Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch)
Encyclopedia
The Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch) is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement
and is headquartered in Independence, Missouri
. It was formed on April 6, 1985 by individuals who had separated from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
due to certain doctrinal changes which took place in this organization during the 1970s and 80s, culminating in the adoption of Section 156 of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants
, which allowed women to be ordained to the priesthood. Unable to accept this or other doctrinal changes, a group of elders and members led by A.J. Cato, Robert Hall, Dennis Cato, Noel Goldsmith, and Lloyd Cunningham, among others, formed Zion's Branch as a separate church. This organization currently claims approximately 40 members in a single branch.
, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are "separate, distinct entities", and that God is eternally unchangable. The "fullness of the gospel" is contained within the Bible
and Book of Mormon
. Other scripture is also accepted from the Book of Commandments
and portions of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants but specific revelations therein must be deemed by the church to be "in harmony with the fullness of the gospel as contained in the Bible and Book of Mormon" (which is not always the case). Zion's Branch utilizes the Inspired Version of the Bible, and the RLDS edition of the Book of Mormon.
Zion's Branch teaches baptism
by immersion, laying of hands for receipt of the Holy Ghost ("Confirmation"), administration of the Sacrament
(the church practices closed communion
), laying on of hands for healing of the sick, and ordination (of males only) by laying on of hands
to various offices in the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods.
Zion's Branch believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, but subject to error and deception like any man, and thus they do not accept all that he allegedly said or taught. Baptism for the Dead
, a temple Endowment
, Eternal Marriage, polygamy
, and certain priesthood offices that are common within the Latter Day Saint movement
, such as church president, are not accepted. For a short time, Zion's Branch endeavored to practice the United Order
but has ceased.
At present, there are no apostles within the Zion's Branch organization, though the organization has not formally disclaimed belief in such.
, he did assert that he had received this message "by the power of [the] Holy Spirit". In this short "admonition", Latter Day Saints in general are chided for following "sinful and ignorant men who have followed their own ways instead of God's ways", and "dishonorable priesthood" holders. The revelation admonishes its readers that God will no longer tolerate their "willful ignorance" of his truth. This revelation has been reproduced on the church's website.
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
and is headquartered in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
. It was formed on April 6, 1985 by individuals who had separated from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
due to certain doctrinal changes which took place in this organization during the 1970s and 80s, culminating in the adoption of Section 156 of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, which allowed women to be ordained to the priesthood. Unable to accept this or other doctrinal changes, a group of elders and members led by A.J. Cato, Robert Hall, Dennis Cato, Noel Goldsmith, and Lloyd Cunningham, among others, formed Zion's Branch as a separate church. This organization currently claims approximately 40 members in a single branch.
Beliefs
Zion's Branch has a "Statement of Belief" on its official website. It affirms that God the FatherGod the Father
God the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are "separate, distinct entities", and that God is eternally unchangable. The "fullness of the gospel" is contained within the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Other scripture is also accepted from the Book of Commandments
Book of Commandments
The Book of Commandments is the earliest published volume said to contain the revelations of Joseph Smith Jr. Text published in the Book of Commandments is now considered scripture by Latter-day Saints as part of the larger Doctrine and Covenants....
and portions of the RLDS Doctrine and Covenants but specific revelations therein must be deemed by the church to be "in harmony with the fullness of the gospel as contained in the Bible and Book of Mormon" (which is not always the case). Zion's Branch utilizes the Inspired Version of the Bible, and the RLDS edition of the Book of Mormon.
Zion's Branch teaches baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by immersion, laying of hands for receipt of the Holy Ghost ("Confirmation"), administration of the Sacrament
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
(the church practices closed communion
Closed communion
Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of Holy Communion to those who are members of a particular church, denomination, sect, or congregation...
), laying on of hands for healing of the sick, and ordination (of males only) by laying on of hands
Laying on of hands
The laying on of hands is a religious ritual that accompanies certain religious practices, which are found throughout the world in varying forms....
to various offices in the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods.
Zion's Branch believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, but subject to error and deception like any man, and thus they do not accept all that he allegedly said or taught. Baptism for the Dead
Baptism for the dead
Baptism for the dead, vicarious baptism or proxy baptism is the religious practice of baptizing a living person on behalf of one who is dead, with the living person acting as the deceased person's proxy...
, a temple Endowment
Endowment (Latter Day Saints)
In the theology of the Latter Day Saint movement, an endowment refers to a gift of "power from on high", typically associated with Latter Day Saint temples. The purpose and meaning of the endowment varied during the life of movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr...
, Eternal Marriage, polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
, and certain priesthood offices that are common within the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, such as church president, are not accepted. For a short time, Zion's Branch endeavored to practice the United Order
United Order
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order was one of several 19th century church collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831 attempted to implement the Law of Consecration, a form of Christian communism, modeled after the New Testament church which had "all things...
but has ceased.
At present, there are no apostles within the Zion's Branch organization, though the organization has not formally disclaimed belief in such.
Revelations
In September 2007, elder Ron Perkins of the Zion's Branch church offered a revelation entitled "An Admonition to all Saints of the Restoration". Although Perkins does not claim to be a prophetProphet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, he did assert that he had received this message "by the power of [the] Holy Spirit". In this short "admonition", Latter Day Saints in general are chided for following "sinful and ignorant men who have followed their own ways instead of God's ways", and "dishonorable priesthood" holders. The revelation admonishes its readers that God will no longer tolerate their "willful ignorance" of his truth. This revelation has been reproduced on the church's website.
External links
- Church of Jesus Christ - Zion's Branch Official church website. Contains Perkins' "Admonition" and the Zion's Branch "Statement of Beliefs".