Thursday, September 25, 2025

Smith-Rigdon Restoration Churches or Fellowships that Embrace Trinitarian Monotheism & Saved by Grace

 

The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Headquarters in Independence, MO), Church Membership Manual, 2021 edition, states on page 105:


There is no official creed endorsed as such by the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has been well stated that the creed of the Church is "all Truth." We believe fundamentals leading to all truth are stated in the Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. ... 

We Believe
In God the Eternal Father, creator of the heavens and the earth.
In the divine Sonship of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all men who obey his gospel;
In the Holy Ghost, whose function it is to guide all men unto the truth.

Furthermore, on their site they list as their Scripture Cannon, The Lectures on Faith: with Lecture 2 and 5 clearly teaching a monotheist doctrine. The doctrine of the Lectures is echoed in the section on Our Faith where we read:


Our Beliefs

Heralding from the 1830 Restoration church, the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the continuation of Christ's New Testament Church. We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God. ... We believe in the restoration of His gospel which brought us the Book of Mormon and latter day revelation. We have been called to prepare the Kingdom of God, Zion, on earth which is spoken about in the Lord's Prayer, for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Our Church is headquartered in Independence, Missouri with branches throughout the United States and several foreign missions. We strive to be advocates for our brothers and sisters, as Christ was for us, and to extend grace freely.  Our roots are in heaven – from authoritative priesthood, to covenant baptism and prophetic guidance – and we endeavor that all we do may bring Glory to our Heavenly Father.


The Holy Trinity - God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost – the three parts of the Godhead, distinct yet one in purpose.

We believe in God the Father with all power and wisdom. He is majestic, holy, eternal, unchangeable and just; full of love and mercy. We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He existed with God in the beginning, sharing with the Father in the creation of all things. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. ...


Based on my research, I have found that most of the other "Book of Mormon"-based Smith-Rigdon Restoration branches teach the same monotheist trinitarian-sounding doctrine and being saved by grace. For example, The Church of Christ: Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri states on their website in the Basic Beliefs section that for them the Book of Mormon is inspired scripture and regarding the Godhead it states:


... God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and unchangeable [2]. ... There is one God[5] who simultaneously exists as three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.[6] We use the term "person" to denote a unique, thinking, intelligent being. All three "persons" are God: The Father is called God in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and elsewhere, Jesus is called God in Titus 2:10-13 and elsewhere, the Holy Ghost is called God in Acts 5:3-4 and elsewhere. ...

... This concept of God as three distinct "persons" is best described as a composite unity. The Hebrew word for "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 is “echad” which has many meanings but it’s root means “united”[7]. The same word is used to illustrate that evening and morning are one day[8], that grapes in a bunch are one cluster[9], how two sticks can be one in a hand[10], and how a husband and wife can be one[11]. In describing the Lord as one, the Bible uses the specific word which allows it to mean a composite unity. At Christ’s baptism all three persons of God are identified as distinct from one another[12]. Jesus also teaches us to baptize people in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost[13]. They share the being of God and are yet individual divine persons. ...

God the Father is an eternal spiritual being, independent of time, space, and matter. ...

... Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God[17], the express image of God[18], and the Creator of all things[19]. ... While He existed prior to the creation, at a point in time He took on flesh and blood and entered into His creation as a baby born of a virgin[22]. Jesus has two natures, divine and human, wherein He is both fully God and fully man at the same time. ...

... The Holy Ghost is a divine person[30], not a mere power that emanates from God and is identified as the Comforter, and the Spirit of truth in John 16:7,13. ...


Unlike the Brighamite LDS Church, The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in their Church Membership Manual states on page 12-13:


Realization of past sins and current weaknesses should not deter one from accepting God's terms of salvation through repentance and compliance with the ordinances of the gospel. "…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;..." (Isaiah 1:18)

 

Compliance with the ordinances of the gospel and continued repentance helps one to overcome his sinful habits. Repentance is something that will need to be exercised through the whole of each lifetime. It is a continuing principle. ...

 

Is Confession of Sins before Baptism Essential?

It is by no means a rare occurrence in life for one to be wronged by another person. If that person repents and asks forgiveness, we are instructed to pardon him. Jesus instructed us thus:

"If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn to you again, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him. And the apostles said unto him, Lord, increase our faith." (Luke 17:3-5)

This represents the attitude of God to those who repent and confess. Confession is evidence of intention to reform. Confession of sins marked the repentance and baptism of converts to the faith in the New Testament.

"And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds." (Acts 19:18)

This principle of confession applies to God's Church today as in old times.

To Whom Should One Confess?

"And if anyone offend openly, he or she shall be rebuked openly . . . If any shall offend in secret, he or she shall be rebuked in secret, that he or she may have opportunity to confess in secret to him or her whom he or she has offended, and to God..." (Doctrine and Covenants 42:23 e, g)

The foregoing indicates that confession should be made to God and to those offended, and that unless an offense is against the group, it is not required that the group be made aware of the offense by public confession.

No priestly confessional exists in Christ's Church. The observance of the above conditions is obviously sufficient to guide members in this matter. Persons may desire to share a burden of sin; and in such case of need, the member, or offending member, has available the friendship of the ministry to give counsel. When so entrusted, no minister worthy of his calling will treat the confidence with lightness or betray the one in need.


Also see Confess. Pray. Be Healed by Elder Aadam Yates of the The Church of Christ: Temple Lot, where confession is not about being shamed by a single person in a closed room; but is about self healing, unburdening yourself, to fellow believers or friends or through professional psychological therapy or group therapy.

Heavenly Mother: A Theory

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