a fallen prophet and it happened back when he decided to massively edit his own revelations (i.e., prior to 1835). They therefore reject the D&C and most later Restoration innovations except for the creation of a Council of Twelve Apostles.

1838

By the spring of 1838, most of the church from Kirtland, including Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and their children, traveled west to join church members in northern Missouri.

1844

On June 27, 1844, an angry mob broke into the Carthage, Illinois, jail and killed Joseph and his brother Hyrum who had been imprisoned there.

After Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, the church that he founded broke into factions following various leaders.

John talks about the rapid evolution in Mormonism from its origins to 1844, its inherent tensions, and the direct causes of the schism that emerged after Brigham Young’s showdown with Sidney Ridgon for church leadership in Nauvoo.

1847

That situation ended when Brigham re-organized a new First President in 1847; for my perspective, this is the date when he creates the Utah LDS Church.

But yes, he had an actual First Presidency as of 1847.

1852

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: History …Joseph Smith III, formed the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as the Community of Christ) in 1852–60.

The Community of Christ rejects the doctrine of polygamy and denies that it was taught and practiced by Joseph Smith. It claims that polygamy was introduced by Brigham Young and his associates and that the revelation on polygamy, which was made public in 1852 by Young in Utah and attributed to Smith, was not in harmony with the original tenets of the church or with the teachings and practices of Smith.

1860

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized on April 6, 1860, at Amboy, Illinois, under the leadership of Joseph Smith III. His leadership spanned 54 years marked by wisdom and sensitivity.

Under Joseph III’s leadership the first edition of The True Latter Day Saints’ Herald was published in 1860.

John describes how polygamy continued to be the main point of contention and how the organizations of most of Brigham Young’s rivals had faltered by 1860.

1869

The word Reorganized was added to the title in 1869.

1885

See also David Whitmer interview with Zenas Gurley, 1885.

1888

In 1888, a thriving congregation had formed and began building a large church simply known as “Stone Church.”

1915

Joseph Smith III’s son, Frederick M. Smith, became president of the church in 1915.

1920

Since April 1920, the official corporate headquarters of the RLDS Church has been in Independence, Missouri.

1926

In 1926 construction began on a massive, domed structure in Independence, Missouri, called the Auditorium.

1946

In 1946, Joseph Smith III’s son, Israel A. Smith, succeeded his brother Fred M. as president of the church.

1958

In 1958, W. Wallace Smith became the third of Joseph III's sons to follow him in the presidency.

1960

But then in the 1960’s the RLDS church finally admitted to Joseph Smith practicing polygamy, why didn’t they know about it from the early history of the church?

1976

In 1976, W. Wallace Smith designated his son, Wallace B. Smith, to succeed him as president of the church after a two-year period of preparation.

1996

He was succeeded by his sons, and all of the successors were descendants of the founder until the seventh president, W. Grant McMurray, assumed the post in 1996.

2001

In 2001 the church changed its name to Community of Christ.

2005

Following this period of prayer and discernment, Stephen M. Veazey was ordained as the eighth prophet-president of the church in 2005.

2013

I’ve just got to say, this has been one of the MOST ENLIGHTENING video series I’ve come across since my family left the LDS church in February, 2013!!!

John Dehlin July 9, 2013 Church History, Joseph Smith 50 Comments

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1830
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Community of Christ may also be known as or be related to Community Of Christ, Community of Christ, Community of Christ Capital Area Congregation and Community of Christ, Inc.