Community of Christ The Community of Christ, originally the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a branch of Christian Restorationism, and the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement, based in Independence, Missouri. The faith shares its origins with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). History The early history of the Community of Christ is shared with other denominations in the Latter Day Saint movement, which originated in upstate New York under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. With the assistance of Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, Smith dictated and published works of scripture felt to have been inspired, and formed a new Church of Christ. This church grew rapidly. Their strong beliefs, including a revealing God and their close community lifestyles threatened surrounding towns and cities. They were chased by angry mobs through various locations including Kirtland, Ohio, Independence, Missouri, and finally Nauvoo, Illinois, until June 27, 1844, when Smith was assassinated in a prison at Carthage, Illinois. See History of the Latter Day Saint movement. After Smith's death, there was some confusion over who would be his successor, leading to the formation of several factions. The majority of Mormons followed Brigham Young, who led them to the Great Basin area (now Utah) as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, a small fraction of believers, including some prominent leaders such as Smith's wife and family, did not follow Brigham Young to Utah. Followers of the Community of Christ believe that during his life Smith indicated that his son, Joseph Smith III, would be his successor. In the 1850s, a "Reorganization" movement arose which believed that Smith III should succeed his father. Smith III organized the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on April 6, 1860 at Amboy, Illinois. Smith III died on December 10, 1914, leaving the Reorganized Church without a leader. His son Frederick Madison Smith was accepted in 1915 as his successor as president. During his presidency, the faith moved its headquarters to Independence, Missouri. After Frederick Smith's death in 1946 he was succeeded by his brother Israel A. Smith, who presided over the church until his death in 1958, when he was succeeded by W. Wallace Smith, his brother, also a son of Smith III. In 1976, W. Wallace Smith designated his son Wallace B. Smith as his successor, which he assumed in 1978 after a two-year "internship." While the pattern had previously been for the presidency to be carried along the Smith patriarchal line, Wallace B. Smith designated W. Grant McMurray as his successor. McMurray had served in the Church's historical department since he was 26 years old, until his call as Church secretary in 1982. At a World Conference in 2000, the church voted to change its name from the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" to its present name, the "Community of Christ", which more clearly defines the purpose of the church. This change occurred on April 6, 2001. Today the Community consists of approximately 250,000 people living in more than 50 nations. Unusual Changes in Leadership On November 29, 2004, W. Grant McMurray resigned as President of the Church and asked to be released from the Priesthood as well as his calling - citing personal issues and "inapproprate choices" he has made ("I have made some inappropriate choices, and the circumstances of my life are now such that I cannot continue to effectively lead the church."). He also broke with tradition by not naming his successor ("On the matter of succession in presidency, our tradition anticipates that I would designate a successor. In my present situation, I do not feel it is appropriate to do so."). According to a statement, from the First Presidency, "a process is firmly in place that will lead to the designation of a successor in the office of president." McMurray later stated that he has "recently been diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease," and that his health was also a motivating factor to his resignation. "Beyond that, it's an entirely personal and family matter and the letter says what I felt I needed to say." President Kenneth N. Robinson of the First Presidency stated that this type of release from the Priesthood is not uncommon and "'happens without prejudice' just as it would with another church member. 'At a later point when they feel they have the energy and have life in balance, it's not uncommon to request reinstatement, which means to have their priesthood office back in an active way.'" According to the Deseret News, "he said McMurray's 'call to priesthood isn't gone and hasn't been nullified. It's a request to not be functioning in any ministerial capacity' with no judgment or punishment from the church attached." McMurray has been heralded as one of most influential and knowledgeable Church presidents who has led the Church to a closer relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (in terms of friendly relations and collaborative historical efforts). He also led the Church through its name change and presided over the first ordination of a woman to the Church's Council of Twelve. Major doctrines The Community of Christ has two temples - the very first Latter Day Saint temple in Kirtland, Ohio and a rather new temple in Independence, Missouri. They are public buildings for worship. The newer temple stands as an ensign of peace for the Community of Christ and for all people. The Community of Christ accepts the doctrine of the Trinity and a moderate brand of ecumenism. The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants are considered scripture. The LDS Church in Utah uses the King James Version of the Bible. The Community of Christ owns the paper manuscripts of Joseph Smith's translation work of the Bible. It is interesting to note that the Inspired Version that the Community of Christ publishes uses an earlier version (pre-1842 in most cases) of the manuscripts that does not include references to polygamy and Deity and other passages that support doctrines that are distinctive to the LDS Church. Related articles Latter Day Saint movement History of the Latter Day Saint movement Mormonism External link Church history and records Salt Lake Tribune: W. Grant McMurray resigns as President of the Church FAVORITE ARTICLES: History of the World    History of the United States    History of Europe    Ancient History    History    Military History    World War I    Bombing of Dresden    California    US Constitution    Frank Sinatra    Boston    Marbury v. Madison This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Christ