The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)

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The Church of Jesus Christ
Classification	Restorationist
Origin	April 6, 1830 Manchester or Fayette, New York, United States
Geographical Area	Worldwide
Statistics
Members	approximately 12,000

The Church of Jesus Christ is a Christian religious denomination headquartered in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, United States.^[1][2][3] It has sometimes been referred to as a "Bickertonite church" or "Rigdonite organization" based upon the church's claims of succession through William Bickerton and Sidney Rigdon. The church does not use these terms in referring to itself.

The Church of Jesus Christ is a Restorationist church and is historically part of the Latter Day Saint movement. The church is not officially affiliated with any other church, organization or denomination. The church has members in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa—for a membership total of 12,136.^[4]

The Church of Jesus Christ claims to be the spiritual successor to the Church of Christ, organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. on April 6, 1830. The Church of Jesus Christ claims that Sidney Rigdon was Joseph Smith's rightful successor following the assassination of Smith because Rigdon was Smith's first counselor in the First Presidency.^[5]

The Church of Jesus Christ's stated purpose is "to share the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, His promises and His redeeming love with all nations and races throughout the world and to carry out God’s plans in the latter days."^[6] The Church of Jesus Christ has spread throughout many countries and is growing both in America and abroad.^[6]

Contents 1 Mission and purpose 2 Use of descriptive terms 3 History 3.1 Leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1829–1844) 3.2 First transition of leadership 3.3 Leadership of Sidney Rigdon (1844–1847) 3.4 Second transition of leadership 3.5 Leadership of William Bickerton (1847–1880) 3.6 Third transition of leadership 3.7 Dissent and schism (1907–1914) 3.8 Adoption of official name 4 Organizational structure and membership 4.1 Scriptures 4.2 Salvation 4.3 Principles of the gospel 4.4 Priesthood and church structure 4.5 Joseph Smith 4.6 Other 5 Ordinances 5.1 The Lord's Supper 5.2 Feet washing 5.3 Holy kiss 5.4 Gifts of the Spirit 6 Racial integration 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links

[edit] Mission and purpose

The church teaches that it should be a place to:

• "establish, develop and nurture a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God"^[7]
• "grow in grace through song, worship, testimony, fasting and prayer"^[7]
• "enjoy the love of God and fellowship by ‘working’ with others of the same desire"^[7]
• "understand and learn the Holy Scriptures through adult class study"^[7]
• "teach and nurture children according to God's Word through Sunday School Youth Groups"^[7]
• "strengthen marriages and families"^[7]
• "better understand what they believe to be the Lord’s will in our lives"^[7]

The church believes that serving God and following Jesus is a "365 day per year activity",^[3] not just a Sunday activity. Chapels of the church contain neither altars nor crosses nor even pictures, as they believe scripture forbids any type of "graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4-7).^[3]

[edit] Use of descriptive terms

The Church of Jesus Christ is often referred to as a "Bickertonite" and a "Rigdonite" organization. These terms have reference to the church's claim of succession through William Bickerton and Sidney Rigdon. These terms are correct in their historical significance as applied to the succession of the church; however, The Church of Jesus Christ discourages their use because doing so detracts from the church's claim that the founder of the church is Jesus Christ.^[3] The church refers to itself only as "The Church of Jesus Christ", its legal and official name.

[edit] History

[edit] Leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1829–1844)

See also: Category:History of the Latter Day Saint movement

The Church of Jesus Christ claims to be a continuation of the Church of Christ, which was the original church organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr. informally in 1829 and then as a legal entity on April 6, 1830 in northwestern New York state.

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and a group of approximately 30 believers met to formally organize the Church of Christ into a legal institution. Traditionally, this is said to have occurred at the home of Peter Whitmer, Sr. in Fayette, New York, but early accounts place it in Manchester. Soon after this formal organization, small branches were formally established in Fayette, Manchester, and Colesville.

Smith and his associates intended that the Church of Christ would be a restoration of the 1st century Christian church, which Smith taught had fallen from God's favor and authority because of a Great Apostasy.

In late 1830, Smith envisioned a "city of Zion" in Native American lands near Independence, Missouri. In October 1830 he sent his second-in-command Oliver Cowdery and others on a mission to the area.^[8] Passing through Kirtland, Ohio, the missionaries converted a congregation of Disciples of Christ led by Sidney Rigdon, and in 1831, Smith decided to temporarily move his followers to Kirtland until the Missouri area could be colonized. The church headquarters remained in Kirtland from 1831 to 1838.

Many of Smith's followers attempted to colonize Missouri throughout the 1830s, and Smith himself moved there in 1838, the church faced political and military opposition by other Missouri settlers. After a series of crises, the church then established its new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois, a city they built on drained swampland by the Mississippi River, where Joseph Smith Jr. served as mayor. There, the church thrived until Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob in 1844. They were awaiting trial for crimes related to the destruction of the printing press of the Nauvoo Expositor. At the time, Joseph Smith was a minor candidate for President of the United States with Sidney Rigdon as his running mate. Before his death, Smith also began teaching doctrines that were rejected by the later church, particularly plural marriage.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] First transition of leadership

When Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, there was confusion about who should succeed him in leading the church. Many of the leaders of the church were absent from Nauvoo at the time of his death, serving as missionaries or working on Joseph Smith's presidential campaign. Sidney Rigdon was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he heard of Smith's death, and hurried back to Nauvoo, becoming one of the first church leaders to return. He quickly announced that he had the right to lead the church as its "guardian" until proper proceedings could decide the next church president, and that the Quorum of the Twelve did not have the right to lead the church.^[5] Rigdon had been ordained by Joseph Smith as a "Prophet, Seer and Revelator"^[5][9] — which were some of the same ecclesiastical titles held by Smith.

The Quorum of Twelve Apostles, led by Brigham Young, also claimed the right to lead the church. The Quorum of the Twelve's claim was derived from a revelation of Joseph Smith allowing them to stand equal to the First Presidency in attending to matters of the church not of a spritual nature.^[10] Many individuals later claimed to have heard Joseph Smith say if Brigham Young ever got control of the church he would run it to the devil.^[11] The most notable of these individuals was Joseph Smith's own brother, William Smith.^[11]

The Church of Jesus Christ maintains that the First Presidency had made nearly all the major decisions and led the Church of Christ prior to Smith's death, and as first counselor to Smith, Rigdon should naturally have been the leader of the church after Smith's death.^[12] With this understanding, The Church of Jesus Christ actively opposes the opinion that the Quorum of Twelve had the right to lead the church. The position of The Church of Jesus Christ is that Rigdon should have been allowed to be what he claimed to be—a "guardian" over the church until proper proceedings could decide the next church president. The Church of Jesus Christ maintains that the proceedings which authorized Brigham Young to lead the church were a violation of proper proceedings of the church.^[13]

[edit] Leadership of Sidney Rigdon (1844–1847)

See also: Rigdonite

The Latter Day Saints who followed Rigdon separated themselves from the followers of Young. While the group led by Young remained in Nauvoo, Illinois and eventually settled in Utah Territory, Rigdon and his followers settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On April 6, 1845, Rigdon presided over a conference of the Church of Christ, which he claimed was the rightful continuation of the church founded by Smith. (Historians often refer to Rigdon's church as the Church of Christ (Rigdonite) and its adherents as Rigdonites, Pennsylvania Latter Day Saints, or Pennsylvania Mormons."^[14]) William Bickerton was among those converted by Rigdon's preaching, and was baptized at Pittsburgh in 1845. Later that same year Bickerton was ordained an elder and shortly after an evangelist in the church.^[15]

[edit] Second transition of leadership

At a general conference of the church held that fall in Philadelphia, Rigdon announced that the church would re-establish a communitarian society on what was named "Adventure Farm" near Greencastle, Pennsylvania. Many of Rigdon's followers, including Bickerton, opposed moving the headquarters of the church. By 1847, disagreement among the members had led to the virtual disintegration of Rigdon's church, and Bickerton claimed that the Rigdonite organization had fallen away.^[16] Several prominent members, including William E. M'Lellin and Benjamin Winchester, separated from Rigdon's church and established another organization centered around the leadership of David Whitmer. However, some followers of Rigdon, including Bickerton, refused to join this group of dissenters.

Bickerton remained in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, and never moved to Greencastle with Rigdon. By April 1847, the Adventure Farm community had collapsed and Rigdon had abandoned his followers.

Having a strong conviction in the beliefs he had gained, but left without an organization, Bickerton associated with two elders^[17] of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)^[18] in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania from March 1851 to March 1852.^[12][16] Bickerton acted as Presiding Elder of this Latter Day Saint church in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.^[19] In 1852, representatives of LDS Church president Brigham Young visited Bickerton and informed him that he must teach plural marriage. Bickerton replied, "If the approval of God were to come to me by accepting the doctrine of polygamy, I prefer the displeasure of God."^[12] Bickerton disassociated himself from the LDS Church because of its adherence to doctrines that he felt could not be substantiated in the Bible or the Book of Mormon, particularly plural marriage.^[16]

On March 10, 1852, Members of the West Elizabeth branch of the Latter Day Saint group led by Bickerton published the following statement:

“

We, the undersigned, have left off all connection whatsoever with Brigham Young and the twelve whose headquarters or home is in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake — because of their adultery and general wickedness.[12]

”

[edit] Leadership of William Bickerton (1847–1880)

See also: William Bickerton

In a pamphlet published in Pittsburgh in 1863, Bickerton described his situation after the collapse of the Rigdonite church and his departure from the Utah church:

“

... The Church [had become] disorganized. Here I was left to myself. I paused to know what course to pursue. I knew my calling was from Heaven, and I also knew that a man cannot build up the Church of Christ without divine commandment from the Lord, for it would only be sectarianism, and man's authority. But the Lord did not leave me; no, he showed me a vision, and in the vision I was on the highest mountain on the earth; and he told me that if I did not preach the gospel I would fall into a dreadful chasm below, the sight thereof was awful. I moved with fear, having the Holy Spirit with me. Here I was, none to assist me, and without learning, popular opinion against me, and the Salt Lake Mormons stood in the way. I could not turn back unto Methodism again. No, I knew they had not the gospel. I stood in contemplation. The chasm was before me, no other alternative but to do my duty to God and man. I went ahead preaching repentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Some believed my testimony and were baptized, and we met together [and] the Lord met with us ....[20]

”

Bickerton continued to preach and by May 1851 a branch of the church was organized under Bickerton's leadership in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Other ministers were ordained and branches were established in Allegheny, Rock Run, Green Oak, and Pine Run, Pennsylvania, as well as Wheeling, West Virginia.

Many visitors inquired of this organization's position concerning Latter Day Saints who followed Brigham Young. The following statement was officially recorded in 1855:

“

As some individuals have been inclining to the people of Salt Lake and their doctrines, we have felt it our duty while sitting in Council before the Lord, that all who hold such doctrines, after due examination before witnesses, shall be cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as the spirit may direct and shall have no fellowship with the Saints.[2]

”

At a conference in July 9, 1861, it was recorded that twelve of their number were chosen and called by the Holy Spirit to be apostles, and it was recorded that the word of the Lord had declared,

“

...yet once again I have raised up another like unto Joseph, to lead forth my people; him shall ye hear in all things. I decreed that I would set up an ensign, and raise up a standard. That ensign has been lifted, that standard raised, and now I have called forth my servant William Bickerton to lead forth my people, and they shall go in and out and find pasture, and the world shall know that there is a God in heaven...[20]

”

At a conference in Green Oak (also known as Greenock^[16][20]), Pennsylvania in July 1862, leaders of several branches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia came together and formally organized "The Church of Jesus Christ". Bickerton presided over the conference. Bickerton's two counselors in the newly organized First Presidency were George Barnes and Charles Brown, who were ordained apostles. A Quorum of Twelve Apostles of that organization was also ordained. Those called to the Twelve (ordered by seniority) were Arthur Bickerton, Thomas Bickerton, Alexander Bickerton, James Brown, Cummings Cherry, Benjamin Meadowcroft, Joseph Astin, Joseph Knox, William Cadman, James Nichols, John Neish and John Dixon.^[20]

At a conference in 1863, a revelation was recorded that stated,

“

...William Bickerton shall be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church, through the will of God and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ; and also it was felt to be the will of God that the two counselors, Charles Brown and George Barnes, should have the same calling laid upon them...[20]

”

The church was incorporated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in June of 1865 with the legal name, "Church of Jesus Christ of Green Oak, Pennsylvania."^[2]

The church quickly produced a translation of the Book of Mormon in Italian, and a significant amount of the church's early growth during the 1870s took place among Italian American immigrants in Philadelphia. People of Italian heritage have remained a significant element of the church's membership since that time.^[21]

In 1874, the church appointed a committee aimed at achieving a gathering of the church among the Native Americans. The following year Bickerton accompanied by approximately thirty-five to forty families moved to Kansas to found the Zion Valley Colony, which later became the town of St. John, Kansas.^[22] After dedicating Zion Valley, Bickerton encouraged the saints to migrate there. Shortly after their arrival, Bickerton and his followers erected a frame building, "about 40x70 feet", which the locals called the "Mormon temple".^[23] However, the community of Zion Valley did not last due to dissension among the members, and "a few years later the temple was sold to Swartz Bros. who converted it into a hardware and drug store."^[23] The saints who remained in Pennsylvania pledged to support the missionaries as best they could.

[edit] Third transition of leadership

As the church began to grow in the East, membership sought to establish missionary work with the Native Americans. In 1874 the church appointed a committee to establish a church in Stafford County, Kansas. The following year William Bickerton dedicated land now known as St. John, Kansas. At the time it was named "Zion Valley". Membership was encouraged to move and remaining members to support the mission financially. During this time, division in the church grew between east and west. William Cadman was elected president of the church in the east in 1880, while Bickerton remained president over the members in the west because of the geographical differences.^[12] At the time, there were ten missions in the east and Zion Valley in the west.

In 1880, the church faced a serious crisis when charges of adultery were brought against Bickerton by another member of the church in Kansas.^[18] Although Bickerton maintained his innocence, a church council decision went against him and he was disfellowshipped from the church.^[18] He was later exonerated of the charges in court^[12] and reinstated in the church in 1902. Bickerton remained a church member until he died in January 1905.

In 1887, at the final General Church Conference to be held in Kansas, the church headquarters was moved back to Pennsylvania, where it has been ever since. By 1904, Cadman was the only surviving member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The Quorum was filled once again at a conference held that July. The following year Cadman died.

[edit] Dissent and schism (1907–1914)

At the conference of the church in 1907, apostle Allen Wright distributed a pamphlet^[24] that expressed a dissenting opinion on the Second Coming of Jesus and the nature of Christ's millennial reign on earth. The conference condemned the publication and passed a resolution that suspended any member who believed Wright's ideas.^[25] Wright and five other members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles refused to sustain the administrative action of the conference and subsequently were removed from office and excommunicated.^[25] A few months later, the six apostles and their followers organized the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, with former Church of Jesus Christ apostle William T. Maxwell as president.^[25]

In 1914, another schism occurred in the main church, this one led by James Caldwell, an evangelist in the church. Caldwell's groups opposed The Church of Jesus Christ's continued use of the quorum of the First Presidency, which they claimed was an alien institution to the true Church of Jesus Christ.^[25] Caldwell and his followers named their church the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ.^[25] Eventually, the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ merged with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, and the combined organization survived into the 1970s.^[25]

[edit] Adoption of official name

On 5 April, 1941, the church in Pennsylvania was granted the title of "The Church of Jesus Christ" by Washington County, Pennsylvania.^[2] The church today is legally registered as "The Church of Jesus Christ" in the corporate registry of the state of Pennsylvania.^[1]

[edit] Organizational structure and membership

See also: Quorum of Twelve Apostles (The Church of Jesus Christ)

The Church of Jesus Christ does not view the prophetic office as limited to a "prophet" or to the president of the church. Rather, members believe that it encompasses the Quorum of Twelve Apostles together and that revelations can be given to individual members of the church. The president of the church and his two counselors are elected by the general priesthood in conference and selected from amongst the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The president of the church, while being an ordained apostle, functions as the chief operating officer, overseeing the general operations of the church. In contrast, the Quorum of Twelve Apostles has its own president and officers elected amongst themselves, independent of the general priesthood. The Quorum of Twelve are primarily responsible for guiding the spiritual growth and development of the church in general, acting as advisers to key operating committees. Other officers of the church include the Quorum of Seventy Evangelists.

The church records revelations that are deemed valid by the apostles, and publishes them where believed appropriate, but these are not bound together in a single volume. These revelations may come from the Quorum of the Twelve singly or together. They also may come from individual members of the church, and will only be published if they are approved by the Quorum.

Today, The Church of Jesus Christ has a total worldwide membership of 12,136, with nearly 3,000 located in the United States. The church continues to experience significant growth in comparison to some of the other smaller Latter Day Saint organizations.^[4]

[edit] Scriptures

The Church of Jesus Christ believes that the New Testament scriptures contain a true description of the church as established by Jesus Christ. They believe this church as set up to be sufficient for life and salvation to all humankind.

Both the Bible and Book of Mormon are considered the inspired word of God. All doctrines and faith of the church are referenced with these two books. Other books commonly associated with the Latter Day Saint movement such as the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and others are considered to contain many false revelations and are not accepted by the church. The church believes in continuing revelation from God, but only when those revelations are supported by the Bible and the Book of Mormon. ^[16]

[edit] Salvation

The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that the church as set by Christ in the New Testament contains all doctrines and practices essential for salvation. Adherents believe that the church today should contain every element of the early church. Humankind will be punished according to their own sins and not the sins of Adam and Eve. Little children, therefore, have no need of salvation and are commonly blessed by the priesthood. Young people are permitted to join the church when they reach an age of accountability.^[16]

[edit] Principles of the gospel

1. Faith - Members must believe in Jesus Christ, that He died and resurrected.
2. Repentance - A feeling of sorrow for sin and desire to sin no more.
3. Baptism (Water) - Done by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for the remission of sins. Immersion is considered being buried in likeness of the death of Christ and arising in newness of life. The church teaches that baptism must be in a natural body of water such as a river or lake, and not in a pool or other artificial structure. ^[16]
4. Baptism (Fire) - Laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost. The priesthood lay hands on the head of the candidate for this reception after the baptism of water.

[edit] Priesthood and church structure

The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that the structure of the early church and that apostles, evangelists, elders, teachers, and deacons should still lead the church today. The most important calling within the church is considered to be that of a member. The leadership is not considered a hierarchy, but rather the higher the calling the greater the service. Each leadership position within the church further adds to the service required. No office within the church is paid, including the ministry. Apostles lead the church; evangelists preach to the world; elders serve their various branches and missions. All of these offices are considered the "ministry" of the church. Teachers visit the membership, teach, and preach or lead services when elders are not present. Deacons visit the sick, widows, and attend to many physical and spiritual duties for each branch of the church. Deaconesses set the sacrament table and attend to the needs and development of the women of the church.

Although women may serve as deaconesses in the church, in accordance with the church's interpretation of the scriptures, only men may become elders. Deaconesses do not have priesthood authority but prepare the communion tables. Deacons set up chairs and prepare the chapel for meetings; they also care for the members of the church in general and visit the sick in particular. Elders are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the church. As with most Restoration denominations, elders are never referred to as "Father" or "Reverend", as the belief of the church is that scripture forbids this practice (Matthew 23:9). Likewise, elders and all church officials (including the Church Presidency and Quorum of Apostles) are volunteers and receive no financial remuneration for their activities. Elders perform administration to the sick through the laying on of hands, using oil if the illness is physical. According to the doctrine of the church, elders, evangelists, and apostles are called to their positions by revelation.^[16]

In worship services, members of the priesthood do not prepare written sermons prior to the meeting. Instead, the priesthood strives to speak under the inspiration of Jesus Christ, claiming that the Holy Spirit directs their words. Each week, church services begin with preaching from the priesthood and generally followed by a testimony portion of the meeting, during which time members of the congregation (and visitors) are given the opportunity to "praise God for what He has done for them."

[edit] Joseph Smith

The Church of Jesus Christ considers Joseph Smith, Jr. to have been a prophet and a seer, and an instrument in the hands of God in the restoration of the gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ believes that many revelations began to enter into the church through Smith that were contrary to the scriptures and the will of God. In contrast with other Latter Day Saint denominations, The Church of Jesus Christ does not believe Joseph Smith was the "Choice Seer" predicted by the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 3:6-7). Its members are still awaiting the coming of the Choice Seer whom many in the organization believe will be of Native American heritage.^[26][27]

One of the key reasons why The Church of Jesus Christ believes Joseph Smith received many revelations contrary to the Word of God was described by one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, David Whitmer. A revelation received by Joseph to go to Toronto for business turned into a bankrupt expedition.^[28][29] Smith then was reportedly given a revelation clarifying that, "Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil."^[29] Thus, in order to strictly adhere to God's will, The Church of Jesus Christ only accepts revelation as supported by the Bible and the Book of Mormon.^[16] William Cadman wrote on this matter,

"There has been much said about Joseph Smith...all people who manifest faith in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, do acknowledge him to be inspired of God when but a youth....He has been a much accused man, whether truly or falsely, eternity will reveal. If he taught plural marriage...plural Gods, baptism for the dead, the Book of Mormon does not sustain him, neither does the teachings of our Savior in the New Testament...The Church of Jesus Christ does not believe such teachings."^[2]

[edit] Other

Members refer to each other as "Brother" and "Sister." The church counsels members to be moderate in all things including their dress and appearance.

The Church of Jesus Christ believes that hymns are often revealed through divine inspiration for the edification of the church. They use many different songbooks, but mainly two: The Saints Hymnal and The Songs of Zion.

The church maintains a publishing house in Bridgewater, Michigan and prints its own edition of the Book of Mormon. The church publishes a monthly periodical called The Gospel News.

One of the more famous people to have been born and raised in The Church of Jesus Christ is Alice Cooper. His grandfather, Thurman Sylvester Furnier, was an apostle of the church, and his father, Ether Moroni Furnier, was an elder in the church.

[edit] Ordinances

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ perform many ordinances as found in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon. Baptism, the Lord's Supper, feet washing, and others are all ways to remember Jesus Christ. The church claims these ordinances demonstrate remembrance, love, and humility before God and each other.

[edit] The Lord's Supper

Like many Christian denominations, the church uses bread and wine for the "The Lord's Supper", representing the body and blood of Christ which they believe was sacrificed for the sins of humankind. The prayers for the Sacrament are not read verbatim from the Book of Mormon (Moroni 4 and Moroni 5), but are left to "inspiration of the Holy Spirit." A first prayer is given prior to passing the bread and then another is offered prior to passing the wine. The communion is administered only to active, baptized members of the church. The wine is served in a communal cup. The ministers serve the congregation by walking around to each person in their seats, first with plate of bread and then with the cup of wine. The bread is not wafers or crackers, but leavened bread that has been broken into small pieces by the ministry during the ordinance. The ministers are the last to partake of the bread and the wine after the congregation has been served.

[edit] Feet washing

Church members follow the ordinance of feet washing (John 13:5) four times a year as a demonstration of personal humility. The church believes that this is a very important ordinance, citing Jesus' statement to Peter: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

[edit] Holy kiss

Church members greet each other with a "holy kiss", preferably on the cheek, to signify that they are greeting each other in the love of God, in accordance with the description given in the King James Version of the New Testament.^[16]

[edit] Gifts of the Spirit

Members of the church believe in the gifts of the Spirit, as described in their scriptures. These include but are not limited to: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, witnessing of angels, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of divers tongues.^[16]

[edit] Racial integration

The Church of Jesus Christ has advocated full racial integration throughout all aspects of the church since its organization in 1862. While America disputed over civil liberties and racial segregation, the church claimed their message was for all races.^[30] In 1905, the church suspended an elder for opposing the full integration of all races.^[12]

Historian Dale Morgan wrote in 1949: "An interesting feature of the Church's doctrine is that it discriminates in no way against ... members of other racial groups, who are fully admitted to all the privileges of the priesthood. It has taken a strong stand for human rights, and was, for example, uncompromisingly against the Ku Klux Klan during that organization's period of ascendancy after the First World War."^[31]

At a time when racial segregation or discrimination was commonplace in most institutions throughout America, including the LDS Church, two of the most prominent leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ were African American. Apostle John Penn, member of the Quorum of Twelve from 1910 to 1955, conducted missionary work with many Italian Americans, and was often referred to as "The Italian's Doctor".^[12] Matthew Miller, an evangelist ordained in 1937, traveled throughout Canada establishing missions with Native Americans.^[12]

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Entz, Gary R. "The Bickertonites: Schism and Reunion in a Restoration Church, 1880-1905," Journal of Mormon History 32 (fall 2006): 1-44.

[edit] External links

• Ladies Uplift Circle
• Official website
• Official Church Statement

U.S. Regions of The Church of Jesus Christ

• Atlantic Region
• Great Lakes Region
• Midwest Region
• Pacific Region
• Pennsylvania/Mid Atlantic Region
• Southeast Region
• Southwest Region

Youth Missionary Programs

• General Missionary Benevolent Association
• GMBA Campout
• Student Support Program
• Youth In Action

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