I’m excited to welcome John Hamer back to the show. John is a Seventy in the Community of Christ and a remarkable historian of Restoration Churches. Earlier this month, he was in Utah for the 50th Anniversary of Sunstone, and today we’ll be talking about the many ways to Mormon, including some of the Restoration Churches/schismatic groups that were represented at Sunstone. This episode will be part of a broader conversation about various Latter Day Saint schismatic movements. Join us for the discussion!

https://youtu.be/1-hvle_929o

Don’t miss our other episodes with John Hamer! https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-hamer/

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Exploring the "Multiple Ways to Mormon" at Sunstone's 50th Anniversary

The recent 50th anniversary of the Sunstone Symposium in Utah provided a unique opportunity to delve into the rich and diverse landscape of the Mormon culture and restoration heritage. John Hamer is a three-time guest on Gospel Tangents and a Seventy with the Community of Christ. Sunstone serves as an "open diverse forum" that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, whether they are orthodox LDS, fundamentalists, or members of the Community of Christ. This gathering truly embodies the idea that there is "more than one way to Mormon".

There are various schismatic groups that emerged after the pivotal 1844 schism which Joseph Smith died. These groups form distinct branches of the restoration tradition, each with its own unique history and practices.

Major Restoration Churches of the Restoration

Following the 1844 schism, two primary branches emerged:

The Brighamite Branch: This branch is by far the largest expression of the restoration tradition. It includes:

◦ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

◦ All of the fundamentalist churches, such as the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) which is also called “The Work”, & the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church).

◦ The "new emerging remnant movement" with Denver Snuffer.

The Josephite Branch: Named for Joseph Smith III, this branch includes the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Within the Josephite tradition, there are also:

◦ Independent expressions or "restorationists". These groups broke away from the mainline Community of Christ Church over issues like women in the priesthood and lineal succession. Some of these have grouped together in a confederacy of churches, like the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches (JCRB. See our interview with apostle Patrick McKay.)

◦ The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is considered a "restorationist church" by Josephites. Figures like Terry Patience, the new prophet-president, and Jim Vun Cannon have been prominent within this church. (Jim now leads a different church, the Everlasting Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Day.) These "Josephite fundamentalists" are distinct from polygamists.

Lesser-Known but Significant Restoration Churches

Sunstone also provides a platform for understanding smaller, yet historically significant, schismatic groups:

The Bickertonites (Church of Jesus Christ with headquarters in Monongahela, Pennsylvania):

◦ They are generally considered the third largest branch to emerge after the 1844 schism, with an estimated 25,000 members.

◦ They see themselves as "the true one true church" and are noted for retaining spiritual gifts from the Kirtland era, including speaking in tongues and spontaneous services. Their services feature spontaneous talks and no pre-written bulletins, similar to practices found in the Centennial Park group.

◦ Their heartlands are primarily in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

◦ Notably, they have recently produced an academically trained historian, Daniel Stone, who has focused on William Bickerton and their own history.