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Latter Day Saints, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter Day Saints, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of, a Mormon body that regards itself as the successor of the church founded by Joseph Smith. They organized in 1852, with Joseph Smith, Jr. (son of the Mormon founder), as their first president, and since that time have been separate and distinct from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. The headquarters of the Reorganized Church were first at Plano, Ill., until 1881, then at Lamoni, Iowa, until 1904, and since 1904 in Independence, Mo. The doctrines of the church are derived from the Bible, the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price (sayings ascribed to Moses and Abraham), and the revelations made to Joseph Smith. Brigham Young and his position on polygamy are rejected; there are other beliefs and practices they do not share with the Mormons. In 1997 there were about 249,000 members.



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Lattimore, Owen

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.