Glendale Restoration Branch
What is a Restoration Branch?
Those who attend Restoration Branches consider themselves members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS). In the late 1950s the leadership of the RLDS Church began to change Church doctrines and ordinances to correspond with those of Protestant Christianity. Around 1985, the leadership began to close some of the congregations and silence some of the ministers who disagreed with these changes. In order to preserve the original beliefs of the RLDS Church, those who disagreed with the changes and actions of the Church leadership, formed branches of their own and called them Restoration Branches. Restoration Branches maintain the original beliefs of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
What is the Community of Christ?
In 2000, the members of the RLDS Church who embraced the doctrinal changes of the Church leadership, changed the name of the Church from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the Community of Christ.
Doesn't your church worship Joseph Smith?
No. We worship God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith Jr. was the first prophet of our Church. Through him, God restored the fullness of the Gospel, the authoritative priesthood, and His true Church—all of which had been taken from the earth in the great apostasy several hundred years after Jesus Christ was crucified.
Was Joseph Smith a polygamist and do you belive in polygamy?
We do not believe Joseph Smith Jr. was a polygamist and we do not believe in polygamy. (See the above “What are your beliefs?” section.) For over three volumes of information supporting this position, go to http://restorationbookstore.org/jsfp-index.htm. For additional information defending Joseph Smith Jr. on this subject and others, go to http://www.defendingjoseph.com.
Why do you use a different Bible than other Christians?
There are many different Bibles and we believe all have value to them. The Bible we use is called the Inspired Version. We believe that in translating and transcribing the manuscripts used for the Bible over hundreds of years many plain and precious parts were omitted from the Bible. To restore these, we believe the Lord spoke to His prophet, Joseph Smith Jr., and told him through revelation what parts needed to be changed in order to have a more accurate record. For a further discussion of the value of the Inspired Version of the Bible, go to a blog written by one of our members at http://www.defendingjoseph.com/2013/01/the-inspired-version.html.
Do you believe in the Book of Mormon and what is it?
We believe in the Book of Mormon as containing the word of God. It is to be used with the Bible as a second witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. It contains the fullness of Christ’s Gospel and compliments His teachings in the Bible, never contradicting them. It is a record of God’s ministry to two groups of people: first, the Jaredites who He led to the Americas from the tower of Babel, and second, the Nephites who He led to the Americas from Jerusalem just before it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.
Why are you closed communionists?
We believe that in our Church the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper should be partaken only by those baptized with the authority of the priesthood (see the above “What are your beliefs?” section) which was restored to the earth by angels through Joseph Smith Jr. and continued in the Reorganization (RLDS Church).
What do you believe about the communion?
We believe that the emblems—both the bread and wine—are symbols representing the broken body and spilt blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that we are required to partake of this sacrament with broken hearts and contrite spirits asking forgiveness for our sins and forgiving for one another. In addition, we are to partake in remembrance of the Lord, His sacrifice, and the covenant we made at baptism to serve Him in righteousness to the end of our lives. If we partake of the sacrament in this manner, we will receive forgiveness of our sins and restore our personal relationship with God. If we do not partake in this manner, we partake unworthily—having crucified Jesus Christ again—and thus risk damnation of our souls.
What is Zion?
Zion is the Kingdom of God on earth. It is also called the New Jerusalem. It is to be built by the gathering of the Saints (the righteous) beginning at the temple lot in Independence, Missouri. It is to prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ in glory. When He comes in glory, He will come to Zion to reign 1,000 years on earth, also known as the millennium.
Do you believe in the rapture?
No. We believe that after the days of tribulation, the Saints (the righteous) that are upon the earth will be caught up to meet Jesus Christ at His coming in glory. He will return to the earth bringing them and all the Saints (the righteous) who have before died. He will dwell with them all in Zion for a 1,000 years.
Do you believe in temple ordinances like the LDS church?
No. We believe that the only standing temple that was built by the command of God is the Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio. There have been only two temple ordinances performed in that temple, both at its week long dedication in March of 1836. One was the washing of feet of the priesthood in preparation to receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, as Christ did with His apostles in the upper room at the Last Supper. The second was the giving of a greater portion of the Holy Spirit to the priesthood, like the spiritual endowment at the Day of Pentecost, through the anointing of consecrated oil in concert with the ordinance of the laying on of hands. We believe that these two temple ordinances will be performed again in both the Kirtland Temple and in the Zion Temple (which is yet to be built) when His (Jesus Christ’s) Church is endowed again with great spiritual power before He comes in His glory. We do not practice baptism for the dead, nor do we believe in celestial marriage or the endowment ceremonies practiced by the LDS Church in their temples.