I’m excited to welcome John Hamer back to the show. John is a Seventy in the Community of Christ and a remarkable historian of Restoration Churches. Earlier this month, he was in Utah for the 50th Anniversary of Sunstone, and today we’ll be talking about the many ways to Mormon, including some of the Restoration Churches/schismatic groups that were represented at Sunstone. This episode will be part of a broader conversation about various Latter Day Saint schismatic movements. Join us for the discussion!
Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/
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Gospel Tangents
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Exploring the “Multiple Ways to Mormon” at Sunstone’s 50th Anniversary
The recent 50th anniversary of the Sunstone Symposium in Utah provided a unique opportunity to delve into the rich and diverse landscape of the Mormon culture and restoration heritage. John Hamer is a three-time guest on Gospel Tangents and a Seventy with the Community of Christ. Sunstone serves as an “open diverse forum” that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, whether they are orthodox LDS, fundamentalists, or members of the Community of Christ. This gathering truly embodies the idea that there is “more than one way to Mormon”.
There are various schismatic groups that emerged after the pivotal 1844 schism which Joseph Smith died. These groups form distinct branches of the restoration tradition, each with its own unique history and practices.
Major Restoration Churches of the Restoration
Following the 1844 schism, two primary branches emerged:
- The Brighamite Branch: This branch is by far the largest expression of the restoration tradition. It includes:
◦ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
◦ All of the fundamentalist churches, such as the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) which is also called “The Work”, & the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church).
◦ The “new emerging remnant movement” with Denver Snuffer.
- The Josephite Branch: Named for Joseph Smith III, this branch includes the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within the Josephite tradition, there are also:
◦ Independent expressions or “restorationists”. These groups broke away from the mainline Community of Christ Church over issues like women in the priesthood and lineal succession. Some of these have grouped together in a confederacy of churches, like the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches (JCRB. See our interview with apostle Patrick McKay.)
◦ The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is considered a “restorationist church” by Josephites. Figures like Terry Patience, the new prophet-president, and Jim Vun Cannon have been prominent within this church. (Jim now leads a different church, the Everlasting Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Day.) These “Josephite fundamentalists” are distinct from polygamists.
Lesser-Known but Significant Restoration Churches
Sunstone also provides a platform for understanding smaller, yet historically significant, schismatic groups:
- The Bickertonites (Church of Jesus Christ with headquarters in Monongahela, Pennsylvania):
◦ They are generally considered the third largest branch to emerge after the 1844 schism, with an estimated 25,000 members.
◦ They see themselves as “the true one true church” and are noted for retaining spiritual gifts from the Kirtland era, including speaking in tongues and spontaneous services. Their services feature spontaneous talks and no pre-written bulletins, similar to practices found in the Centennial Park group.
◦ Their heartlands are primarily in Pittsburgh and Detroit.
◦ Notably, they have recently produced an academically trained historian, Daniel Stone, who has focused on William Bickerton and their own history. His book is highly recommended.
◦ They maintain an “interesting and intact early Mormon gathering place” in Voree, Wisconsin, with stone houses, a temple site, and other historical locations from the 1840s.
◦ They are Seventh Day Sabbatarians, holding church services on Saturdays.
◦ Their class discussions often involve opening their “fourth book of restoration scripture,” the Book of the Law of the Lord, and discussing revelations from James Strang.
Influence of “New Mormon History”
The Sunstone Symposium’s 50th anniversary coincided with significant anniversaries for other institutions of “New Mormon history,” such as the John Whitmer Historical Association (JWHA) and the Mormon History Association (MHA), both reaching their 50-year marks. This period, starting in the 1950s and 60s, saw a critical re-evaluation of Mormon history through academic scholarship.
Key figures and works that shaped this field include:
- Robert Flanders: His “early incredible academic book,” Nauvoo Kingdom on the Mississippi, published by this RLDS scholar, revealed that Joseph Smith had initiated polygamy. This revelation caused a “collective faith crisis” that both the LDS and Community of Christ churches, and their members, have grappled with.
- Newell Bringhurst: Co-author of Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism with John Hamer, Bringhurst is praised as a “treasure for the New Mormon history” due to his prolific work on various topics, including “Blacks in the priesthood”.
- David Howlett: Raised in a “restorationist household” (Josephite fundamentalists), he later joined the Community of Christ and served as MHA president, becoming an “incredible thinker, teacher, professor, speaker”.
- Steve Shields: Author of Divergent Paths of the Restoration, he is recognized as a leading scholar on the many small groups within Mormonism.
Community of Christ: Structure and Modern Challenges
John Hamer also shed light on the Community of Christ’s distinct organizational structure. Unlike the LDS Church, where the First Presidency is an extension of the Quorum of the Twelve, the Community of Christ’s apostles are specifically a “traveling quorum” focused on missionary work in the field, not based at headquarters. The world is divided among these twelve apostles, with assignments rearranging at each world conference.
Recent changes include a “huge turnover” with six new apostles and a significant scrambling of apostolic fields, with some fields, like the USA, now having multiple apostles. For example, Apostle Lach MacKay, who previously covered the northeastern United States and historic sites, is now responsible for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Europe.
The discussions at Sunstone, like those with John Hamer, offer invaluable insights into the complex and continually unfolding story of the restoration tradition, celebrating its diverse expressions and grappling with its challenging past. Tell us about your experiences at Sunstone!
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Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
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