Many think the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed its name to the Community of Christ in order to distance its identity from the LDS church so they could be accepted into the World Council of Churches. For what reason did the RLDS change its name?

Most Mormons seem to be under the impression that the Community of Christ agreed to denounce the Book of Mormon as scripture in order to be accepted into the World Council of Churches. It's obvious that this isn't true, because the CofChrist names the Book of Mormon as accepted scripture in their Basic Beliefs . Did the Community of Christ denounce the Book of Mormon? If not, then why are the LDS under the impression that they did?

When Joseph Smith dragged his feet on building the Kirtland Temple, the Lord rebuked him saying,“Ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin in that ye have not considered the great commandment” in the “building of mine house.” (D&C 95:3) The Lord, in fulfillment of Acts 3:19-21, appeared in the temple to accept the temple. This was followed by the appearance of Elijah, who restored the keys of sealing of families and Moses, who restored the keys of the gathering of Israel, yet the RLDS/CofC don't see either as binding on the church. Apostle Orson Hyde was subsequently dispatched to the Holy Land to exercise the keys of the gathering of Judah, which began within two decades thereafter. Why, if the RLDS/CofC was going to ignore these important keys, did the church value the Kirtland Temple? It would be like valuing (as a relic) the cross Jesus was crucified on, while wholeheartedly rejecting the Atonement. It makes little sense. I've wondered about this for years.

The Restoration of All Things includes a restoration of *revelation*. Joseph Smith, as a dispensational head, had many revelations, including visions, theophanies, angelic visitations and, of course, revelations from the Holy Spirit. These things have continued unabated since his death in 1844, at least in the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The entries in the RLDS/CofC D&C or the history of the RLDS are a bit less clear. The LDS church emphatically declares yes, they all continue. Wilford Woodruff (the principle source of church history from the time Joseph Smith organized the church until his death and to the days of Brigham Young, had a comprehensive vision having to do with the dead. After Woodruff's death, Lorenzo Snow had two impressive revelations — one in the Salt Lake Temple, when Jesus Christ appeared to him with instructions on how to proceed after President Woodruff's death. Then there were others including fairly recent appearances by former church authorities. There also are other church authorities who have had theophanies, but who haven't told the general church membership. These authorities haven't told the general church membership their stories because the incidents are none of their business and would only serve to titillate the sensitivities of those who would find them thrilling to listen to. (And there are those who would sneer at them in the retelling.) The brethren do not cast their pearls before swine. But as someone who has read the RLDS D&C, I've yet to read any “revelation” therein that indicates that they have actually experienced an honest-to-goodness revelation. Instead, they have a boatload of weasel words aimed at getting around the truth. But if anyone knows of any experience of any church president between the death of Joseph Smith and the present woman president-prophet, I'd love to hear about it. As it is, I don't see any reference to prophets in the revelatory sense on the CofC website.

The ***Keys of the Kingdom*** are keys of authority given first to the apostle Peter (Mattew 16:18) and the Twelve (Matthew 18:19). Then, as part of the ***Restoration of All Things*** (Acts 3:19-21) they were restored “for the last time.” Joseph Smith subsequently passed these keys to Brigham Young and the Twelve, who went to Utah. Smith said he would give the saints *“keys that would never rust,”* meaning they would endure forever. These keys are: If you *follow the majority of the Twelve* and the *records of the church*, you will NEVER be led astray. How can the RLDS/CofC claim to be the true church that was restored to the Earth on April 6, 1830 when it has neither the ***Keys of Authority*** nor the ***Records of the Church***? How can it thus claim legal legitimacy?

The Community of Christ – formerly the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" – is a rather unique branch of Christianity in that it stems from the LDS Church, recognizing the Book of Mormon, but is also Trinitarian in its beliefs. It seems to follow from this that they must conclude that the Book of Mormon affirms the doctrine of the Trinity and does not teach eternal progression like the LDS church teaches. My question, then, is what is the Book of Mormon basis in support of the doctrine of the Trinity?

There is a common belief amongst mainstream LDS that the reason the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) started ordaining women with the priesthood is because they ran out of male descendants from Joseph Smith to lead the church. What's the real reason that the RLDS started ordaining women?

The Community of Christ–formerly known as the Reformed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS)–is a schism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). They separated from the main body of the church after Joseph Smith's death, believing that the line of prophetic succession should follow Smith's bloodline. Since then, they have made many fundamental changes to their doctrine, the most surprising change being that **they now believe in the doctrine of the trinity**. Joseph Smith saw God the father *and* the Son standing side by side. > I saw ***two* Personages**, whose brightness and glory defy all > description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, > calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—*This is My Beloved > Son. Hear Him!* (Joseph Smith History 1:17 ) Joseph Smith clearly taught that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were individual beings, and that both the Father and Christ had bodies of flesh and bone (see D&C 130:22 ). To this day the Community of Christ identifies Joseph Smith as their founder. (see Community of Christ: History ), and just prior to his martyrdom, Joseph Smith was quoted saying: > "I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the > subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. It has been > preached by the Elders for fifteen years." (Joseph Smith, June 16, > 1844) . **At what point did the RLDS abandon the most fundamental doctrine of the restoration and adopt the trinity?**

The Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) , has more sections to their Doctrine and Covenants –**163 sections**. This is 25 more than what's in the LDS Doctrine and Covenants . I notice also that many of the scriptures from sections written by Joseph Smith have been omitted by the Community of Christ. Without creating a long list answer, can someone explain what's in the RLDS D&C that isn't in the LDS D&C? And what the RLDS have removed or changed from the D&C that Joseph Smith wrote?