Holy Church of Jesus Christ
Encyclopedia
Holy Church of Jesus Christ is a schismatic
sect in the Latter Day Saint movement
that formed under the leadership of Alexandre Caffiaux, a French
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
.
In 1963, Caffiaux travelled from France to Wisconsin
to become a member of the Strangite church. In Wisconsin, he was baptized
and was ordained to the priesthood. On his return flight to France, Caffiaux reported receiving a revelation
from God that he was the rightful successor to Joseph Smith, Jr. and James J. Strang and that he should become the head of the church.
In 1964, while visiting Iran
, Caffiaux reported being visited by an angel
in a vision and being ordained a prophet, seer, and revelator
and the embodiment of the First Presidency
of the Melchizedek priesthood. Other Stangite adherents in France supported Caffiaux in his claims.
Although Caffiaux called for a general church conference to consider his claims, none was called. At a conference of the Stangite church in France, the Stangite adherents voted to rename their congregation "Église sainte de Jésus Christ" — the "Holy Church of Jesus Christ". In 1978, the Stangite church formally rejected Caffiaux's claims.
The Holy Church of Jesus Christ has congregations in France and in New Mexico
in the United States
.
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
sect in 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...
that formed under the leadership of Alexandre Caffiaux, a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement with around three hundred members as of 1998...
.
In 1963, Caffiaux travelled from France to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
to become a member of the Strangite church. In Wisconsin, he was baptized
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...
and was ordained to the priesthood. On his return flight to France, Caffiaux reported receiving a revelation
Revelation (Latter Day Saints)
Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God . They also teach that revelation is the foundation of the church established by Jesus Christ and that it remains an essential element of His true church today...
from God that he was the rightful successor to Joseph Smith, Jr. and James J. Strang and that he should become the head of the church.
In 1964, while visiting Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Caffiaux reported being visited by an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
in a vision and being ordained a prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
and the embodiment of the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
of the Melchizedek priesthood. Other Stangite adherents in France supported Caffiaux in his claims.
Although Caffiaux called for a general church conference to consider his claims, none was called. At a conference of the Stangite church in France, the Stangite adherents voted to rename their congregation "Église sainte de Jésus Christ" — the "Holy Church of Jesus Christ". In 1978, the Stangite church formally rejected Caffiaux's claims.
The Holy Church of Jesus Christ has congregations in France and in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.