We are RLDS

This is a paper written by an "RLDS Restorationist" to others of the Restoration Branch movement, to promote discussion on the topic of why we are the true (orthodox) Reorganized Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints.

OUR SITUATION

Since 1984 until now there has been much confusion regarding who we are, what we should call ourselves, and what we should be doing as a church. Especially in the last few years, many among the Restoration Branch movement have begun to deny that they are "RLDS", claiming that the RLDS church is dead, and (often scornfully) rejecting those who do still claim to be RLDS.

ABOUT MYSELF

I grew up in the RLDS church, and was baptized and confirmed on October 1, 1978. I worshipped in the Odessa (MO) RLDS congregation, voted at stake conferences, and participated in other church activities. The vast majority of the saints in our branch were trying to maintain the original teachings of the Church, since the RLDS hierarchy was departing from the Church's original doctrines. In 1989 the stake leadership finally eliminated common consent by replacing our elected pastor with a man opposed by the 80 to 90% majority of the branch, and we knew that to continue worshipping according to our conscience we must leave the congregation and organize independently. This was also in accordance with spiritual testimony from several members.

The Odessa Restoration Branch was organized and has continued to this day. The branch's bylaws begin with the statement: "The members of the Odessa Restoration Branch consider themselves to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ as originally organized by Jesus Christ, restored on April 6, 1830, and subsequently reorganized on April 6, 1860. We are not a separate denomination, nor have we formed a new church" (emphasis added). In 1993 I received an ordination to the office of priest, with the understanding that I was a member of the RLDS Aaronic priesthood, although not officially recognized by the "institutional church". I now attend the Waldo Avenue Restoration Branch, and my beliefs concerning the church have not changed.

From that time until now I have not been excommunicated from the RLDS church, I have not been baptized into another church, nor have I removed my name from the RLDS rolls. I have never considered myself to be a member of any "new" church. I continue to believe that I am part of the true RLDS remnant maintaining the original principles of the RLDS church, and that the RLDS hierarchy have left the true Church by their departure from the original faith.

QUESTIONS

For those who believe themselves to be "Restorationists" but yet not RLDS, I have a few questions:

1. Have you been lawfully excommunicated from the RLDS church?
2. Those of you priesthood who have been silenced by the RLDS hierarchy, do you consider that action to be valid in the Lord's eyes? Was the silencing conducted according to church law (i.e. through proper investigation by a High Council or Elder's Court), because of legitimate spiritual transgression on your part?
3. Have you officially withdrawn your name from the RLDS church rolls?
4. Have you been baptized into another church subsequent to your RLDS baptism?
5. Has the Lord manifested His divine will to "set in order the church", as He did in the days of the Reorganization? Has such a revelation been accepted by a representative conference of the church membership by vote of the people, according to the scriptures?
6. Is there a Prophet whom the Lord has revealed to be the head of His church? Has any Prophet been recognized by the voice of the people and ordained in a legitimate church conference representing the common consent of the membership?
7. To those who have been baptized since 1984: Was that ordinance performed by someone whom YOU KNOW had (at the time) been baptized and ordained in another church?
8. To those who can answer "No" to the above questions:

How can you possibly argue that you are no longer RLDS ?

HISTORICAL PRECEDENT

Prior to and during the early Reorganization, much the same situation prevailed as we have today. However there were also some significant differences between then and now.

Between 1844 and 1851 the original church and its doctrines were maintained by the scattered, faithful remnant of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They had no head, little organization, and many wandered from one church or leader to another in search of a leadership that was faithful to the original tenets.

The church had been told in 1842 that, "ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead" if the Temple wasn't completed in the time appointed (RLDS D&C 107:10-11; LDS D&C 124:31-32). The Temple was never finished, and according to the prophecy the original organization of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" WAS REJECTED by the Lord. However, the Lord has also promised that the church has been restored for the last time (RLDS D&C 32:1d; LDS D&C 33:3).

Taking these prophecies together tells us that even though the organization of the church was rejected, the true Church of Jesus Christ did not go into Apostasy. It must be that the Church survived through the faithful saints and the outward structure was merely reorganized. This was the position taken by the early saints of the Reorganized Church.

In 1851 Elder Jason Briggs received a revelation that became the starting point of the Reorganization movement. The Elders were told to continue preaching the gospel as revealed in the Scriptures, and in time the Lord would call upon the seed of Joseph (Joseph Smith III) to preside over the high priesthood (The Messenger, vol. 2 p. 1). During the next several years, conferences were held in which the faithful saints, through common consent of the membership, began to organize themselves. They were guided in this organization by the Spirit of the Lord through many spiritual manifestations, indicating that they were indeed proceeding according to the Lord's will.

The saints of the early Reorganization considered themselves to be the true remnant of the original "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". However, due to legal considerations they were required to rename the church by adding "Reorganized" to the name. This reorganization of the church was necessary simply because the first organization was "rejected" by the Lord. Some people are currently teaching that the Church died or was lost during that "dark and cloudy day", and was restored again in 1860. However, the truth is that the priesthood authority and the body of true believers continued uninterrupted through that time and into the Reorganization.

The Conference held on June 12, 1852, passed a resolution, a portion of which relates to the authority of priesthood:

"Resolved, That we recognize the validity of all legal ordinations in this Church, and will fellowship all such as have thus been ordained, while acting within the purview of such authority;
Resolved, That we believe that the Church of Christ, organized on the 6th day of April, A.D. 1830, exists as on that day, wherever six or more Saints are organized, according to the pattern in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants" (The Messenger, vol. 2 p. 9).

The Church also agreed on a course of action related to re-baptism.

"Where evidence of a legal baptism once having been received, and in the absence of expulsion or apostasy, it was not admissable (sic) to require a re-baptism, to be identified with the Reorganization; but that in such cases it was optional with the persons themselves -- a matter of conscience with them alone" (The Messenger, vol. 2 p. 37).

The fact that re-baptism and re-ordination was not required for membership in the RLDS Church constitutes strong evidence that the church was a continuation of the original church, not the organization of a "new church"!

SETTING IN ORDER THE RLDS CHURCH

Are we in the same situation today? Is the Lord going to reject the RLDS Church and let it die, just like the LDS church ceased being the true Church? Is He going to "reorganize" the RLDS Church through a new organizational structure?

Many believe so, and to date there have been at least 12 new churches started, each claiming to be the legitimate successor to the RLDS church. Many of these have been led by leaders attempting to wrest control of the Church by convincing others that the RLDS Church is dead, and claiming that they now have the authority to lead the church. In the early Reorganization, it was known who was to be the next successor to the Prophetic office, and it was a descendent of Joseph Smith, set apart by him before his death. In our day, there is no person commonly acknowledged to have been named as the legitimate successor to the Prophetic office by revelation.

As mentioned above, Section 107 of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants prophesied that because of disobedience they would be rejected as a church. I would ask, Is there a similar revelation from the Lord stating that the RLDS Church will also be rejected by the Lord? I know of none!

On the contrary, many people have received spiritual experiences telling that the RLDS church will never fall! Following is a brief excerpt from numerous testimonies that the RLDS organization will survive its present crisis:

• Revelation given through Edmund C. Briggs (1852) "The standard [of the RLDS Church] then erected would never fall, also that the work of the Lord would go forth in power and triumph until its final completion."
• Revelation given at Conference (April 7, 1853) Prophecy was given "that false spirits, false prophets and false christs were in the world, and should come among us to deceive, and some should follow them; but that the organization [the Reorganized Church] should remain."
• Revelation to Elder John Landers, (April, 1860) "There will never more be an entire rejection of the Church."
• Experience of Brother T.T. Hinderks (1884) "The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... shall never be moved."
• Vision of W.R. O'Dell (June 23, 1886) "This Church shall remain until I shall come again....if these would-be leaders shall persist in trying to carry out their wishes, which are not in harmony with My will, I will remove them."
• Revelation to J.W. Nanny The Prophet Joseph Smith III who was "hedged about with a structure mighty and strong, which all the powers of earth and hell cannot overthrow", and "the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ is the body, the bride, the Lamb's wife, with whom the authority rests."
• Vision of Apostle Gomer T. Griffiths (1918) He saw the RLDS Church as a boat, moving through three dangerous periods, with the last being the most perilous. He was shown that Christ was at the helm, and safely guided the boat to the open sea.
• Vision of Zion given to Elder Donald R. Snively (1925) In his vision he saw a boat moving slowly through stagnant water, and some of the crew were struggling to gain control of the vessel. Lightning struck the boat, casting the would-be leaders overboard, and the vessel quickly picked up speed and reached the harbor of Zion.
• Dream of Elder Arthur Rock In the dream, priesthood were seen leaving the Auditorium, and a voice said, "These men are through. They have done all they could do to lead the people to the foolish teachings of men." Other men were waiting outside to carry on God's work.
• Dream of Elder Arthur Rock In this dream, He saw Satan represented as leaving the RLDS church and saying, "My work is finished here". He saw men working inside who were setting things in order.
• Revelation to Apostle Donald O. Chesworth (April, 1969) "In a much shorter time than you expect, the land of Zion will be cleansed....My church is fast approaching such a condition that I must bring to naught their clever schemes for the destruction of My church by Satan."
• A Night Vision, by Reginald Gosling Vision concerning the future of the world and the church, showing that the RLDS Church would prevail, though being badly damaged.
• Dream by Elder Keith A. Whately He was told to be patient, "all will be well"; and that Christ would again reclaim the RLDS Church.
• Vision by Sister Carolyn Klah (1991). She saw Jesus in the Auditorium, and Jesus told her that He would set things in order, and that it wouldn't be too much longer.
• Vision of Seventy T. Evan (Tommy) Thomas (1992) "...there appeared with it the words, 'In Behalf of the Restoration and the Reorganization'. Yes, of a surety I was impressed that I needed to continue to defend the Restoration and the Reorganization. "
• Vision and message by Elder Robert Smith (April, 1997) Message of warning to the present RLDS leadership: "To all who have been called unworthily, and have defiled my holy priesthood: ... My light shall come forth without warning ... and it shall drive them out of my flock."
• Dream by Priest Phillip Tandy (1999)In the dream he saw that the RLDS Church would be cleansed of false doctrine of the liberal leadership, and the Saints would be allowed to return.

You can read these and other testimonies on the "RLDS Resource Page" on my Web site (http://www.earthlink.net/~jptandy/rlds). Each of them indicates that the RLDS Church will not be rejected as an organization and will continue until the ultimate completion of the Lord's work in this dispensation.

Do we believe these testimonies were given by the Lord? Has He changed His mind without telling us, because He was taken by surprise by this latter day Liberal Apostasy? Will we continue to follow those false leaders who are trying to set themselves at the head of the church without the Lord's direction? Or, will we instead place our absolute faith in the Lord that He is able to fulfill His promises concerning the Church?

In summary, then, those members of the Restoration Branch movement who are striving to maintain the original principles of the gospel are the RLDS Church. The Liberal Hierarchy is not the true Church because they have departed from the faith once delivered to the Saints. The various factions and new churches are not approved of heaven because He has already told us by revelation that His Church will survive through the RLDS organization. Let us therefore not be ashamed of the name "Reorganized Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints", neither let us allow false teachers to lead us away from the Lord's true church!

Our Lord, the Bridegroom, is coming soon to set in order His church and establish the Kingdom. Let us be found watching and waiting, with our lamps trimmed and burning rather than going off to "those that sell" because we are lacking in the oil of the Holy Spirit and discernment of the Lord's will (Matt 25:1-12).

"And at that day when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins; for they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived, verily I say unto you, They shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day..." ( RLDS D&C 45:10b-c).

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